• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.172-179
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• 2005

A high-precision centerless grinding machine has been recognized as a core equipment performing the finish outer-diameter grinding process of ferrules which are widely used as fiber optic connectors. In this study, in order to realize the high-precision centerless grinding machine, the structural characteristic analysis and evaluation are carried out on the virtual prototype consisted of the steel bed, hydrostatic GW and RW spindle systems, hydrostatic RW feed mechanism, RW swivel mechanism, and on-machine GW and RW dressers. The loop stiffnesses of centerless grinding machine are estimated based on the relative deformations between GW and RW caused by the grinding forces. And the simulated results illustrate that the concrete-filled bed has the considerable effect on the improvement of the structural stiffness of centerless grinding machine.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.86-89
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• 2005

Design and estimation of a spindle system which was composed of grinding spindle and regulating spindle for the centerless grinding of ferrule was performed and prototypes of each spindle were manufactured. Loop stiffness of the spindle system was 130 N/${\mu}m$. Although the value was lower than the target value of 150 N/${\mu}m$, as there included 20% of the safety factor, it 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 were well agreed with the designed value. From these results, it was estimated that the prototype of spindle system had a enough performances for the centerless grinding machine to machine the ferrule.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.22 no.11 s.176
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• pp.142-150
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• 2005

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.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.65-69
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• 2002

In order to practicalize high precision centerless grinder for machining the ferrule, its feeding system is designed and tested. For satisfying the desired diametric tolerance and cylindricity of the ferrule, the feeding system is designed to have relatively high axial stiffness of 600 N/$\mu\textrm{m}$, high angular motion accuracy of 0.5 arcsec/mm in yaw direction and minimum resolution of 0.05 $\mu\textrm{m}$. A prototype of feeding system is built up with hydrostatic guideway and ballscrew. A linear scale with 0.05 $\mu\textrm{m}$ of resolution is used for position feedback. Experimental results show that the feeding system has the infinity of axial stiffness within the range of 1000 N and 0.3 arcsec/mm of yawing error. Also the feeding system shows obvious step response against 0.05 $\mu\textrm{m}$/step command without the lost motion or backlash. Although the vertical stiffness is reduced to 440 N/$\mu\textrm{m}$ by the elastic deformation of rail, it is good enough to use for machining the ferrule. From above, it is confirmed that the feeding system is applicable to centerless grinder for machining the ferrule.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.1105-1108
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• 2004

As recently optical communication industry is developed, request of optical communication part is increased. Ferrule is very important part which determines transmission efficiency and quality of information in the optical communication part. Most of ferrule processes are grinding which request high processing precision. The ultra precision centerless grinding machine for ferrule grinding was designed. The centerless grinding machine is composed of the high damping bed, grinding wheel spindle unit, regulating wheel spindle unit, feeding table and dressing unit. Reliability prediction was very important for the high quality design. In this study, centerless grinding machine was predicted reliability.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.19-26
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• 2004

정밀 공작기계에 있어 안내/이송계(이하, 이송시스템)의 중요성은 새삼스럽게 강조할 필요가 없을 정도로 꾸준히 강조되어 왔다. 또한, 최근 들어서는 광부품, 반도체, 디스플레이 등 초정밀 가공기술시장의 급격한 확대에 따라 이들 산업의 제조장비용 핵심기술로서 이송시스템의 역할 및 수요는 훨씬 확대되어가고 있으며, 오히려 요구정밀도 면에서는 공작기계상에서의 요구성능을 초월하여, 이들 산업에서 개발된 기술이 역으로 공작기계에 적용되어야하는 시점으로까지 진전되고 있다.(중략)

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Machine Tool Engineers
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.63-69
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• 2007

The surface roughness in centerless grinding is mainly affected by the many process parameters. For improving the surface roughness, the control of grinding parameters is very important. This paper deals with the analysis of the process parameters such as height of renters, tilting angle of the regulating wheel with respect to grinding wheel, rotation speed of regulating wheel, which are developed based on design of experiments such as factorial design. The investigation can enhance the surface roughness of ferrule. Finally, we have verified improved results of the optimized conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.11-14
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• 2003

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.90-95
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• 2005

To perform the finish outside-diameter grinding process of ferrules which are widely used as fiber optic connectors, a high-precision centerless grinding machine is necessary. In this study, the thermal characteristics of the high-precision centerless grinding machine such as the temperature distribution, temperature rise and thermal deformation, are estimated based on the virtual prototype of the grinding machine and the heat generation rates of heat sources related to the machine operation conditions. The reliability of the predicted results is demonstrated by the temperature characteristics measured from the physical prototype. Especially, the predicted and measured results show the fact that the high-precision centerless grinding machine consisted of the hydrostatic GW and RW spindle systems, hydrostatic RW feeding mechanism, RW swivel mechanism, on-machine GW and RW dressers, and concrete-filled steel bed, has very stable thermal characteristics.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.30 no.12 s.255
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• pp.1634-1641
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• 2006

High-precision centerless grinding machines are emerging as a means of finishing the outer diameter grinding process required for ferrules, which are widely used as fiber optic connectors. In this study, a sensitivity analysis for structural and thermal characteristics was carried out using a virtual prototype of a centerless grinding machine to realize systematic design technology and performance improvements required to manufacture ferrules. The prototype consisted of a concrete-filled bed, hydrostatic grinding wheel (GW) and regulating wheel (RW) spindle systems, a hydrostatic RW table feed mechanism, a RW swivel mechanism, and on-machine GW and RW dressers. The results of the structural sensitivity analysis illustrated that the vertical stiffness of hydrostatic guideway for the RW table feed system greatly influenced the horizontal loop stiffness, and the results of the thermal sensitivity analysis illustrated that the heat generation rates at hydrostatic bearings and belt pulley greatly influenced the temperature rise of hydrostatic bearings and the deviation of thermal displacement between GW and RW.