[nate]

Hello all!

I have done several CNC conversions, so I am not new to the game.

I have a PM cylindrical grinder that I have often wanted to retrofit to cnc. I have ballscrews, stepper motors and all of the nessicary components.

This grinder is a simple 2 axis machine with wheelhead. I am wondering how cnc cylindrical grinders do tapers and contours with a straight dressed wheel? I know some of them have swivel wheelheads, and they must have a post processor that trigs out where to be per the required angle.

If I convert this machine, I wont have a swivel wheelhead. When a cnc grinder does not have one, does the controller (mach3 in my case) just apply whatever tool tip profile/offset I program in in my cad program (bobcad in my case)

I anticipate using bobcad lathe ver 24 or 25 (have both) and mach 3 lathe for control, just like I do with my CHNC hardinge lathe retrofit.

Anyone have any experience to share with this stuff?

Thanks,
Nate.

[RICHARD ZASTROW]

nate, unless you are using plated wheels, how do you adjust for wheel wear using lathe software?

Without a swiveling wheel-head, will you have to use a radiused wheel? The wheel radius be the same as a lathe tool tip compensation?

Just nosey, I thought about the same thing a while back, did nothing about it.

Dick Z

[Al_The_Man]

I may be out in left field with this, (been there before!) but trying to visualize what is needed would a X/Y table with a Rotary C table to carry the work do the trick?
In a 2D machine you may have to switch between plane selections, G17,G18,G19 etc?.
I am only really familiar with surface grinders, so my cyclindrical grinder knowledge is very limited.
Al.

[RICHARD ZASTROW]

Maybe because nate already has the PM grinder??? LOL

Dick Z