Machining

What are the advantages of conventional grinding wheels?

Conventional grinding wheels (such as alumina, CBN, or ceramic) offer significant advantages in everyday work:

  • Low cost – more economical for serial production or routine use.
  • Work flexibility – suitable for a variety of soft and medium metals, including carbon steels.
  • Simple maintenance – the wheel can be easily sharpened or restored with a dresser.
  • Good working speed – for general grinding or rapid material removal.
  • Good resistance to moderate heat – less sensitive to overheating.
What are the advantages of diamond wheels?

Diamond wheels are used for jobs requiring high precision and edge strength, and they excel in:

  • Extremely high hardness – diamond is the hardest material in nature.
  • Excellent grinding precision – allows for precise finishing even on delicate details.
  • Several times longer working life – less wear and less need for replacement.
  • Low heat dispersion – prevents material deformation and extends tool life.
  • Suitable for hard materials – such as carbide, glass, ceramics, PM, and hardened steels.
  • High-quality finish – leaves smoother and more accurate surface finishes.
When should you choose a conventional grinding wheel and when a diamond wheel?

If you are working with common metals and need an economical solution, a conventional grinding wheel will suffice. However, for hard, delicate materials or those requiring high tolerance, a diamond wheel will provide a more precise result and long-term durability.

How to choose the right grinding wheel?

The correct choice of a grinding wheel directly affects grinding quality, surface finish, and wheel life.

  • 1. Material you are grinding:
    • Aluminum, brass, soft steels: White alumina or silicon carbide wheel
    • Hardened steels or cutting tools: Purple alumina / ceramic
  • 2. Grit Size and Surface Finish:
    • Grit Size Typical Use Approximate Surface Finish (N Finish)
    36–60 Coarse material removal N10 – N9
    80–120 General machining / Medium finish N8 – N7
    150–220 Fine finish N6 – N5
    240–400+ Very precise finish / Before plating N4 – N3
  • 3. Wheel Hardness (Grade):
    • Hard: For soft materials – lasts longer
    • Soft: For hard materials – regenerates itself during work
  • 4. Bond Type:
    • Vitreous (V): Heat resistant, common for dry grinding
    • Resinoid (B): More flexible – suitable for wet work or precise finishing
  • 5. Wheel Shape: Choose according to the type of work (flat, angled, concave wheel, etc.)
  • 6. Operating Speed: Ensure compatibility between wheel speed (allowed RPM) and the machine – safety first.

Professional Tip: If you need a surface finish around N6–N7 – choose a 120–150 grit wheel. For initial processing or cleaning – you can go down to 46 or 60 grit.