Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Shane E Bremer

Jason J Wiedyk

Aleksandar J Filipovic

Ihab M Hanna

Scott A Hucker

Bruce Alan Tucker

Daniel L O'Neil

Philip E Burgess

Contours of a surface of a bearing which extends about an axis are displayed on a grid. To visualize the contours, points on the surface are measured at a plurality of angular positions to determine the corresponding measured values. The measured values at each angular position are normalized to determine a normalized measurement datum corresponding to each angular position. The normalized measurement datum is subtracted from each of the measured values to determine a plurality of deviations of the corresponding points. Shades are assigned that correspond to a range of possible deviations. Each of the deviations are displayed as a data segment on a grid that represents the shape of the surface of the bearing. Each data segment is shaded on the grid to the corresponding shade to provide a topographical representation of the contours of the surface of the bearing.

Method of displaying contours of a surface of a bearing

A chatter boundary system includes a measuring module, a comparison module, and a boundary module. The measuring module measures and collects samples of undulations in a manufactured part. The comparison module classifies a sound signal generated by the undulations as either noisy or quiet. The boundary module determines a continuous boundary between the noisy and quiet undulations based on the samples and the sound signal.

Continuous chatter boundary criteria for manufactured parts

A method of determining the condition of a grinding wheel is provided to avoid over use or premature changing of the grinding wheel in a grinding machine, such as for crankshaft or camshaft grinding. The grinding machine has a motor which drives a grinding spindle carrying an abrasive coated hub acting as a grinding wheel. Sensors detect the level of grinding force and motor torque required to grind a workpiece into a desired shape. The information is relayed to a controller, which averages and compares the grinding force and torque information to force and torque limits to determine the condition of the wheel. In addition, the controller compares grinding force and motor torque over a series of grinds to determine the level of increase between grinds to further determine the condition of the grinding wheel. If the level of increase exceeds an increase limit, the controller actuates a fault signal to stop the grinding machine indicating that the wheel is near the end of its life cycle.

Plated grinding wheel life maximization method

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Hope, MI, United States of America

Shane E Bremer