Breaking from the Conventional: How Vitrified CBN Wheels Excel on Studer Equipment
At Continental Diamond Tool, we frequently manufacture Vitrified CBN wheels for widely used grinding platforms such as the Studer S33, FavoritCNC, and S131r. While many operations still rely on conventional abrasives, Vitrified Bond CBN is increasingly the go-to solution for high-precision, high-volume grinding applications—and for good reason.
If your shop is pushing for tighter tolerances, longer tool life, or lights-out production, here's why this technology may be the right move.
Why Choose Vitrified CBN?
When grinding hardened steels and other ferrous materials, Vitrified CBN (Cubic Boron Nitride) wheels offer significant advantages over traditional abrasives like aluminum oxide, which are commonly used for similar applications:
100–300× Longer Wheel Life
Vitrified CBN outlasts conventional wheels by a wide margin, reducing the frequency of wheel changes and downtime.Tighter Tolerance Control
These wheels maintain form exceptionally well, ensuring consistent part geometry even across extended production runs.Cooler, Cleaner Cutting
The vitrified bond provides superior chip clearance and heat dissipation, minimizing the risk of thermal damage and improving surface finish.Ideal for Lights-Out Operation
Extended wheel life, consistent performance, and reduced need for manual intervention make Vitrified CBN wheels a great match for automated and lights-out environments.
“If you are dressing properly with a diamond rotary dresser, your vitrified CBN wheel will last a very long time—and you’ll produce high-quality parts at a great pace with little to no variation,” says Troy Giacherio, CDT’s Product Line Manager for Rotary Dressers.
Rotary Dressing Techniques for Vitrified CBN
Dressing is essential for maintaining wheel shape and exposing fresh cutting edges—but how often and how efficiently you can dress the wheel makes a big difference in productivity.
Conventional Abrasive Wheels
These wear down quickly and require frequent dressing to restore geometry and surface integrity.Vitrified CBN Wheels
Thanks to their exceptional wear resistance, these wheels require dressing far less frequently. When dressing is needed, rotary diamond dressers are the tool of choice.
At CDT, we manufacture rotary diamond dressers tailored to your process, whether using conventional or Vitrified CBN wheels. For vitrified applications, these dressers enable precise, programmable dressing that fits seamlessly into automated processes—reducing operator time and increasing repeatability.
“If you’re transitioning from conventional abrasives to CBN—or if you’re seeing issues like burn or finish patterns—you might not be dressing your wheel correctly,” says Troy. “If your power draw starts creeping up or you see changes in surface finish, that’s your cue—it’s time to dress the wheel.”
Want to learn more about dressing Vitrified Bond CBN wheels with a rotary diamond dresser? Watch Episode 5 of The Grinding Chronicles, where Troy breaks down key dressing parameters like velocity ratio, overlap ratio, and depth of dress.
Top Signs You Should Be Using Vitrified CBN Wheels Instead of Conventional Abrasives
If your current process is held back by:
Frequent dressing and wheel changes
Inconsistent size or surface finish
Excessive heat generation
Limited machine uptime or operator availability
…it may be time to evaluate a Vitrified CBN solution. Especially when paired with capable machines like the Studer S33, FavoritCNC, and S131r, CBN technology can unlock new levels of efficiency and reliability.
“When switching from conventional wheels to vitrified CBN wheels, we’ve seen dress intervals go from a few parts to hundreds,” says Troy. “The key is balancing efficiency with consistency to get the most life out of your wheel and performance from your process.”
Whether you’re looking to reduce cost per part, improve part quality, or enable lights-out production, switching to Vitrified CBN may be the upgrade your process needs.
See CDT Wheels in Action: United Grinding Precision Summit
Curious how Vitrified CBN performs in a real-world environment?
Join us July 29–30 at the United Grinding Precision Summit, where CDT has supplied wheels on these three Studer machines: the S33, FavoritCNC, and S131r.
You’ll have the opportunity to meet our engineers, discuss dressing techniques and process parameters, and explore how customized Vitrified CBN wheels can enhance your operations.
👉 RSVP now at united.grinding.com/theprecisionsummit2025
Making the Switch from Conventional Abrasives to CBN
Ready to explore Vitrified CBN Wheels and Diamond Rotary Dressers? At CDT, our sales team includes dedicated process engineers who work directly with customers to assess grinding setups, identify improvement opportunities, and develop optimized solutions tailored to today’s most advanced platforms.
Whether you're running a Studer S33, FavoritCNC, or S131r, or comparable machines from Kellenberger, Bryant, or Okuma, CDT has the tools and technical expertise to support your production goals. We help manufacturers across industries transition from conventional abrasives to high-performance vitrified CBN—delivering better form retention, reduced dressing, and longer wheel life.
📞 Call us at 1-800-443-6629 or contact us online to get in touch with a CDT expert and find the right grinding solution for your application.