Abstract
Design and performance evaluation of a spindle system which was composed of a grinding spindle and a regulating spindle for the centerless grinding of ferrule were performed in this paper. Layout and details of spindle system were designed and hydrostatic bearings for spindles were also designed. Prototype of spindle system was developed and its availabilities to machine the ferrule were discussed using the experimental results on the spindle stiffness of each spindle, loop stiffness, rotational accuracy and thermal characteristics. Loop stiffness of the spindle system was $130\;N/{\mu}m$, which was enough to machine the ferrule. Rotational accuracies of each spindle were about $0.2{\mu}m$ at the primary speed of 2,300 rpm(grinding spindle) and 300 rpm(regulating spindle). Temperature rises at the same speed were about $4.4\~4.7^{\circ}C$ in the case of grinding spindle and $1.8^{\circ}C$ in the case of regulating spindle, which agreed well with the designed value. From these results, it was estimated that the prototype of spindle system had enough performances for the centerless grinding machine to machine the ferrule.
