Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Grinding

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In todays extremely competitive manufacturing markets the optimization and upgrading of manufacturing process and procedures is a continual process. Grinding has traditionally been a final machining operation, performed on components to impart required dimensional accuracy and surface finish. Current trends in research, however, have led grinding to the high stock removal regime where in areas such as creepfeed grinding and high speed centerless grinding, process developments have allowed grinding to compete with other primary machining operations such as milling and turning. Fundamental studies, particularly in Europe, have resulted in predictable grinding operations which yielded both higher quality and increased productivity. Thus it is essential that this new technology be brought to American industry. This award establishes an Industry/University Cooperative Center for Grinding Research at the University of Connecticut. The Center's research theme is to conduct fundamental and advanced level studies of the grinding process, and to develop and maintain a grinding data base accessible to industry. Six industry members have already joined the center providing $300,000 in support. The University of Connecticut has agreed to forego its overhead charges (approximately $175,000 per year). In addition, industrial members have also contributed equipment to the center and adequate computers, laboratory space and instruments for the proposed research are in place. The Program Manager recommends that the University of Connecticut be awarded $75,000 each year for five (5) for the initiation of the Center for Grinding Research and Development. $50,000 is to come from the I/UCRC program and $25,000 is to come from the Manufacturing Systems Program (Marvin F. Devries, Program Director). Near the end of each 12-month period, the Program Manager and/or Director of the Engineering Centers Division will review the progress of the Center on a number of renewal criteria, including the following: (1) extent to which university/industry interaction and collaboration is developing: (2) extent to which the support base for the center is expanding; (3) extent to which a rebust research program is developing. If review is satisfactory, the Program Manager will recommend support of the next period of this continuing grant.