This calculator determines the traverse feed rate for cylindrical grinding operations. The traverse feed rate is the speed at which the grinding wheel moves axially along the workpiece. Optimizing this rate is crucial for achieving the desired surface finish and maximizing material removal rates without causing thermal damage.
Enter Grinding Parameters
Rotational speed of the workpiece.
The active width of the grinding wheel face.
Percentage of wheel width overlapping per workpiece revolution (e.g., 20-40% for finish, 60-80% for roughing).
Understanding Grinding Traverse Feed
In cylindrical traverse grinding, the feed rate is not just about how fast the table moves; it relates directly to the rotation of the workpiece and the width of the grinding wheel. The goal is to ensure the entire surface of the workpiece is ground evenly by overlapping the wheel's path with each revolution of the part.
Key Factors Influencing Feed Rate:
Workpiece RPM ($n_w$): The rotational speed of the part being ground. A higher RPM generally allows for a faster traverse speed to maintain the same overlap per revolution.
Wheel Width ($B_s$): The physical width of the grinding wheel face. Wider wheels can cover more ground per revolution, allowing for faster traverse speeds.
Overlap Ratio: This is the fraction of the wheel width that advances for every single revolution of the workpiece.
Roughing: Typically uses a higher overlap (e.g., 60% to 80%) to maximize material removal, resulting in a coarser finish.
Finishing: Uses a lower overlap (e.g., 20% to 40%) to ensure a smoother surface finish and reduce the risk of feed lines.
The Formulas
The calculator above uses two primary steps to determine the traverse feed rate based on metric inputs:
1. Calculate Traverse Feed per Revolution ($f_{rev}$):
This determines how many millimeters the wheel travels axially during one complete rotation of the workpiece.
2. Calculate Traverse Feed Rate in Time ($v_{fa}$):
This converts the feed per revolution into a speed over time (millimeters per minute), which is typically how machine tables are usually programmed.
$v_{fa} (mm/min) = f_{rev} \times Workpiece RPM$
Calculation Example
Let's assume you are setting up a finishing pass for a steel shaft.
Workpiece Speed: 200 RPM
Grinding Wheel Width: 40 mm
Desired Overlap for Finish: 25%
First, calculate the feed distance per revolution: