Centrumslipmaskiner

Centrumslipmaskiner (centerless grinding machines) are a type of cylindrical grinder that removes material from a workpiece without using centers. Instead, the workpiece is supported by a work rest blade and is held between a high-speed grinding wheel and a slower regulating wheel.

The regulating wheel drives the workpiece by friction and controls its speed, while the grinding wheel performs the material removal. The in-feed or through-feed action is achieved by positioning the work rest blade and adjusting the relative height of the wheels, allowing different cut lengths and part geometries. The workpiece is supported by the blade and is pushed along the wheel contact area as material is removed.

Typical configurations include through-feed, in-feed, and end-feed centerless grinding. Through-feed machines allow continuous processing of long parts, while in-feed methods handle shorter, multiple diameters or angled features. End-feed blends both approaches for variable-length parts.

Common applications are high-volume production of cylindrical parts such as shafts, pins, and bearings with tight tolerances and fine surface finishes. Advantages include high material removal rates, no centers to cause chatter, and the ability to grind long parts; limitations involve sensitivity to part straightness, size control, and wheel dressing requirements.

Centerless grinding demands precise machine setup and careful wheel dressing. Modern centerless grinders may include automation, CNC controls, and multi-wheel heads to improve consistency and throughput.