US20150306724A1

US20150306724A1 - Grinding machine for bearing rings and method for adjusting such a machine

Info

Publication number: US20150306724A1
Application number: US14/693,012
Authority: US
Inventors: Eric ALLIN; Benoit FISSEAU; Pascal GIRAUD; Gilles PROUST; Gerard RIMBAULT
Original assignee: SKF AB
Current assignee: SKF AB
Priority date: 2014-04-25
Filing date: 2015-04-22
Publication date: 2015-10-29
Also published as: CN105033788A; EP2937176A1; JP2015208851A

Abstract

A grinding machine for bearing rings, the machine includes a frame, a rotating grinding wheel movable in rotation around a first rotation axis, a working station where a bearing ring stands during a grinding operation of one of its surfaces and holding means for holding a bearing ring in the working station, these holding means being rotatable around a second rotation axis and supported by a support plate movable with respect to the frame. The machine includes a first electric actuator for moving the support plate in rotation with respect to the frame, around a third axis perpendicular to the first and second rotation axes and a second electric actuator for moving the holding means in translation along the second rotation axis.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a Non-Provisional Patent Application, filed under the Paris Convention, claims the benefit of European Patent (EP) Application Number 14305619.0 filed on 25 Apr. 2014 (25 Apr. 2014), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a grinding machine which can be used for grinding of bearing rings and which includes, amongst others, a grinding wheel and holding means for holding a bearing ring in a working station. This invention also relates to a method for adjusting the position of a bearing ring in the working station of such a grinding machine with respect to its grinding wheel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the field of bearings manufacturing, it is known, e.g. from WO-A-2008/082140, to use a grinding machine provided with a rotating grinding wheel movable around a rotation axis. Each ring to be processed in the grinding machine is supposed to be held in a working station where a peripheral edge of the grinding wheel comes into contact with a surface of the grinding wheel to be processed. In order for the grinding process to be efficient, the bearing ring to be processed must be correctly located with respect to the grinding wheel, along its rotation axis. Actually, if the bearing ring is offset with respect to the peripheral edge of the grinding wheel along its rotation axis, a grinding operation might not be correctly centered with respect to the outer surface of the bearing ring, which might generate a non-symmetrical groove on this outer surface.
Moreover, when a new profile is to be used for the grinding of a new bearing ring type, a knurl is used to shape the outer edge of the grinding wheel. Because of the tolerances in the relative positions of the grinding wheel and the knurl, the profile created on the edge of the grinding wheel might not be fully perpendicular to the rotation axis of the grinding wheel. Thus, when this profile is used to grind a surface of a bearing ring, some outer radial surfaces existing on either side of a raceway of such a bearing ring might not be symmetrical with respect to the center of this raceway. In particular, these two surfaces might have slightly different diameters, which is not acceptable. In order to handle this situation, it is known to manually adjust, via successive tries, an angular offset between the axis of rotation of the grinding wheel and the axis of rotation of some holding means of a bearing ring present in the working station of the grinding machine. This is time consuming, requires a highly qualified manpower and the result depends on the concentration and ability of the operator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention aims at solving these problems with a new grinding machine which can be easily and automatically adjusted when one changes from one type of bearing ring to another type of bearing ring to be processed.
To this end, the invention relates to a grinding machine for bearing rings, this machine including a frame, a rotating grinding wheel movable in rotation around a first rotation axis, a working station where a bearing ring stands during a grinding operation of one of its surfaces and holding means for holding a bearing ring in the working station, these holding means being rotatable around a second rotation axis and supported by a support plate movable with respect to the frame. According to the invention, this machine includes a first electric actuator for moving the support plate in rotation with respect to the frame, around a third axis perpendicular to the first and second rotation axes and a second electric actuator for moving the holding means in translation along the second rotation axis.
Thanks to the invention, the two electric actuators allow implementing automatic steps when the configuration of the machine has to be changed, in particular when changing from one type of bearing ring to another type of bearing ring to be processed. The electric actuators can be piloted in a very precise and reproducible way, which guarantees that the grinding result will be constant in time and for different bearing rings, insofar as predefined settings can be used for any given grinding profile and/or any given bearing ring.
According to further aspects of the invention, which are advantageous but not compulsory, the grinding machine might incorporate one or several of the following features taken in any admissible configuration:

- The first electric actuator includes a first electric motor rigidly connected to the support plate, whereas an output shaft of the first electric motor drives a screw member engaged in a threaded hole of a reference part rigidly connected to the frame and the output shaft of the first electric motor is perpendicular to the third axis.
- The grinding machine includes a position sensor located next to the first electric motor and configured to detect the position of the motor with respect to the reference part.
- A first distance, measured radially with respect to the third axis between the axis and the output shaft of the first engine, is at least five times larger, preferably at least ten times larger, than a second distance, measured radially with respect to the third axis between the axis and a chuck which belongs to the holding means and is in contact with a bearing ring in the working station.
- The second electric actuator includes a second electric motor mounted on the support plate and a movement converter, also mounted on the support plate and driven by an output shaft of the second electric motor, the movement converter being configured to convert a rotation movement into a translation movement.
- The movement converter includes a ball-screw mechanism.
- The output shaft of the second electric motor is perpendicular to the second rotation axis and connected to the movement converter via a worm screw mechanism.

Moreover, the invention relates to a method for automatically adjusting the position of the bearing ring in the working station of a grinding machine as mentioned here-above with respect to its grinding wheel, depending on the profile of an edge of the grinding wheel and/or on the dimensions of the bearing ring. According to the invention, the method includes at least the following steps consisting in:

- a) accessing a memory where angular offset values are stored, for an angle measured between the first and second rotation axes, for different edge profiles and/or bearing ring dimensions
- b) selecting an angular offset value in the memory, as a function of the profile of the edge and/or of the bearing ring dimensions and
- c) piloting the first electric actuator in order to obtain the selected angular offset value between the first and second rotation axes.

In such a method, it is also possible to implement the following further steps consisting in d) grinding a bearing ring with the grinding wheel, e) determining the position of a ground zone of the bearing ring with respect to a front face and a back face of the bearing ring, f) assessing if the grinding ring has to be moved axially, along the first rotation axis, in order for the ground zone to be centered between the front and back faces and, if yes, to what extent, and g) piloting the first electric actuator in order to move the holding means in accordance with the findings of step f).
According to another aspect of the invention, it is also possible to implement the following steps consisting in h) moving the working station along the second rotation axis, in a direction away from the grinding wheel, i) driving the grinding wheel in rotation around the first axis, j) moving the grinding wheel in a direction perpendicular to the first rotation axis in order to align, along the second rotation axis, a lateral face of the grinding wheel with a chuck which belongs to the holding means and is designed to be contact with a bearing ring in the working station, k) piloting the first electric actuator to move the chuck towards the lateral face of the grinding wheel, in translation along the second rotation axis, l) detecting a contact between an axial face of the annular part and the lateral face of the grinding wheel, m) piloting the first electric actuator to stop the translation movement of step k) as soon as a contact is detected in step l) and n) piloting the first electric actuator to move the holding means still towards the lateral face of the grinding wheel, on a given stroke, which provokes a grinding operation of an axial face of the chuck.
Advantageously, in step l), a contact between the axial face of the chuck and the lateral face of the grinding wheel is detected via the rotation of a shaft integral in rotation with the annular part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood on the basis of the following description which is given in correspondence with the annexed figures and as an illustrative example, without restricting the object of the invention. In the annexed figures:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a grinding machine according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially cut top view of the machine of FIG. 1 in a first working configuration;

FIG. 3 is a top view similar to FIG. 2 when the machine is in another working configuration;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of detail IV on FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the machine of FIGS. 1 to 4 showing at least one adjustment feature;

FIG. 6 is a detailed view similar to FIG. 4 when the machine is in another working configuration; and

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view showing some further adjustment features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

The grinding machine 2 represented on FIGS. 1 to 7 includes a frame 4 and a rotating grinding wheel 6 which rotates around a first rotation axis X6. An electric motor 8 is used to drive wheel 6 in rotation around axis X6. D6 denotes the outer diameter of grinding wheel 6.
Grinding wheel 6 and motor 8 are supported by an auxiliary frame 9 which is movable with respect to frame 4 in two opposite directions perpendicular to axis X6, as shown by double arrow A9 on FIG. 1. Axis X6 is fixed with respect to auxiliary frame 9.
The outer peripheral surface 10 of grinding wheel 6 is shaped by a knurl 12 when needed and is used to grind the outer surface of an inner ring 500 of a non-further represented bearing. Knurl 12, which is sometimes called “diamant roller”, is also supported by auxiliary frame 9. In the example of the figures, outer surface 10 has a central bump, so that it is used to grind the outer radial surface 502 of ring 500 with a concave groove.
Grinding machine 2 is provided with a working station or zone 14 where each ring 500 is successively held in position with respect to grinding wheel 6 during a grinding operation.
Working station 14 includes two support shoes 16 and 18, each provided with a fitting 20, respectively 22. Fitting 20 is adapted to lie against the outer radial surface of a magnetic clamp 24, whereas fitting 22 is made of two parts and adapted to lie against the outer peripheral surface 502 of ring 500. Each support shoe 16 and 18 is mounted on a slider 26, respectively 28. Another slide 30 is used to avoid the escape of the ring 500.
When it is loaded in working station 14, as shown on FIGS. 1 to 4 and 6, each ring 500 is centered around a central axis X24 of magnetic clamp 24 parallel or substantially parallel to axis X6. In this configuration, the central bore 504 of ring 500 is empty and, because of the friction between surfaces 10 and 502, ring 500 is driven in rotation around axis X24 by the rotation movement of grinding wheel 6 around axis X6. On FIG. 4, arrow R6 represents the rotation of grinding wheel 6 and arrow R500 represents the rotation of ring 500.
Two types of equipment are used to feed working station 14 with rings 500 and to evacuate the rings from this working station, once they have been processed. In this description, a ring which is not yet processed is called a “black ring”, whereas a ring which has been processed by grinding wheel 6 is called a “ground ring”.
A multi-axis robot 100, with 6 degrees of freedom, belongs to a transfer system. It is mounted by its base 102 on the frame 4 of grinding machine 2 and includes a multi-articulated arm 104 whose free end is equipped with a clamp 106 adapted to grasp or grip different types of rings 500, via a proper programming of robot 100.
A moving arm 200 also belongs to the transfer means. This moving arm 200 is rotatable around an axis X200 which is fixed with respect to frame 4 and parallel to axis X6. Near its free end 204 opposite to axis X200 moving arm 200 is provided with means for gripping a ring 500 to be moved away from working station 14.
Grinding machine 2 includes an inlet chute 300 where black rings 500 move by gravity in the direction of arrow A300. For the sake of simplicity, only one ring 500 is represented in inlet chute 300 on FIG. 2. Inlet chute 300 is close to robot 100 which can pick-up a ring 500 present in inlet chute 300 when needed.
On the other hand, grinding machine 2 also includes an outlet chute 310 where ground rings 500 are dumped, one after the other. In outlet chute 310, ground rings 500 move by gravity, in the direction of arrow A310. On its side oriented towards arm 200, outlet chute 310 is equipped with a releaser 312 provided with a notch 314 of a size sufficient to accommodate the gripping feature of moving arm 200 but with a transverse dimension, measured between two lateral edges of this notch, smaller than the outer diameter of the rings 500.
Magnetic clamp 24 includes a solenoid activated clutch 242 and a chuck 244 made of a magnetic material, such as iron, which has a front annular surface 244A adapted to come into contact with a back axial surface 506A of a bearing ring 500 present in working station 14. Back axial surface 506A is opposite to a front axial surface 506B of this ring which is visible from outside machine 2 in the direction of FIG. 1.
Magnetic clamp 24 is mounted on a support plate 304 which is movable with respect to frame 4, as explained here-after.
Let us consider that a new type of bearing ring 500 is to be processed on machine 2. In such a case, knurl 12 is used to shape the outer peripheral edge 10 of grinding wheel 6. Depending on the actual shape to be used for peripheral edge 10, knurl 12 is changed and a new knurl is mounted onto machine 2 with a relatively high level precision. However, because of the dismounting and mounting operations, the exact location of knurl 12 on machine 2 is determined at about +/−20 μm. This tolerance in the location of knurl 12 induces that the actual shape of peripheral surface 10 might not be perfectly centered on axis X6. More precisely, in case the shape of outer peripheral surface 10 includes a central bump 110 and two flat surfaces 112 and 114 distributed on either side of bump 110, these two surfaces might not be perfectly cylindrical but slightly frustoconical.
On the other hand, the outer peripheral surface 502 of a ring 500 includes a central groove 502A and two normally cylindrical surfaces 502B and 502C distributed on either side of groove 502A, respectively between this groove and back axial surface 506A and between this groove and front axial surface 506B. It is essential that surfaces 502B and 502C are cylindrical and centered on a central axis X500 of a ring 500, this axis being, in practice, superimposed with axis X24 when such a ring is present in working station 14.
If flat surfaces 112 and 114 are frustoconical, it is necessary to change the orientation of axis X24 with respect to axis X6 in the cut plane of FIG. 2. This is why support plate 304 can move with respect to frame 6 between the two positions respectively represented on FIGS. 2 and 3 where an offset angle α between axis X6 and X24 takes a maximum value α1 and a minimum value α2. In the configuration of FIG. 2, axes X6 and X24 converge towards the front of machine 2, that is towards the bottom of FIG. 2, whereas, in the configuration of FIG. 3, these axes converge towards the back of machine 2, that is towards the top of FIG. 3. In practice, the absolute values of α1 and α2 is lower than 2 to 3°, so that axes X6 and X24 are globally parallel, that is parallel with a slight non parallelism.
In order to allow this adjustment, support plate 304 is pivotably mounted with respect to frame 6 around a vertical axis Z304 which is perpendicular to axes X6 and X24. Axis Z304 is said to be vertical insofar as it is vertical when machine 2 lies on a horizontal and flat ground surface. In such a configuration, axes X6 and X24 are horizontal.
P304 denotes a point of the upper surface of support plate 304 where axis Z304 crosses this surface. Point P304 is a center of rotation of support plate 304 with respect to frame 6. Two arcuate slots 306A and 306B, centered on point P304, are provided through support plate 304 and two screws 308A and 308B are respectively screwed in a part of machine 2 fixed with respect to frame 4, through slots 306A and 306B, with some washers 310A and 310B preventing the heads of screws 308A and 308B from going through slots 306A and 306B. Thus, screws 308A and 308B constitute a guiding feature for the rotation movement of support plate 304 around axis Z304 and point P304, which is represented by double arrow R304 on the figures.
An electric actuator 410 is used to move support plate 304 in rotation around axis Z304 with respect to frame 4. This electric actuator includes an electric motor 412 which is fixed on a bracket 414 rigidly mounted on support plate 304. On the other hand, a block 416 is rigidly mounted with respect to frame 4. The output shaft of motor 412 is perpendicular to axis Z304 and drives a screw 418 which is engaged in a non represented threaded hole of block 416. Thus, by actuation of electric motor 412, it is possible to bring bracket 414 closer to block 416 or to spread these two parts apart from each other. This relative movement between parts 414 and 416 can be precisely defined by proper control of motor 412. The accuracy of this displacement can be improved by using a reducer between motor 12 and screw 418.
d1 denotes a radial distance with respect to axis Z304 between point P304 and screw 418. On the other hand, d2 denotes a radial distance with respect to axis Z304 measured between point P304 and the center of the front surface 244A of annular part 244. The ratio d1/d2 is larger than 5, preferably larger than 10. Thus, a precise control of the orientation of surface 244A, that is of axis X24, with respect to axis Z304 can be obtained via electric actuator 410.
Electric actuator 410 also includes an absolute position sensor 422 which delivers to a non represented control unit an electric signal 5422 representative of the relative positions of items 414 and 416. Thanks to a proper setting of machine 2, this signal can be linked by a univalent relationship with the value of angle α. In other words, signal S422 is representative of the offset angle α between axes X6 and X24.
On the other hand, the position of ring 500 along axis X24 has an influence on the accuracy of the grinding process of groove 502A, as shown by the comparison of FIGS. 4 and 6. In the configuration of FIG. 4, bump 110 is correctly positioned with respect to groove 502A. In the configuration of FIG. 6, bump 110 will partially destroy surface 502C and groove 502A will not be completely ground. It is thus essential to correctly position a ring 500 along axis X24.
To this end, machine 2 also includes another electric actuator 430 which is mounted on support plate 304 and includes an electric motor 432 whose output shaft 434 forms a worm screw mechanism with a tooth wheel 436. Y434 denotes the longitudinal axis of output shaft 434 which is perpendicular to axes X24 and Z304.
Tooth wheel 436 drives a movement converter 438 which converts the rotation movement of tooth wheel 436, which is centered on axis X24, into an axial movement of clutch 242 and chuck 244 along axis X24.
Preferably, movement converter 438 includes a ball screw mechanism. However, other types of movement conversion mechanisms can be considered.
Thanks to electric actuator 430, it is possible to precisely control the axial position of annular part 244 along axis X24. This allows correcting the unsatisfactory situation represented on FIG. 6.
When a new type of bearing ring 500 is to be processed on machine 2, the reference of the knurl used to shape the outer peripheral surface 10 is known and, provided that machine 2 has been previously calibrated, it is possible to access a memory which stores different values of angle α, as a function of the profile used for outer peripheral surface 10 and/or of the dimensions of the rings 500. Thus, an operator who knows the next type of ring to be processed on machine 2, thus the type of profile needed for peripheral surface 10, can select in this memory the right value for angle α and pilot electric actuator 410 in order to pivot accordingly support plate 304 around axis Z304.
Once this has been done, it is possible to make a try on a ring in order to determine if the central bump 110 of the profile is correctly aligned with respect to the groove 502A along axis X500. After this try has been made, it is possible to measure the axial distance, along axis X500 between the center of the groove 502A and surfaces 506A and 506B. If the operator detects a default in the centering of the groove 502A along axis X500, it is possible to measure the offset and to pilot electric actuator 430 so as to precisely correct this offset.
Since items 434 and 436 together form a reducer, the translation movement of chuck 244 along axis X24 can be precisely controlled via motor 432.
Electric actuator 430 can also be used to fulfil another function: Indeed, it happens that front surface 244A of chuck 244 is not fully perpendicular to axis X24, because of excessive manipulations of chuck 244. Thus, once chuck 244 has been mounted on magnetic clutch 242, it is possible to use electric actuator 430 to move magnetic clamp 24 backwards, that is in the direction of arrow A24 on FIG. 8.
Then, auxiliary frame 9 is moved towards axis X24, in the direction of arrow A91, that is in a direction which is globally perpendicular to axes X6 and X24 and parallel to axis Y434. The movement of auxiliary frame 9 in the direction of arrow A91 brings axes X6 and X24 closer together. At the same time, grinding wheel 6 is driven in rotation around axis X6. This displacement of auxiliary frame 9 goes on up to when a lateral surface 62 of grinding wheel 6 crosses axis X24. In this configuration, surface 62 is aligned with chuck 244 in the direction of axis X24. Then, the displacement of auxiliary frame 9 is stopped and electric actuator 430 is piloted in order to move magnetic clamp 24 in the direction of an arrow A′24, opposite to arrow A24, that is to the front of machine 2. This movement goes on up to when surface 244A contacts surface 62.
This is detected by the fact that, due to this contact, a support shaft 246 of clutch 242 and clutch 244 starts to rotate. This can be detected by a rotation sensor integrated within converter 438 or located next to tooth wheel 436.
When this contact has been detected, the translation movement of magnetic clamp 24 along axis X24 is stopped.
Thereafter, this translation movement is started once again, in the same direction and over a given stroke, which provokes a grinding operation of surface 244A by surface 62. Then, rotation of the grinding wheel 6 is stopped. This stroke can be of between 0.01 and 10 mm, preferably equal to 0.1 mm
Thanks to this aspect of the invention, the front surface of chuck 244 can be precisely machined by grinding wheel 6, once it has already been mounted on clutch 242, so that it defines a planar surface which is correctly oriented with respect to axis X24, provided that angle α has been set to the right value.
Alternatively, grinding wheel rotation around axis X6 can be started once lateral surface has reached its position where it crosses axis X24.

Claims

1. A grinding machine for bearing rings, this machine including:

a frame,

a rotating grinding wheel movable in rotation around a first rotation axis,

a working station where a bearing ring stands during a grinding operation of one of its surfaces

a holding subsystem for holding a bearing ring in the working station, the holding subsystem being rotatable around a second rotation axis and supported by a support plate movable with respect to the frame,

wherein the machine includes:

a first electric actuator for moving the support plate in rotation with respect to the frame, around a third axis perpendicular to the first and second rotation axes, and

a second electric actuator for moving the holding subsystem in translation along the second rotation axis.

2. The grinding machine according claim 1, the first electric actuator further comprising a first electric motor rigidly connected to the support plate, wherein an output shaft of the first electric motor drives a screw member engaged in a threaded hole of a reference part rigidly connected to the frame and in that the output shaft of the first electric motor is perpendicular to the third axis.

3. The grinding machine according to claim 2, further comprising a position sensor located next to the first electric motor and configured to detect the position of the motor with respect to the reference part.

4. The grinding machine according to claim 2, wherein a first distance, measured radially with respect to the third axis between the axis and the output shaft of the first engine, is at least five times larger than a second distance, wherein the second distance is measured radially with respect to the third axis between the third axis and a chuck which belongs to the holding subsystem and is in contact with a bearing ring in the working station.

5. The grinding machine according to claim 2, wherein a first distance, measured radially with respect to the third axis between the axis and the output shaft of the first engine, is at least ten times larger, than a second distance, measured radially with respect to the third axis between the third axis and a chuck which belongs to the holding subsystem and is in contact with a bearing ring in the working station.

6. The grinding machine according to claim 1, the second electric actuator further comprising:

a second electric motor mounted on the support plate; and

a movement converter mounted on the support plate,

wherein the movement converter is driven by an output shaft of the second electric motor, the movement converter being configured to convert a rotation movement into a translation movement.

7. The grinding machine according to claim 5, the movement converter further comprising a ball-screw mechanism.

8. The grinding machine according to claim 5, wherein the output shaft of the second electric motor is perpendicular to the second rotation axis and connected to the movement converter via a worm screw mechanism.

9. A method for automatically adjusting the position of the bearing rings in the working station of a grinding machine with respect to a grinding wheel of the grinding machine, depending on at least one of the profile of an edge of the grinding wheel and the dimensions of the bearing ring,

accessing the grinding machine the grinding machine comprising:

a frame,

a rotating grinding wheel movable in rotation around a first rotation axis,

wherein the machine includes:

a second electric actuator for moving the holding subsystem in translation along the second rotation axis;

the method comprising steps of:

a) accessing a memory where angular offset values are stored, for an angle measured between the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis for at least one of different edge profiles and different bearing ring dimensions;

b) selecting an angular offset value in the memory, as a function of at least one of the profile of the edge and of the bearing ring dimensions; and

c) piloting the first electric actuator in order to obtain the selected angular offset value between the first and second rotation axes.

10. A method according to claim 8, further comprising steps of:

d) grinding a bearing ring with the grinding wheel;

e) determining the position of a ground zone of the bearing ring with respect to a front face and a back face of the bearing ring

f) assessing if the grinding ring has to be moved axially, along the second rotation axis, in order for the ground zone to be centered between the front and back faces and, if yes, to what extent; and

g) piloting the second electric actuator in order to move the holding means in accordance with the findings of step f).

11. A method according to claim 8, further comprising steps of:

d) moving the holding means along the second rotation axis, in a direction away from the grinding wheel;

e) driving the grinding wheel in rotation around the first axis;

f) moving the grinding wheel in a direction perpendicular to the first rotation axis in order to align, along the second rotation axis, a lateral face of the grinding wheel with a chuck which belongs to the holding means and is configured to be normally in contact with a bearing ring in the working station;

g) piloting the second electric actuator to move the chuck towards the lateral face of the grinding wheel, in translation along the second rotation axis;

h) detecting a contact between an axial face of the chuck and the lateral face of the grinding wheel;

i) piloting the first electric actuator to stop the translation movement of step k) as soon as a contact is detected in step l); and

j) piloting the first electric actuator to move the chuck still towards the lateral face of the grinding wheel on a given stroke, which provokes a grinding operation of the axial face of the chuck.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein in step l) a contact between the axial face of the chuck and the lateral face of the grinding wheel is detected via the rotation of a shaft integral in rotation with the chuck.