BIZOMAT MAKEOS · Manufacturing
Through-Feed Centerless Grinding Plan (Feed, Passes, Output, Angle)
How many parts per hour will this through-feed centerless set-up give with the passes the stock needs, and what regulating-wheel angle would reach my target?
Plan of through-feed centerless grinding: through-feed rate, work rotation speed and parts per minute from the regulating wheel diameter, speed, inclination and slip (as the centerless feed tool), passes for the diametral stock at your stock per pass, parts per hour allowing for the passes, and the regulating-wheel inclination needed to reach a target output, against the largest inclination you use.
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How this tool works
Inputs, units and where to find them
| Input | Unit | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Regulating wheel diameter | mm | Diameter of the regulating wheel. |
| Regulating wheel speed | rpm | Speed of the regulating wheel. |
| Regulating wheel inclination | ° | Inclination of the regulating wheel, which drives the parts through. |
| Feed efficiency (allowing for slip) | % | Share of the theoretical feed actually reached (parts slip against the wheel). |
| Work diameter | mm | Diameter of the parts. |
| Part length | mm | Length of each part. |
| Gap between parts | mm | Space between parts as they feed end to end. |
| Stock on diameter | mm | Total stock to remove on the diameter. |
| Stock removed per pass (on diameter) | mm | Stock removed in one pass through the machine (on the diameter; your value for finish and roundness). |
| Output wanted | parts/h | Parts per hour you need. |
| Largest inclination used | ° | Largest regulating-wheel inclination you would use (roundness and finish suffer at high angles). |
What each input means
Open an input to see what it is, its units, the worked example and the common mistakes, with a small diagram.
What this means: Regulating wheel diameter
- What it is
- The outside diameter of the regulating wheel, the rubber-bonded wheel that controls the rotation and through-feed of the parts.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in mm: millimetres. The form accepts 0.000001 mm to 1000 mm. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 250 mm as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- Through-feed and output rise in proportion.
- Get it right
- Measure the current diameter; it reduces with dressing.
What this means: Regulating wheel speed
- What it is
- The rotational speed of the regulating wheel, from the machine setting or a tachometer.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in rpm: revolutions per minute. The form accepts 0.000001 rpm to 500 rpm. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 40 rpm as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- Through-feed and output rise in proportion.
- Get it right
- This is the regulating wheel, not the grinding wheel.
What this means: Regulating wheel inclination
- What it is
- The angle the regulating wheel is tilted from the work axis, which pushes the parts through the machine.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in °: degrees of angle. The form accepts 0.1° to 10°. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 3° as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- Through-feed is proportional to the sine of this angle.
- Get it right
- Read it from the regulating-wheel head scale.
What this means: Feed efficiency (allowing for slip)
- What it is
- The share of the theoretical through-feed the parts actually achieve, allowing for slip against the regulating wheel. Take it from a timed trial.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in %: percent: the number is read as a percentage, so type 8 for 8 %. The form accepts 50% to 100%. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 95% as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- Through-feed and output are proportional to it.
- Get it right
- Type the percentage itself, for example 95, not 0.95.
What this means: Work diameter
- What it is
- The diameter of the parts being ground. It is used only for the work rotation speed.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in mm: millimetres. The form accepts 0.000001 mm to 500 mm. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 20 mm as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
What this means: Part length
- What it is
- The length of each part, measured along its axis in the feed direction.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in mm: millimetres. The form accepts 0.000001 mm to 5000 mm. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 80 mm as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- Longer parts take longer to pass through, so parts per hour fall.
What this means: Gap between parts
- What it is
- The space between the end of one part and the start of the next as they feed end to end through the machine.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in mm: millimetres. The form accepts 0 mm to 1000 mm. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 5 mm as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Get it right
- Enter 0 if parts butt together.
What this means: Stock on diameter
- What it is
- The total material to remove, measured on the diameter: the diameter before grinding minus the finished diameter.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in mm: millimetres. The form accepts 0.000001 mm to 10 mm. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 0.2 mm as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- More stock means more passes and lower output.
- Get it right
- On the diameter, not per side: per-side stock is half of this.
What this means: Stock removed per pass (on diameter)
- What it is
- The stock removed in one pass through the machine, measured on the diameter, chosen for the finish and roundness needed.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in mm: millimetres. The form accepts 0.001 mm to 2 mm. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 0.05 mm as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- A smaller amount per pass means more passes and lower output.
- Get it right
- Must use the same basis as the total stock: on the diameter.
What this means: Output wanted
- What it is
- The number of finished parts per hour you need from the machine, from the production plan.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in parts/h: parts/h. The form accepts 0.000001 parts/h to 1000000 parts/h. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 250 parts/h as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
What this means: Largest inclination used
- What it is
- The largest regulating-wheel inclination you are willing to use, since roundness and finish suffer at steep angles. Set it from your process experience.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in °: degrees of angle. The form accepts 0.5° to 10°. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 6° as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
Method and formulas
- Through-feed f = π D_r n_r sin α × efficiency; work speed = D_r n_r cos α ÷ d_w; parts per minute = f ÷ (L + gap) (as the centerless feed tool).
- Passes = stock ÷ stock per pass (rounded up); parts per hour = parts per minute × 60 ÷ passes.
- Inclination for the target: sin α = target × (L + gap) × passes ÷ 60 ÷ (π D_r n_r × efficiency).
- Example: 1,562 mm/min through-feed and 4 passes give 275.64 parts per hour; 250 per hour needs 2.7207°.
Limitations
- Continuous end-to-end feeding; loading gaps and dressing reduce output.
- Feed efficiency must be confirmed on the machine.
- Example values are illustrations. Replace them with values for your actual task.
Typical uses
- Plan a through-feed centerless job
- Set the regulating wheel angle for an output target
- Quote centerless grinding of pins or bars
Who it is for
- Grinding machinists
- Process planners
- Estimators
What you get
- Through-feed rate, work speed and parts per minute
- Passes and parts per hour
- Inclination needed for the target
Interpreting the result
- Raising regulating-wheel speed raises output without changing the angle, but it also raises work speed.
References
- Machinery’s Handbook, 29th edition (Industrial Press, 2012), printed pp. 1259–1261. Topic reference; no source tables or recommended settings are reproduced.
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