Fundamentals

Application

Similar to turning operations, you can machine a rotationally symmetric workpiece using cylindrical grinding cycles. Instead of a turning tool, you will use a grinding tool. Cylindrical grinding produces more precise results and a better surface quality than turning operations. Machining occurs in the FUNCTION MODE GRIND machining mode.

The control provides cylindrical grinding cycles for long and short stroke grinding. The cycles define special movements for the grinding tool. Thus, you can define a reciprocating stroke along a rotationally symmetric contour.

The cylindrical grinding cycles include the following machining methods:

  • Long-stroke cylindrical grinding
  • The control performs the infeed incrementally at the reversal points of the reciprocation movement. This method is used for contours that are longer than the cutting edge of the grinding tool.

  • Short-stroke cylindrical grinding
  • The control performs the infeed continuously during the reciprocation movement along a contour. This method is used for contours that are shorter or only slightly longer than the cutting edge of the grinding tool.

Cylindrical grinding

Inclined cylindrical grinding

Requirements

  • Grinding (#156 / #4-04-1) software option
  • Machine with at least two rotary axes, one of them as a rotary table axis
  • Available kinematics description for jig grinding
  • The machine manufacturer creates the kinematics description.

Description of function

Cylindrical grinding cycles

Cylindrical grinding always consists of a definition cycle, infeed cycles, and a conclusion cycle. The control provides the following cycles:

Using the various infeed cycles, you can program any roughing or finishing operations.

The following tables indicate the cycle combinations for the corresponding machining operation.

Long-stroke cylindrical grinding

Cycle group

Cylindrical grinding cycle

Definition cycle start

Cycle 1041 LONG STROKE DEF.

Infeed cycle

Cycle 1051 STEP. CYLIND. GRIND

Definition cycle end

Cycle 1040 END CYLIND. GRINDING

Short-stroke cylindrical grinding

Cycle group

Cylindrical grinding cycle

Definition cycle start

Cycle 1042 SHORT STROKE DEF.

Infeed cycle

Cycle 1053 CONTINOUS CYLIND. GRIND.

Definition cycle end

Cycle 1040 END CYLIND. GRINDING

The infeed is radially or axially in the workpiece coordinate system W-CS.

Programming is always done in the ZX working plane. The machine axes to be used for the required movements depend on the respective machine kinematics. NC programs with cylindrical grinding cycles are mainly independent of the machine kinematics.

For cylindrical grinding, the tool is oriented in such a way that it is positioned at one grinding wheel edge. Select the grinding wheel edge in the definition cycles. The selected edge must match the defined contour.

Program structure

Program structure for cylindrical grinding

The table below shows an example of what a program structure using cylindrical grinding cycles might look like.

0 BEGIN PGM GRIND MM

1 FUNCTION MODE GRIND

2 TOOL CALL "GRIND_1" S20000

3 CYCL DEF 1041 LONG STROKE DEF.

...

4 CYCL CALL

5 CYCL DEF 1051 STEP. CYLIND. GRIND – Roughing

...

6 CYCL CALL

7 CYCL DEF 1051 STEP. CYLIND. GRIND – Finishing

...

8 CYCL CALL

9 CYCL DEF 1051 STEP. CYLIND. GRIND – Fine finishing

...

10 CYCL CALL

11 CYCL DEF 1040 END CYLIND. GRINDING

...

12 CYCL CALL

13 END PGM GRIND MM

Definition

Reversal points
The reversal points, also referred to as reciprocating positions P1 and P2, define the upper and lower limits of the reciprocating stroke.