• International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.34-39
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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 structural characteristic analysis and evaluation were 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 feed mechanism, a RW swivel mechanism, and on-machine GW and RW dressers. The loop stiffness values of the centerless grinding machine were estimated based on the relative displacements between the GW and RW caused by grinding forces. The simulated results illustrated that a concrete-filled bed considerably improved the structural stiffness and accuracy of a high-precision centerless grinding machine.

• International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 2007

The outer diameter finishing grinding process required for ferrules, which are widely used as fiber optic connectors, is carried out by high-precision centerless grinding machines. In this study, the thermal characteristics of such a machine, for example, the temperature distribution, temperature rise, and thermal deformation, were estimated based on a virtual prototype and the heat generation rates of heat sources related to normal operating conditions. The prototype consisted of a concrete-filled bed. hydrostatic grinding wheel (GW) and regulating wheel (RW) spindle systems, a hydrostatic RW feed mechanism, a RW swivel mechanism, and on-machine GW and RW dressers. The reliability of the predicted results was demonstrated using temperature characteristics measured from a physical prototype. The predicted and measured results indicated that this particular high-precision centerless grinding machine had 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.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.23 no.1 s.178
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• pp.193-200
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• 2006

To perform the finish grinding process of ferrules which are widely used as fiber optic connectors, a high-precision centerless grinding machine is necessary. The high-precision centerless grinding machine is 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. 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 has very stable thermal characteristics.

• 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.