Choosing the Right Grinding Wheel

Choosing the right grinding wheel for any given project is perhaps the MOST important part of the process… But why?

It’s because choosing the WRONG grinding wheel for your material can be catastrophic for a whole host of different reasons. It can lead to:

  • Significant amounts of money lost

  • Major time delays to complete your project

  • Workpiece and/or machine damage resulting from running the wrong wheel or grinding process.

  • Alterations to workpiece properties (i.e. changes in material hardness from grinding).

That’s why it’s so important to go over your options carefully, and discuss them with your technicians and engineers to ensure your grinding wheel is going to get you the most bang for your buck, the fastest completion time possible while still providing high quality results, and will be safe for all workers involved.

So what exactly is a grinding wheel used for?

You can think of grinding wheels as really really souped up sandpaper… Just like sandpaper helps smooth a surface or remove excess wood, a grinding wheel is an abrasive that’s used to:

  • Remove any unnecessary material

  • Create a specific shape

  • Grind down your material

  • Prepare metal for proper welding 

However, unlike sandpaper, grinding wheels are effective on many materials in addition to wood. Grinding wheels are most frequently used for almost any type of metal material you’re working with – and they produce results at a MUCH faster rate than precision cutting, saving you time and money. They can even be effective at grinding plastics, glass, and non-metallic materials.

How do you choose what kind of grinding wheel to use?

You should consider what type of material you have that needs to be ground. 

The grinding wheel you choose needs to be made of stronger material in order to have an impact. Different grinding wheel types will produce different results. 

For example, if you were choosing a knife to cut a loaf of bread… A serrated knife will produce a cleaner cut than your butter knife. 

Choose the material that will give you the cleanest, smoothest outcome. 

Here are some other key things to discuss with your engineers to make sure you select the best kind of grinding wheel to use for your project:

  • What material is being ground?

  • What abrasive type should be used for that material?

  • What size abrasive should be used (grain attribute)?

  • How course, medium, or fine should the abrasive material be (grit size)?

  • Coolant Type (if any)?

  • And what bond type should be used?

Our team can help you review your equipment and processes, the parts you’re looking to grind, and provide recommendations (including whether or not a custom superabrasive grinding wheel is necessary for your unique project needs).

When should you invest in a custom superabrasive grinding wheel?

Custom superabrasive wheels are usually either made with diamond or from Cubic Boron Nitride (CBN). 

If your material that needs grinding is made of iron or other alloys, then a superabrasive CBN grinding wheel is your best pick. If your material is made of carbon, choosing diamond can help sharpen. Or if you have material made of granite, choosing diamond can help create a glossier finish.

Essentially, superabrasives are made from some of the hardest materials mankind can make. Traditional abrasives (such as aluminum oxide or silicon carbide) are much softer materials that can break down much quicker.

And while traditional abrasives may be less expensive, if you’re in any of the following industries, using a superabrasive will bring you the best, safest results:

  • Aerospace

  • Automotive

  • Medical

  • Electronics

  • Composites

  • Oil Industry

CDT is proud to have a strong group of engineers, product managers, and technical sales people in our back pocket who are more than happy to go over all of these considerations with you. You can come to our offices, or we can come visit your facility.