PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sphere supporting method and a sphere supporting device in which friction between a sphere and the device is reduced and the malfunction due to dust hardly occurs, and to provide a sphere grinding device using the sphere supporting device.;SOLUTION: A method for supporting a spherical workpiece W from below when performing the surface grinding of the workpiece while rotating the workpiece is provided. Between approximately lower half part of a main ball 14 and a retention surface 21 which is approximately hemi-spherically curved in a concave shape, a plurality of retention balls 13 are interposed in a mono-layer. An upper side of the main ball is exposed from a circular retention hole 28 disposed on a cover 12 and most of the main ball, the retention surface and the retention balls are covered with the cover such that the main ball is freely rotated. The lower side of the workpiece is supported by the main ball exposed from the retention hole, coolant CL is supplied to between the main ball covered with the cover and the retention surface, and the coolant is discharged from between the main ball and the retention hole.;COPYRIGHT: (C)2016,JPO&INPIT
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