Precise Alignment of Precision Forged Crankshafts in a Grinding Machine.

Within the Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 489 at the Leibniz Universitaet Hannover a new and innovative process chain for manufacturing of crankshafts is being investigated. A direct grinding of the burr-free and near-net-shaped precision forged and immediately heat treated crankshafts omits soft pre-machining and reheating. By this shortening of the process chain, the production cost can be significantly reduced. On the other hand, a precise alignment of these workpieces prior the grinding process is required to ensure an optimal processing of the seats. To distribute the available allowance on the bearing according to technologically useful criteria such as unbalance and allowance, the IFW in cooperation with the IMR are researching the active alignment of long components inside the grinding machine. In this paper, the approach of the measurement of a clamped crankshaft by an optical measuring device and its adjustment during the grinding process by an active tailstock is presented.