How do I reduce the cycle time in a grinding machine?

Introduction

I'm glad you asked this question, because it is one that I hear a lot in my shop. The machine I am referring to is a modern grinding machine, and the cycle time is the time that it takes for the machine to complete one revolution of its work spindle when the control valve inlet pressure is fully opened.

It takes approximately 5 seconds to open slides 2 when the machine is cycling.

The cycle time, as I assume you are referring, is the time it takes to open the second set of slides (slides 2) when the machine is cycling. Cycle times are typically measured in seconds and can be divided into two parts: (1) from the time that slide 1 opens until slide 2 opens and (2) from the time that slide 1 closes until slide 2 closes.

To reduce cycle times for this type of grinding machine, consider increasing feed rates and speeds by using a higher-torque motor or larger slides with better bearings. The best way to determine whether this would benefit your application would be to measure your current cycle times so you can see if they fall within industry standard ranges for similar applications!

There are several areas that you can look at to reduce the cycle time:

There are several areas that you can look at to reduce the cycle time:

• Coolant Flush: A good amount of debris can accumulate on the grinding wheel, which will lead to tool wear and reduced surface finish. This is particularly true if there is not enough coolant being sprayed onto the operation. To remedy this issue, consider increasing the rate of flush (i.e., how frequently coolant is flushed through). Also, monitor how much water comes out of your flushing lines during each cycle; if it’s low then increase your feed pressure until it reaches a normal level again. Finally, check your tooling regularly for any signs of excessive wear and replace as needed so that they don’t start impacting production levels later down the line due to increased downtime caused by broken tools requiring replacement—which takes time!
• Slide Gibbing: When gapping occurs between two surfaces (such as gears), it leads to additional friction losses in addition to causing premature failure due to excess stress on parts like bearings/bushings etcetera."

Are you using a coolant flush? If so, what kind of flush are you using? Some may be more efficient than others.

Are you using a coolant flush? If so, what kind of flush are you using? Some may be more efficient than others.

You should only use a coolant flush that is recommended by the machine manufacturer. If you don't have access to that information, call the company who sold your machine and ask them specifically which type of flush they recommend.

Is your slide gibbing in good condition? By this I mean tight and not worn.

Is your slide gibbing in good condition? By this I mean tight and not worn.

If the gibs are loose or worn, they will allow for play in the slides and therefore increased cycle time.

Most grinding machines have a hydraulic pump and motor on the same shaft, so you should check your ratio between those two components.

What is the speed ratio from your hydraulic pump to the motor driving your grinding spindle? In most modern grinding machines, the hydraulic pump and the drive motor for the grinding spindle are on the same shaft. This allows for high-speed machining. If this is your situation, then your pump-to-motor speed ratio should be checked and adjusted if necessary.

The relationship between a motor and a pump's rotational speeds is called its "speed ratio." The typical speed ratio for a hydraulic grinder is about 3:1 (3:1). That means that for every revolution of the motor shaft, there are three revolutions of the shaft driving your grinding spindle. Thus, if you're running at 10,000 rpm in an attempt to reduce cycle time or increase part production rate (because both rpm and feed rate have been increased), then each revolution of that same drive system must be 30% faster than what it was before—a total of 40%.

What size hydraulic tank do you have on that machine? How about filters? Both should be adequate for the size/model of that machine.

• What size hydraulic tank do you have on that machine? How about filters? Both should be adequate for the size/model of that machine.
• Check the primer pump for leaks and make sure it doesn't drip when off.
• Check the reservoir for leaks, especially at the bottom where there is a gasket that seals against the base of your machine. If there is any water in this area, check for cracks or holes in your reservoir. If there are no cracks or holes, chances are good that your gasket isn't sealing properly and needs replacement.

Overly dry bearings can cause friction, which will make it harder for a motor or pump to do its job quickly.

Have you lubricated any bearings lately? How about slideways, etc.? A lack of lubrication will increase friction. Increased friction increases load on motors, pumps, etc., which will take longer to complete a cycle.

Lubricants are used to reduce friction between moving parts (i.e., the sliding jaw) and keep them from wearing out prematurely. The reduction in wear helps to lower maintenance costs by extending the life of expensive components like bearings or other moving parts like slides or motors.

As you can see, there are several areas that can become bottlenecks in the system if they aren't working properly or maintained well.

• Cycle time is the time it takes to open the second set of slides (slides 2) when the machine is cycling. This cycle time can vary based on several factors, such as how much product your machine is handling, how much wear and tear the parts have experienced since the last rebuild, and other variables.
• You can reduce this cycle time by making sure that you aren't using any worn or damaged parts in your machine. Check for bent shims or bolts, broken bearings and seals, broken belts or misaligned gears. If there are any worn or damaged parts in your system then get them repaired before using them in production again."

Conclusion

It is frustrating if you are trying to reduce cycle time on your grinding machine, but it can be done. If you follow these steps and troubleshoot where your bottlenecks are, then you should be able to reduce the cycle time significantly. I hope this helps!