A system and method for controlling operation of a machine tool such as a grinder wherein engagement of the machine tool with a workpiece is controlled in real time by a workpiece measurement signal from a gage likewise engaged with the workpiece. The measurement gage is periodically brought into measuring engagement with a gage master having a predetermined master dimension relative to the desired machined size of the workpiece. The resulting gage master measurement signal is compared with a reference, and a compensation signal is generated and stored as a function of the magnitude and polarity of any departure from the gage master measurement signal from the gage master reference signal. Thereafter, during the machining mode of operation, motion of the machine tool is controlled as a combined function of the workpiece measurement signal and the compensation signal generated and stored during the calibration mode of operation.

A method for checking the rotation of mechanical workpieces which includes the steps of measuring the workpiece size, processing the measuring signals occurring to generate at least one signal responsive to the measurement of size variations of the workpiece and utilizing the signal for generating control signals to indicate the evenness of the rotation of the piece. An apparatus for practicing the method includes feelers adapted to be brought to the measuring position on the workpiece to supply signals responsive to the size, a processing unit adapted to process the measuring signals detected at succeeding moments to supply information on the geometrical features of the workpiece or its variations, delay and timing units to trigger the processing unit connected with the output of the processing unit and adapted to compare the signals at the output itself with preset reference signals and a consent unit connected with the comparison unit operable as a result of the evenness of the workpiece rotation.

An automatic control for a grinding system is disclosed for controlling the advancement of a grinding wheel into a workpiece to provide a substantially constant time span between the termination of the operation of the feed means which advances the grinding wheel and the attainment of the final size of the workpiece for each workpiece machined. The control generates a reference time span and if the actual time span deviates by more than a preselected time period from the reference time span, the control develops a control signal adjusting the advancement of the grinding wheel during the grinding of the following workpiece.

Apparatus for controlling the operation of a pivoted member. A pivoted arm such as provided in an apparatus for bonding leads in electronic components is controlled by means of a torque motor during bonding and non-bonding intervals to provide control of forces exerted by the pivoted member during the bonding interval and forces exerted on the pivoted member during non-bonding intervals. Motion cams to complement the operation of the torque motor may also be utilized.

A grinding apparatus has an in-process sizing device to measure a size of a workpiece under grinding, and a detecting device to measure the location of the infeed table on which a grinding wheel is mounted to grind the workpiece. The outputs of the in-process sizing device and of the detecting device are so calculated that the amount of residual stock-removal on the workpiece is computed out as the difference between in-feed amount of the wheel head and actual stock-removal amount on the workpiece which is continuously measured by the in-process sizing device. The computed residual stock-removal is compared with a pre-set value which is selected from a series of pre-set values for various grinding steps such as a rough grinding step or a fine grinding step, in response to the workpiece size measured by the in-process sizing device. In-feed speed of the infeed table to the workpiece is so controlled by the output of a comparator which executes the above comparing process that the output value is intended to become zero.