A honing machine using a robot to load gears into a loadbox at a loadbox station. The loadbox moves downstream to a position over an empty pallet in a pallet load station where the gears are released into the empty pallet. A series of downstream machining stations performing a series of honing operations on the bores of the gears in a series of pallets. A removal mechanism removing the honed gears simultaneously from the pallet at a pallet unload station. An overhead gripper on a movable gantry grips the empty pallet at the unload station and returns the pallet to the pallet load station where the pallet is reloaded with additional gears from the loadbox. The honing machine can continuously hone gears using only one pallet at each machining station and one pallet at the pallet loading station.

Provided is a grinding method capable of preventing variation in the outer diameter of a processed object 1 at the completion of grinding regardless of change in the amount of elastic deformation of the processed object 1 based on the change in the cutting ability of a grindstone 4. The outer diameter D of the processed object 1 during grinding is measured by gauge heads 5 in process. Plural target values D.sub.i that differ from each other are set for the outer diameter D of the processed object 1, and first threshold values are set for the rate of change of the outer diameter D of the processed object for each of these target values D.sub.i. Spark out is started when the outer diameter D of the processed object 1 becomes equal to a target value D.sub.i and the absolute value of the rate of change v is greater than a first threshold value that corresponds to the target value D.sub.i.

A multi-angle automated polishing system comprises a workbench, a holding unit, a polishing unit, and a control unit. The holding unit comprises a holding component for holding an object, a transverse drive configured to drive the holding component to move transversely along the plane of the workbench, a translational drive configured to drive the holding component to move translationally along the plane of the workbench, and a rotary drive configured to drive the holding component to rotate transversely along the plane of the workbench. The holding unit further comprises a rotating unit and a rotating drive configured to drive the rotating unit to rotate. The polishing unit comprises a polishing component and a polishing drive configured to drive the polishing unit in operation. The control unit is connected to the transverse drive, the rotary drive, the rotating drive, and the polishing drive.

A double-disc straight groove cylindrical-component surface grinding disc, includes a first grinding disc and a second grinding disc, rotating relative to each other; the the first grinding disc's working face is planar; the second grinding disc's surface, opposite the first grinding disc, includes a set of radial straight grooves, with groove faces of the straight grooves are the working face of the second grinding disc; the cross-sectional outline of the working face of the second grinding disc is arcuate or V-shaped or is a V-shape having an arc; during grinding, a workpiece spins inside the straight grooves, while under the effect of an advancing apparatus, the workpiece slides in translational motion along the straight grooves. The described grinding disc device has high-volume production capabilities, and the shape accuracy and size consistency of the cylindrical roller's cylindrical surface and the efficiency in machining are improved, and machining cost is reduced.

Workpieces are machined in an apparatus having a central grinding station, first and second finishing stations and first and second spindles movable. First one of the workpieces is ground in a coarse-grinding station with the first spindle while rotating and finishing another of the workpieces with the second spindle in the second finishing station and then, while continuing to rotate and coarse grind the one workpiece in the coarse-grinding station, switching the other finished workpiece for an unmachined workpiece with the second spindle. Then the unmachined workpiece is ground in the coarse-grinding station with the second spindle while rotating and finishing the coarse-ground workpiece with the first spindle in the first finishing station and then, while continuing to rotate and coarse grind the unmachined workpiece in the coarse-grinding station, switching the finished workpiece for an unmachined workpiece with the first spindle.