Grinding machine calibration

Abstract

A device and method for the setup, alignment and calibration of grinding machines is disclosed. A tool ( 42 c ) is described, comprising a bar ( 44 ) and a first location feature ( 48 ) located on the bar ( 44 ) and configured to engage with a first location of a machine. The tool also provides a datum ( 66 ) located at a known but variable distance parallel to the bar ( 44 ) from the first location feature ( 48 ). A method for calibrating a grinding machine using the tool ( 42 c ) is also described.

1 . A machine calibration tool, the tool comprising:
 a bar which has a longitudinal axis;   a first location feature which is located on the bar and configured to engage with a first location of the machine; and,   a datum having a location adjacent to the bar at a known but variable distance parallel to the longitudinal axis from the first location feature.   
     
     
         2 . A machine calibration tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the perpendicular distance of the datum from the longitudinal axis of the bar is known at all distances of the datum parallel to the longitudinal axis from the first location feature. 
     
     
         3 . A machine calibration tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the datum comprises one or more reference features. 
     
     
         4 . A machine calibration tool according to  claim 3 , wherein one or more of the reference features are tapered along the longitudinal axis of the bar. 
     
     
         5 . A machine calibration tool according to  claim 3 , wherein one or more of the reference features are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bar. 
     
     
         6 . A machine calibration tool according to  claim 3 , wherein one or more of the reference features are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bar. 
     
     
         7 . A machine calibration tool according to  claim 3 , wherein one or more of the reference features comprise one or more knife-edges. 
     
     
         8 . A machine calibration tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the bar comprises a reference face which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bar, to which the datum is engaged. 
     
     
         9 . A machine calibration tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the bar is comprised of one or more of a metal, alloy, ceramic, stone or polymer. 
     
     
         10 . A machine calibration tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the datum is fixedly attached to the bar at any one of two or more locations parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bar. 
     
     
         11 . A machine calibration tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the datum is slidably attached to the bar and is selectively movable parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bar. 
     
     
         12 . A machine calibration tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the datum is configured within an arm arrangement. 
     
     
         13 . A machine calibration tool according to  claim 12 , wherein the datum is configured to pivot about a pivotable attachment feature within the arm arrangement. 
     
     
         14 . A machine calibration tool according to  claim 12 , wherein the arm arrangement is comprised of one or more of a metal, alloy, ceramic, stone or polymer. 
     
     
         15 . A machine calibration tool according to  claim 1 , further comprising a clocking mandrel located on the bar and aligned with the first location feature.  25   
     
     
         16 . A machine calibration tool according to  claim 15 , wherein the clocking mandrel is movable relative to the bar. 
     
     
         17 . A method of calibrating a grinding machine comprising the steps of:
 securing the first location feature of a machine calibration tool according to  claim 1  to a grinding machine,   setting the datum of the machine calibration tool at a known position relative to a fixed machine datum feature, and   using a measurement device and the datum of the machine calibration tool to determine the position of one or more further datum features mounted to the grinding machine relative to the machine datum feature.   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the measurement device comprises an optical sensor associated with the grinding machine. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the one or more further datum features comprise machine mounted datum knife-edges. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the grinding machine is a blade tip grinding (BTG) machine, and wherein the machine datum feature comprises a rotational axis of the BTG machine.