Workholding & Grinding Rest FAQ
A machine tool is a machine for handling or machining metal or other rigid materials, usually by cutting, boring, grinding, shearing, or other forms of deformations. Machine tools employ some sort of tool that does the cutting or shaping.
Some common tooling machines are:
- Turning machines (such as lathes and boring mills)
- Shapers and planers
- Drilling machines
- Milling machines
- Grinding machines
- Power saws
- Presses
- Rotary tables
In short, workholding is a stabilizing solution to keep your piece in place while you are creating it. The term workholding is used when machining a piece to describe supporting a workpiece or so that it can be precisely fabricated within a specified tolerance. Workholding systems also ensure no distortion occurs while you are working.
When properly installed, workholding devices enable a machine to perform at its maximum capacity while generating quality parts efficiently and consistently. Workholding refers to an instrument that securely positions and holds a workpiece firmly in its proper orientation to machining tooling without the part deforming under the torque of the machine. This is an important factor not to be overlooked in the fabrication process.
Workholding is not to be underestimated and if done incorrectly can lead to safety issues. At the minimum, you should make sure you are using one workholding system on every machine you use.
- T-slot nuts
- Chucks
- Jigs
- Expanding mandrels
- Tail Stocks
- Steady Rests
- Turning Rests
The term “grinding” refers to a process in which material is removed by using powered abrasives such as abrasive wheels, stones, belts, pastes, sheets, compounds, or other tools to achieve fine finish tolerances and surfaces. There are several methods of grinding parts, but surface grinding provides the most precise way to modify tolerances.
A grinding machine uses an abrasive wheel against a rotating workpiece surface to size the outside diameter, or O.D. for short, concentric with the axis of rotation. This process is also used to control surface finish and form tolerances.
Because the forces created while cutting metal can cause a workpiece to vibrate and bend, precision engineering requires a steady rest.Steady rests used in the process are referred to as grinding rests and are generally used to support workpieces that are too long for a chuck, collet, or center to support.
The grinding AUTO REST® maintains workpiece control throughout the grinding process using a follow down feature. AUTO REST® helps improve roundness by counteracting out-of-balance parts, work drivers, and other outside influences in the grinding process.
Enhance cycle time
The Follow Down feature keeps the workpiece in control during the entire grinding cycle. The extra stability offered by Grinding AUTO REST® can often allow for more aggressive wheel infeed, thereby reducing cycle time.
Reduce scrap
With Grinding AUTO REST®, the work piece is supported precisely and reliably, thereby reducing scrap. The workpiece moves only in the intended direction. During late-stage grinding, after all the value has been added to the workpiece, this becomes particularly important.
Grind without a tailstock
Grind AUTO REST®'s self-centering, three-point design encloses the workpiece, thereby eliminating the need for a tailstock. This is especially useful in ID/OD grinders or when the center drill does not match the outside diameter of the workpiece.
Size and Vibration Control
During the grinding process, Grinding AUTO REST® offers a dynamic platform for ensuring that the part remains stable. This virtually eliminates vibration and provides unparalleled size control.
Improved concentricity
With Grinding AUTO REST® Follow Down, oversize and undersized parts are automatically compensated to maintain the center position. Allowing your project to have no lift on any edge, no matter how rigid. Consistency is maintained automatically.
In the broader field of grinding, tool grinding is a subset. Workpieces are produced or re-sharpened using an abrasive or grinding wheel in a machining-based production process to size and shape the tool. To view all of our products for tool grinding, please visit here.
The process of O.D. Grinding involves the precision machining of any round workpiece's outer surface. A precise surface finish is often required on parts such as shafts, rolls, pins, and cylinders. The center of each end of the part must be held in the machine in most cases.
When you think of grinding, you might only think of large parts and heavy machines. However, smaller parts can have the same precision requirements as larger parts. We offer Grinding AUTO REST® models with clamp size down to 1mm with fill follow down capability.
A turning operation involves moving a cutting tool (usually a non-rotary bit) linearly while the workpiece rotates. It is normally called "turning" when applied to external surfaces, but "boring" when applied to internal surfaces. In this sense, the term "turning and boring" refers to a broader family of processes known as lathing. "Facing" describes the process of cutting faces on a workpiece with either a turning or boring, and could be grouped into either category as a subset.
Gripping is the use of tools to keep the project you are working on stable to get a full range of motion. Combined pliers and clamps are extremely useful tools for gripping and holding objects. For holding items together when drilling holes, to make sure that your items stays in place and your drill hole is precise.
Arobotech has a full access solution perfectly designed for your industry and your needs. We are not limited to helping one industry; we stock pieces to help everyone from aerospace engineers to surgeons. When you are a customer, we help you hold the parts you need to light a fire in your industry and change the world. Offering grinding rests for any application, Arobotech has the workholding solutions you need. To learn more, visit us or contact us online.
