APPARATUS FOR MEASURING GRINDING FORCES ON CERAMIC PARTS

摘要

A spark plug grinding machine is equipped with force sensors (24) to measure grinding forces and other forces attendant to a grinding operation. Ceramic spark plug insulators (14) are carried by spindles (12) on a Ferris wheel (10) into a grinding station. A control wheel (20) engages and spins each insulator as a grinding wheel (22) grinds the surface of the insulator. A three axis transducer (24) on one of the spindles measures force components along the axis of the spindle, parallel to a tangent of the grinding wheel and in a radial direction. A torque sensor (46) on the control wheel measures the torque as the wheel rotates each insulator. Either or both of the sensors may be used. They are coupled through slip rings (30,56) to a recorder (32).