Force-controlled steadyrest system.

摘要

A method of grinding a workpiece (24) which is susceptible to deflection and/or deformation when grinding is carried out by relatively infeeding a grinding wheel (20) to keep the wheel face and work surface in relative rubbing contact at an interface region, the method comprising continuously determining the force exerted by the wheel (20) on the workpiece (24) at the interface region as grinding conditions change, continuously applying to the workpiece (24) at least one counterbalance force which in equivalent effect is opposite in sense to the determined force, and variably controlling the counterbalancing force to maintain its effective magnitude equal to the magnitude of the determined force.