small cylindrical parts grinding

[idanbrk]

I need to grind small cylindrical parts (diameter of about 1mm , length 3mm)made of hard steel and tried to do it with a small centerless grinding machine. But because the parts are so small they are flying everywhere and it’s impossible to get them between the two wheels of the machine. The parts are being fed with a linear vibration machine and the area where they get stuck is in the transition between the vibration machine and the grinding wheels. Is there any other way to grind this type of parts (im talking about a very large amount so it needs to be fast) or maybe a better way to feed them to the centerless machine ?



thanks

 

[TVP]

Do the parts have to be ground? What type of dimensional accuracy is required for diameter, straightness, etc? On small parts like that you might have better luck using precision drawn wire that is cut-off in a spring-coiling machine followed by media finishing (vibratory deburring, isotropic surface finishing, etc.). Another option might be roller burnishing a turned blank in a swiss-type, sliding headstock lathe.

 

[CoryPad]

Are you using through feed centerless grinding? This is how the small rolling elements in needle bearings are made.

 

[idanbrk]

the machine were using is a small centerless grinding machine, its made out of two wheels- a grinding wheel and a regulating wheel that moves the parts, the parts move between the the two wheels , the accuracy level required for the diameter is +- 0.01 mm

 

[Screwman1]

That should not be a problem on a through-feed centerless grinder. We grind set screw blanks by the millions and don't have problems feeding them. Granted, they are about M1.6 X 3, but your size is in the same area. Use a tube feed and then transition to a pair of Vee rails with a slight incline and vibration, onto a single support and you should be able to grind then in a continuous process by just feeding then through between the wheels and they will come out the far side like water from a hose. Don't use the infeed on the grinder to make a regular pass, just dress the wheel with a tiny taper and feed them right through.

 

[TVP]

I agree with the others, through feed grinding is the process to use if grinding is necessary. It sounds like the OP is trying to use infeed grinding, which will obviously lead to the kind of problems already mentioned.

 

[LaserSpyder]

throw them in a tumbler