Abstract: The through-feed superfinishing is the key process of tapered rollers in low friction rolling bearings. The spherical base surface scratches caused by the contact between the spherical base surface and the spiral push flange of the superfinishing guide roller often occur in production. A kind of numerical calculation method of the contact position of the base surface and the flange is proposed, and the influencing factors on the edge contact between the base surface and flange are analyzed. The analysis results show that the inclination angle of the spiral push flange, the radius reduction of the guide roller shape surface and the oblique angle of the tapered roller have significant effects on the contact position, while the contact angle between the roller and the guide rollers has little effect on the contact position. When the inclination angle of the spiral push flange is small, the outer edge of the flange is prone to contact; When the angle increases, the contact position moves rapidly to the inner edge of the flange, and the inner edge of the flange is prone to contact. The more the radius of guide roller shape surface decreases with the increase of the frequency of guide roller regrinding, the more likely it is to have the inner edge contact. The larger the oblique angle of the tapered roller, the more prone it is to have the inner edge contact. The contact position verification test is carried out, and the test results are in agreenment with the calculated results. The research results can provide theoretical and technical support for optimizing the through-feed superfinishing process of tapered rollers and avoiding scratches on the roller’s spherical base surface caused by the edge contact of the spiral push flange of the superfinishing guide roller.

Key words: tapered roller, spherical base surface, through-feed superfinishing, spiral push flange of the superfinishing guide roller