Mastering Precision: How Traverse Diamond Dressing Enhances Grinding Wheel Performance

Precision in manufacturing is the key to producing high-quality components across various industries, from automotive to aerospace, and even in everyday consumer products. One crucial aspect of achieving this precision is the performance of grinding wheels. In precision grinding operations, where the tolerances can be incredibly tight, grinding wheel performance is paramount. Enter the Traverse Diamond Dresser, a type of diamond rotary dresser that plays a pivotal role in ensuring that grinding wheels are in top form. In this blog post, we will delve into the world of Traverse Disc Dressers and explore how they enhance grinding wheel performance.

The Basics of Traverse Diamond Dressing

The Traverse Disc Dresser is an indispensable wheel profiling tool in the realm of precision grinding. Also referred to as Diamond Wheel Dressers, they are designed to dress and shape profile grinding wheels to maintain an optimal condition. The dressing process involves the removal of abrasive material from the grinding wheel's surface, which can become uneven, clogged, or worn over time due to the abrasive grinding process.

Here's how Traverse Disc Dressers work their magic:

1. Material Removal: These dressers feature a wide range of diamond sizes and grades to achieve the desired dressing condition. As the rotary diamond dresser traverses across the grinding wheel's surface, it precisely and efficiently removes small amounts of abrasive material. This effectively 'cleans' the wheel, restoring its cutting ability.

2. Wheel Truing: One primary function of Traverse Disc Dressers is truing the grinding wheel. Over time, grinding wheels can develop irregularities, affecting the precision of the grinding process. The dresser ensures that the wheel runs true and maintains a consistent, flat or cylindrical shape, depending on the application.

3. Form Dressing: In precision grinding, some applications require intricate shapes or profiles to be ground onto workpieces. Traverse Disc Dressers can be employed for form dressing, which shapes the grinding wheel to match specific profiles with utmost precision.

Achieving Superior Grinding Wheel Performance

Now that we understand the role of Traverse Disc Dressers let's explore how these wheel profiling tools enhance grinding wheel performance:

1. Consistency is Key: Precision grinding demands consistency. Traverse Diamond Dressing ensures that the grinding wheel profile remains uniform in shape, minimizing variations in the workpiece's finish and dimensions. This consistency is essential for meeting tight tolerances.

2. Optimized Material Removal: Dressing the wheel not only ensures precision but also optimizes material removal rates. It enhances the wheel's cutting ability, reducing heat generation and the risk of burning the workpiece—a common issue in precision grinding.

3. Reduced Scrap Rates: With a properly dressed grinding wheel, the likelihood of producing defective or out-of-spec parts is significantly reduced. This translates to lower scrap rates and higher yields, ultimately improving the bottom line.

4. Versatility: Traverse Disc Dressers are versatile tools suitable for various grinding applications. Whether you're grinding metals, ceramics, or other materials, these dressers can be adapted to meet your specific needs.

5. Flexibility: Change parts/profile shapes frequently?  Traverse Disc Dressers allow you to quickly and easily make profile changes or dress in completely new profiles without making grinding wheel changes, saving you down time for wheel change overs and/or roll changes.

Applications for Traverse Disc Dressers

Traverse Disc Dressers play a pivotal role in a multitude of precision-driven industries. These grinding wheel truers are essential for maintaining and shaping grinding wheels, ensuring that precision grinding processes yield consistent and accurate results. Here's a succinct overview of how key industries rely on Traverse Disc Dressers:

Automotive: Crucial for precision grinding in tasks like crankshaft and camshaft production, gear manufacturing, and engine component fabrication.

Aerospace: Used in grinding operations for aircraft components and jet engine parts, where precision is paramount.

Tool and Die Making: Maintains the sharpness and precision of cutting tools, including end mills, drill bits, and punches.

Medical Device Manufacturing: Ensures precision in the production of surgical instruments, orthopedic implants, and dental tools.

Bearings and Bearing Components: Shapes and maintains grinding wheels to ensure the accuracy of bearing components.

Cutting Tool Manufacturing: Essential for achieving precise tool geometries and cutting-edge profiles in tools like inserts and taps.

Oil and Gas: Involved in precision grinding for drilling equipment, pumps, and valves, vital in this sector.

Metalworking: Used in the production of gears, shafts, and machine components to meet precision requirements.

Die Casting and Foundry: Maintains and shapes grinding wheels to finish cast components with tight tolerances.

Renewable Energy: Supports precision grinding operations for components in renewable energy technologies like wind turbines and solar panels.

These industries rely on Traverse Disc Dressers for precision and consistency in their manufacturing processes, making them essential tools for achieving the highest levels of accuracy in precision grinding operations.

Types of Traverse Disc Dressers

Traverse Disc Dressers come in distinct types, each designed for specific applications. They can be made with a wide range of diamond sizes and grades, with CVD (chemical vapor deposition) stones, or a combination of the two, to achieve the desired dressing condition.

1. Electroplated: Electroplated Traverse Disc Dressers are known for their short lead times and open and aggressive structure allowing for high removal rates with similar performance at a lower cost.

2. Metal Bond: Metal bond Traverse Disc Dressers offer flexibility with a range of bond systems and abrasives to custom fit the application and provide a balance of durability and precision, making them suitable for a wide range of grinding operations.

3. Sintered: Sintered Traverse Disc Dressers offer exceptional durability and precision and are ideal for applications involving hard and abrasive materials with tight profile tolerances. 

4. Reverse Plated: Reverse Plated Traverse Disc dressers stand out due to their unique construction, which allows for unmatched precision and efficiency in shaping grinding wheels. They offer benefits such as reduced dressing time, extended wheel life, improved surface finish, and versatility, making them a valuable asset for industries requiring the highest levels of accuracy in their grinding operations.

It's worth noting that CDTUSA manufactures all types of traverse dressers except Reverse Plated, which will be added to our lineup next year. CDT Limited in Europe (previously Consort Precision Diamond) specializes in Reverse Plated, as well as the other types of diamond rotary dressers. When it comes to grinding wheel truers, our dedicated teams are ready to assist you. Feel free to reach out for a free quote, and let us help you achieve precision and excellence in your grinding operations.

Continental Diamond Tool Ltd. Earns Three Nominations for WCNW Chamber Recognition Awards

Continental DIamond Tool Limited (CDT Ltd.), the European subsidiary of Continental Diamond Tool Corporation, is excited to announce its nomination for three esteemed awards by the West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce (WCNW Chamber). These nominations underscore CDT Ltd.'s dedication to excellence and innovation in the diamond tool industry.

The WCNW Chamber Recognition Awards celebrate businesses in the West Cheshire and North Wales region for their remarkable achievements and contributions to the local and international business landscape. CDT Ltd. is honored to be nominated in the following categories:

1. Award for Export & International Trade

This nomination acknowledges the strength of West Cheshire & North Wales exporters. Entrants must distinguish themselves on the international stage and demonstrate significant and sustained increases in export activity. CDT Ltd. takes pride in its global reach and commitment to delivering high-quality diamond tools worldwide, reinforcing its dedication to expanding its international presence.

2. Business Growth Award

Open to businesses of all sizes, this award recognizes organizations that have experienced remarkable growth in areas such as sales, profit, market share, job creation, and international trade. CDT Ltd.'s nomination underscores its unwavering commitment to growth, innovation, and excellence in all aspects of its operations.

3. Business of the Year Award

The pinnacle recognition for businesses in West Cheshire & North Wales, this award is open to companies of any size and sector. CDT Ltd. is proud to stand among other outstanding businesses, symbolizing its dedication to achieving the highest standards of performance, innovation, and corporate responsibility.

These nominations reflect the dedication and passion of the entire CDT Ltd. team. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our employees, customers, and partners for their unwavering support, which has played a pivotal role in our success.

Just last week, CDT Ltd. announced its name change from Consort Precision Diamond, aligning its identity and marketing efforts with its parent company, CDT Corporation. This strategic move comes as CDT Ltd. continues to expand its offerings in high-performance electroplated grinding technologies. You can learn more about this exciting change here.

As we eagerly await the awards ceremony in November, we express our gratitude to the WCNW Chamber for recognizing our efforts and achievements. We also extend our best wishes to all fellow nominees in these esteemed categories, as their accomplishments contribute significantly to the vibrant business community in West Cheshire and North Wales.

To discover more about the WCNW Chamber Recognition Awards and the remarkable businesses being celebrated, please visit this link. Stay tuned to our Linked In, Instagram, and Facebook pages for updates on our journey toward the awards ceremony, and join us in celebrating this momentous occasion.

At Continental Diamond Tool Limited (CDT Ltd.), we are committed to innovation, excellence, growth, and service toward our valued customers and partners worldwide. Thank you for being a part of our success story.

Consort Precision Diamond Company Announces New Identity As Continental Diamond Tool Limited

Kinmel Bay, Rhyl, U.K. (September 11, 2023) – Consort Precision Diamond Company, a top manufacturer of precision diamond tools in the United Kingdom, is pleased to share a major announcement. Effective July 10, 2023, the company has officially changed its name to Continental Diamond Tool Limited.

The new name aligns with its parent company, Continental Diamond Tool Corporation (CDT), which acquired Consort in 2018. With headquarters in New Haven, Indiana, U.S.A., CDT is recognized globally for manufacturing high-precision custom superabrasive grinding wheels, which integrates seamlessly with Consort as a distinguished and trusted producer of high-quality precision diamond rotary dressers.

At the core of this name change is a firm dedication to delivering premium quality and innovation. Over the past several years, the company has expanded its facility in Kinmel Bay to manufacture a wider range of superabrasive products and better cater to a global market. In 2021, an expansion of the Plating lab more than doubled the company’s capacity to produce the high quality tight tolerance reverse plated rotary dressers used by some of the world’s most prestigious corporations. It also paved the way for diversification into electroplated grinding wheels, which the facility began producing in early 2023.

This strategic growth is part of the company's unwavering commitment to delivering comprehensive solutions to customers. As the company continues to expand its offerings to encompass more high-performance grinding technologies in step with its parent company, aligning the name and marketing efforts of the two is a logical move. 

In the coming weeks, on-lookers can expect to see updates across various aspects of Consort's branding and materials as it transitions to Continental Diamond Tool Limited. This includes revisions to its packaging, marketing materials, website, and all pertinent documentation. The company is committed to ensuring a smooth transition, with minimal disruption to the customer experience.

“For nearly four decades, Consort has faithfully served leaders in the automotive, aerospace, and other precision manufacturing industries. We look forward to continuing our longstanding relationships with customers under our new name,” says Jeff Wirth, Managing Director of Continental Diamond Tool Limited. For further information about this transition, please send any queries to info@cdtltd.com.

About Continental Diamond Tool Limited

Continental Diamond Tool Limited is a globally recognized leader in custom precision diamond tools, specializing in all forms of precision diamond rotary dressers and electroplated grinding products. With a commitment to excellence and innovation, the company serves a diverse range of industries from its advanced manufacturing facility located in the coastal town of Kinmel Bay in Conwy County Borough, Wales, United Kingdom. Learn more at CDTLTD.com.

Consort Precision Diamond To Participate In The LEAN Programme

Consort Precision Diamond, a leading manufacturer of precision diamond tools, is thrilled to announce its participation in the LEAN Programme! The LEAN Programme is an initiative that aims to help businesses in Wales achieve sustainable improvements in competitiveness. 

It is specifically designed for businesses that want to learn more about the principles of lean management, and is an intensive five-day programme that provides its attendees with a solid working foundation of both management principles and techniques. 

During the programme, participants learn how to: 

• Identify and eliminate waste

• Improve processes

• Increase efficiency

• And engage and empower employees to be more active participants in their roles 

All the subjects offered above are possible due to the collaboration between the Welsh Government and the Toyota Lean Management Centre in Deeside. The principles are taught through a mixture of: 

• Classroom theory

• Immersive shop floor observation

• Examples of practical application - all delivered at Toyota’s Deeside engine facility

• And worksite coaching at participant company sites to support productivity improvements

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"We’re really excited to be participating in this programme, and to have that opportunity to learn from some of the best in the industry," says Justin Hughes, one of the two employees from Consort who will be attending the programme. "This is a great opportunity for us to improve our productivity and competitiveness, and we are looking forward to applying what we learn to our work at Consort.”

Gareth Clifton, the other employee attending the programme, agrees. "We are very grateful for the chance to participate in this programme," he says. "This is definitely something that will not only help us improve our general skills and knowledge, but also contribute to the growth and success of Consort as a company, and that’s something we are always striving for. Can’t wait to hit the ground running when we come back from this experience."

At the end of the programme, participants will have a clear understanding of how to apply these principles to their own businesses. They will be able to implement sustainable improvements in the company’s productivity and competitiveness. 

In addition, they will have the opportunity to network with other participants during the 5-day event and learn from their experiences, as well as receive ongoing support from the Toyota Lean Management Centre to help them continue to improve their business. 

Consort has signed up to take part in the next available LEAN Start Programme, which is scheduled to begin in May 2023. 

As a subsidiary of CDT, Consort is committed to delivering the same high-quality products and services to its customers as CDT. The LEAN Programme is an important step towards achieving that ongoing expectation for growth, and we wish Justin Hughes and Gareth Clifton the best of luck at this programme!

Consort is looking forward to applying the principles and techniques learned from the programme to drive continuous improvement within the company. In doing so, it will continue to put Consort and CDT on the map as the highest-quality, highest-performing company for our customers to continue receiving exceptional results when they choose us for their project needs.

We cannot wait to continue serving you to the highest possible degree!

To learn more about this unique programme by the Toyota LEAN Management Centre, click here.

Consort Precision Diamond Celebrating 5 Years With CDT

5 years ago, Continental Diamond Tool made one of our biggest leaps into providing top notch products for our customers by joining forces with our subsidiary – Consort Precision Diamond (CPD) – in the U.K.

CPD is a leading supplier of precision Rotary Diamond Dressers for production grinding applications in aerospace, automotive, medical, tooling, etc.

CPD has and remains fully dedicated to this passion – to provide all customers with the best rotary dresser technology possible.

When it comes to Rotary Diamond Dressers, their focus is all-encompassing:

• Design

• Process & Product Development

• Manufacture

• Application Support

By teaming up with CPD, CDT has been able to bring quality rotary diamond dressers to the portfolio of superabrasive product offering, allowing for a fully integrated grinding process to the customer.

This has led to superior results for grinding wheel maintenance. The Rotary Diamond Dressers:

• Can perform at high dressing speeds

• Capability improvements -0.001um tolerance

• Allow for more complex configurations

• Improved product performance

• Capacity expansions

• Additional Products - CVD / Traverse disc dressers

Not only does it make way for excellent sharpening and fine finishes, it’s cost effective too.

But we’ve been up to more than just producing the highest quality rotary diamond dressers these past 5 years… All of which has had a direct, positive impact on the service you’ve come to expect with us at CDT.

More has happened over the past 5 years.

Capacity Expansion (2019/2020)

With the help of the Welch government we invested $500k into CPD.

• New lathes

• New grinders

• New inspection lab/equipment

This improved our product quality, increased our capacity, and allowed us to hold tighter tolerances.

Major Upgrades to The Plating Lab 

With the increase in demand, and our drive to supply the best of leading edge tech, we launched an upgrade to the plating lab in 2021.

This extension more than doubled our ability to produce high-quality tight tolerance reverse plated rotary dressers.

Featured In the British Chamber of Commerce Study

The British Chamber of Commerce published a case study featuring CPD and our growth in international trade.

We export to over 20 countries worldwide, including:

• Europe

• USA

• Canada

• Brazil

• Mexico

• China

Nominated for 2 Major Awards

CPD was nominated for the 2022 Chamber Business Awards and the WCNW Chamber Business Awards in Export & International Trade.

2x Faster Production Rate

CPD expansion was supported by the government of Wales with £200k.

This support helped protect/create new jobs and would “help fund the first phase of a five year plan that will see Consort Precision Diamond expand and increasing its head count.”

2023

CPD will be adding a new product line of electroplated grinding wheels in Q2, which will allow further expansion into the superabrasives products in the EU/UK markets.

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CPD had championed so much in the past 5 years, maintaining and exceeding expectations for being the top producer of diamond rotary dressers.

Thanks for joining in the 5-year celebration with us! We expect even more great things in the coming 5 years.

To get a full look at all Consort Precision Diamond services, click here.

Consort Precision Diamond Featured in British Chambers of Commerce Case Study

We are pleased to share with you that Consort Precision Diamond Co Ltd has been featured in a case study by the British Chambers of Commerce. The case study has been published on the British Chambers of Commerce website and shared on their social media channels. Here is an excerpt from the article:

The Consort team is immensely proud of their geographically-diverse portfolio of customers, with the export side of their business expanding rapidly. They currently export to over 20 countries worldwide, covering Europe, USA, Canada, South America, and the Far East.

During 2019 and 2020, their international trade accounted for 51% and 63% of their turnover respectively, and 2021 figures indicate that the export side of the business will account for 70% of their revenue. Brazil, Mexico, and USA are amongst the company’s largest markets, followed by Europe.

Click here to read the full article detailing Consort's exports strategy.

In addition, Consort is proud to have been nominated regionally in the 2022 Chamber Business Awards for their exports. We would like to congratulate the award winner, Metalfacture Ltd, who has been recognized as the British Chamber of Commerce National Global Player Export Business of the Year.

Consort has also been nominated for the WCNW Chamber Business Awards in Export & International Trade. The winner for that award will be announced at the ceremony on the 11th of November.

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Consort Precision Diamond Company, a subsidiary of Continental Diamond Tool Corporation since 2018, is based in North Wales. They are a manufacturing specialist dedicated to the production of diamond rotary dressers, a complimentary product to CDT's custom diamond and CBN grinding wheels and tools.

Plated Diamond Rotary Dresser Operations Expanding for Increasing Demand

Diamond Rotary Dressers are widely recognized as the most efficient, cost effective means of dressing and truing grinding wheels to the correct tolerance, form, and condition. As industry is experiencing an increasing demand for high-accuracy, high-speed production, the need for reverse plated dressers is also increasing.

Always striving to stay ahead of the curve in technology, CDT-subsidiary Consort Precision Diamond is excited to announce that our newly upgraded plating lab is up and running.

"This plating lab expansion more than doubles our capacity to produce the high quality tight tolerance reverse plated rotary dressers used by some of the most prestigious companies in the world," says Troy Giacherio, Product Manager at Consort Precision Diamond. Stephen Noakes, Production Manager, lead the team who worked on the plating lab upgrade.

Choosing the Best Diamond Rotary Dresser
There are two types of production methods for diamond rotary dressers, sintering and plating. Consort Precision Diamond specializes in the manufacture of both types.

Sintered diamond rotary dressers are suitable for large quantities of high precision machining and many types of high hardness grinding wheels.

Reverse plated diamond rotary dressers are best suited for applications where high accuracy of profile detail and a correspondingly high quality surface finish on the component are required.

Our Commitment to Excellence
If your application calls for a Diamond Rotary Dresser, Consort Precision Diamond is committed to providing you the best tool for the job. Our service techs are skilled at helping you find the correct specifications optimized for your application. Contact us today >

Consort Precision Diamond is a subsidiary of custom superabrasive grinding wheel manufacturer Continental Diamond Tool Corporation. Learn more about Consort’s products at www.consortprecision.co.uk.

5 Factors for Best Dressing Performance

The intricacies of selecting the ideal rotary diamond dresser for your unique application depend on many factors like tolerance, surface finish, configuration of form, grinding machine type, and grinding wheel specification. Continental Diamond Tool (CDT) has extensive experience in designing and crafting dressing solutions that perfectly suits your needs. Customization is key. Read on to discover how tailoring a diamond rotary dresser to your process can improve grinding performance.

Plunge dressing vs. Traverse dressing

Traverse dressing and plunge dressing are two methods that employ diamond rotary dressers in precision grinding applications. Each dressing technique requires a different form to serve its unique purpose.

Traverse dressers are designed to move across the surface of a grinding wheel, gradually shaping and refreshing its profile to maintain consistent performance and geometric precision. This method is ideal for applications where maintaining a constant wheel profile is crucial, such as in high-precision cylindrical grinding.

On the other hand, plunge diamond rotary dressers are employed to create specific, intricate profiles or contours in a grinding wheel. By plunging the dresser directly into the wheel, they generate complex shapes and features with precision. These dressers are particularly valuable in applications requiring customized workpiece forms, like gear grinding or aerospace components.

Both methods play a vital role in the manufacturing industry, ensuring the optimal condition and shape of grinding wheels. This, in turn, guarantees the quality and accuracy of the finished workpieces.

DIAMOND ROTARY DRESSER TYPEs

The diamonds in Diamond Rotary Dressers are what give this technology its cutting edge. There are four unique processes that can be used to adhere the diamonds to the dresser form:

• REVERSE PLATED - Reverse Plated Dressers are best suited for applications where high accuracy of profile and a correspondingly high quality surface finish on the component are required.

• HANDSET SINTERED - Handset Sintered Dressers are our most commonly used type of Rotary Diamond Dresser. They cover applications where robustness is required and the general tolerance is open.

• CVD SINTERED - CVD Sintered Dressers are highly resistant to chipping and fracture, and they wear evenly over the dresser’s entire length. They also have outstanding thermal stability in use.

• RANDOM SET SINTERED - Random Set Sintered Dressers are perfect for applications requiring openness, tight form, and improved surface finish. They can be delivered quickly to meet urgent demand.

Sometimes called Truers or Rollers, how do you know which of these will be the best diamond rotary dresser type for your application? Especially when each of these categories contain many further variables of appropriate diamonds and setting patterns.

5 factors for proper dresser selection

Proper dresser selection starts with investigating these five factors. Every well designed dressing tool must meet the specific requirements of these areas:

• TOLERANCE - Tolerance refers to the allowable deviation or variation from a specified measurement or dimension in a workpiece. In the context of dressing tools, it's essential to consider the level of precision or accuracy required in the dressing process to meet the desired workpiece tolerances.

• SURFACE FINISH - Surface finish pertains to the quality and texture of a workpiece's surface after the grinding or machining process. When designing a dressing tool, you need to account for the desired surface finish, which can range from rough to smooth, as it influences the choice of abrasive grains and dressing techniques.

• CONFIGURATION OF FORM - Configuration of form relates to the specific shape, contour, or profile that the dressed grinding wheel should have. It encompasses the design and geometry of the wheel, which needs to be precisely replicated by the dressing tool to achieve the desired workpiece shape or finish.

• GRINDING MACHINE TYPE - The type of grinding machine used in a particular application, such as cylindrical, surface, or centerless grinding, significantly impacts the dressing tool's design. Different machines require specific dressing techniques and tools to optimize performance and precision.

• GRINDING WHEEL SPECIFICATION - This factor involves the characteristics and properties of the grinding wheel to be dressed. It encompasses details like wheel diameter, abrasive type, grain size, bonding material, and other specifications. The dressing tool must be compatible with these wheel specifications to ensure effective and efficient dressing.

Considering these factors when designing a dressing tool is crucial to achieving the desired precision, surface finish, and workpiece quality in various grinding applications. Correct specification involves the appropriate design, selection and placement of diamonds in a way that takes into account all the factors affecting the individual customer's application. It cannot be achieved by choosing from a small range of general purpose dresser types. Customization is required.

Our team at CDT has decades of experience in specifying and manufacturing Rotary Diamond Dressers for individual applications is second to none. Our processes are what make the Consort Precision™ Diamond Rotary Dresser truly exceptional, winning awards in the industry. We now manufacture and ship our custom diamond rotary dressers from both Europe and North America. The best part? It you costs nothing to consult with us—so contact us first to find the very best fit for your project.

Custom Rotary Diamond Dressers in as little as 4 weeks: How do we do it?

Since 1984, Consort Precision Diamond has supplied diamond wheel dressing products to a broad range of industries including aerospace, aircraft, automotive, blade and knife, power generation, medical, cutting tools, tool & die, saw, gear, and bearing and many other applications. What all these grinding operations have in common is that they typically require some form of wheel dressing to re-establish the wheel profile and/or recondition the wheel face.

About Wheel Dressing or Conditioning

Wheel conditioning involves the sharpening and opening of the wheel face, while also removing dull abrasives, excessive bond, and workpiece material (loading). A sharp and open wheel face will allow maximum possible material-removal rates and reduced thermal stress on the workpiece.

Consort’s rotary dressers provide the ideal profile for your desired wheel topography, with superior materials and manufacturing technology. Because your dresser is custom manufactured, demanding and complex configurations are possible.

Diamond Roll Delivery in as Little as 4 Weeks

The question then turns to delivery and lead times. In business, time is money. Industry-standard lead times for custom rotary diamond dressers can take 8 weeks or more. That’s a long time to wait for a critical part in your manufacturing process. Consort has made a reputation for fast delivery with a standard lead time of 6-8 weeks.

Need a tool in a hurry? Customers can request “Expedited Service” for custom diamond roll delivery in as little as 4 weeks. With manufacturing, delaying maintenance can really add to your costs in the long run. When a job is expedited, we work with our customers to get them their tooling as soon as possible.

We pride ourselves on prompt service and communication. At any time, you can reach out to your Consort account representative to begin an order or find out its status. If you do not have an account rep, please reach out to our customer service through our website online form or call 800-443-6629.

Lead times should not be a hurdle in the proper maintenance of your grinding equipment. If you are looking for a better, faster diamond roll supplier, let our service techs help you get the process started.

Understand Dresser Options To Cut Costs

If you look at “Dressers “ or “Diamond Rolls” on the CDT website, it reveals several different types. Dressing is at the heart of a simple process: Use a diamond to expose fresh grit on the grinding wheel, so why so many tool options?

Focus on cost per piece

Stopping to sharpen the wheel means lost production, so it’s tempting to dress infrequently and to do it as fast as possible. Most shops know that’s a mistake, so they look for other routes to cut costs.

For some that means buying the cheapest single point dressers they can find. That’s often false economy. Instead they should try to minimize the dressing cost per work piece. That might mean buying better quality or more sophisticated dressers, which is why so many different types are offered.

Single point

The single point diamond dresser is the workhorse of grinding. It works in practically every application but is especially effective on straight wheels and for creating simple profiles. Special variants of the single point dresser are used for thread forms.

Diamonds aren’t cheap though, especially the better quality ones that better resist microcracking, so it’s important to get as much life from the dresser as possible. That means rotating the diamond regularly and changing the face exposed to the wheel to even out the wear.

Some diamond dressers are resettable, meaning the diamond can be reoriented to expose a fresh point. That adds to the cost but can mean an overall saving when compared with nonresettable dressers that are effectively throwaway items.

Multipoint dressers

In multipoint dressers, several diamond points work together to dress the grinding wheel. They work well for straight pass grinding on larger OD wheels as well as surface and centerless wheels.

A special form of the multipoint dresser is the donut cluster. These consist of a large number of diamonds set in a large crown. Good for dressing large wheels quickly, they are especially recommended for use on cylindrical grinders. 

Grit dresser tools

Continuing the progression toward more dressing points, these tools use a diamond grit rather than discrete diamonds. These are long-lasting and allow for rapid dressing, making them very cost effective.

Blade dressers

Similar to a chisel in appearance, these present a line of diamond to the wheel. While they work for straight dressing, it’s more common to use them for profiles. Blade dressers come in both fixed and swivel head geometries for additional versatility.

Rotary diamond dressers

Rotary Diamond Dressers are a highly efficient and cost effective means of dressing and truing grinding wheels. Their use in achieving accurate correct form, tolerance, and condition is rapidly growing in the automotive, aerospace, power generation, machine tool and precision engineering component manufacturing.

Not an easy choice 

There are several routes to minimize dressing cost per work piece and even for experienced machinists, it’s not always obvious which to take. That’s why it’s advisable to consult with experts to determine the best type of dresser for your application.

Supplier to Rolls Royce Creating Additional Jobs

Consort Precision Diamond, the Continental Diamond Tool subsidiary that specializes in Rotary Diamond Dressers, was recently featured in the Daily Post in Wales. Read the article below or link to the Daily Post website here.

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Supplier to Rolls Royce Creating Additional Jobs

BY OWEN HUGHES, Business Correspondent | Daily Post

A company that manufactures sophisticated cutting tools for Rolls Royce and other automotive and aerospace companies is to create 23 new jobs.

Economy Minister, Ken Skates (pictured) visited Consort Precision Diamond in Kinmel Bay, Conwy to discuss the expansion plans, which will be supported by £200k from Welsh Government.

The Minister also spoke to the company’s management team about the types of challenges they are facing in the run up to Brexit, and urged them to take advantage of the range of support offered to Welsh business to help them prepare and build resilience ahead of Brexit.

Ken Skates said: “I am delighted that the Welsh Government is supporting Conwy based Consort Precision Diamond in its plan to expand its facilities and create an additional 23 highly skilled jobs at Kinmel Bay.

“The support from Welsh Government will help fund the first phase of a five year plan that will see Consort Precision Diamond building a new premises and increasing its head count to just shy of 170.

“It was also good to speak to the company about its Brexit preparations and to ensure they are aware of, and are accessing the full range of Welsh Government support.

“Consort Precision Diamond actually exports extensively to markets outside of the EU, meaning that it is a stronger position to deal with the changes and challenges that Brexit will bring.

“I would urge any business in Wales to access our comprehensive range of exporting support and advice so they can put themselves in the strongest possible position to navigate the journey ahead.

“Of course we know that what business really needs, and continues to call for, is certainty.

“For our part we will keep pushing the UK Government to take No Deal off the table and work to secure a Brexit that protects Welsh jobs and our economy.”

Source: https://wales247.co.uk/rolls-royce-supplier-creates-23-new-jobs-with-welsh-government-support/

How to Keep your Grinding Wheels Performing Every Time

Grinding wheels are a very important tool in many factory and shop situations. They can be used for any number of projects; because of this, they tend to become something that are taken for granted. You expect that when you go to the shop that the grinding wheels will work as intended.

However, there are a number of issues that can occur that prevent the wheels from grinding as they should. While some of these problems are big and require a replacement wheel, others are reparable. One of the most common problems is a wheel that is not providing as heavy of a grind as it should.

Commonly, new wheels may not have the same grinding power as wheels that have been “broken in” and used for some time. As such, it is important to understand the concept of dressing grinding wheels.

To get the best cutting performance from your grinding wheel it is important that the wheel have a sharp abrasive grain with cutting points that are well exposed and able to connect with the piece with which you are working. 

The ultra-hard abrasive crystals often used in grinding wheels will remain sharp simply through the process of grinding itself. Essentially, the wheels will slowly expose further crystals and you will not need to continuously dress the wheel. This is one of the biggest benefits of these superabrasive grinding wheels.

However, one problem is when you are working with new wheels. Usually these wheels have a smoother grinding surface. This occurs because the crystals and the surrounding bond are still flush to the edge of the cutting surface. If you try to operate a wheel without first dressing it, you will find performance is lacking. This is called “loading.” A wheel that is loaded will have poor cutting performance and may even cause some burning to your work piece.

This is where dressers come in. Diamond dressing sticks or rotary diamond dressers (also known as diamond rolls) are supplementary tools that keep your wheel operating at peak performance.

Dressing your superabrasive grinding wheel enhances grain exposure and brushes away some of the bond so that the wheel will work as it should. However, it is important that you choose the right type of dressing for your wheel to get the performance you desire. Some of the qualities you should consider with your grinding wheel dressing include:

• Hand held aluminum oxide or silicon carbide stick

• Soft (G, H hardness)

• Fine grit (200-400 mesh)

Another strategy is to lower the RPM of the spindle, at least temporarily. This will open the wheel quicker and expose the abrasive surface for a more open surface. Then, you can increase the RPM in the future when the abrasive surface has been properly dressed and exposed.

While dressing your wheel is often something that only occurs when the wheel is new, it is possible to experience burning and poor cutting even on an older wheel. If this happens, you can simply use the same stick and technique to re-expose the surface and reopen the wheel.

As you can see, there is a lot to think about when you are first setting up your grinding wheel or if you are working with a wheel that does not seem to offer the best performance. It is possible to get the performance you desire it just takes a little work and effort up front!

The Importance of Maintaining your Grinding Wheels

To understand how important it is to dress grinding wheels, you must first understand just how grinding wheels work. A grinding wheel is an abrasive cutting tool. It rotates quickly while in use and is very similar to a saw. However, a saw blade is only sharp along the edge. A grinding wheel has small sharp grains distributed over the surface of the wheel. Dressing grinding wheels is important maintenance.

When you press another material to the grinding wheel, its surface is gradually worn away. The results range from subtle to dramatic depending on the wheel and its intended use. Grinding wheels come in different materials. The surface material of the grinding wheel will decide what items it will work on. For example, aluminum oxide wheels work well on many steels, wrought iron, annealed malleable iron, and bronzes. Silicon carbide works well on rubber and stone.

Grinding wheels come in various shapes, including cup, dish, and cylinder shapes. The shape of the wheel typically changes over time with use. When you notice that the wheel's shape is different from that initially displayed, it’s time to discuss the matter of dressing grinding wheels. You have options available to you such as diamond dressers for grinding wheels and aluminum oxide dressing sticks. Each has its own distinctive features.

Grinding wheel dresser diamond tools are an extremely hard and efficient option. Diamonds are best known for their sparkle and elegance, but they also have a durable quality that makes them ideal for dressing tools. The hard diamonds score and reshape most dressing wheels very quickly and efficiently. A diamond dresser for grinding wheels will work with nearly any material. Choose the dresser design that’s best for your desired finish and get to work returning your grinding wheel to its former glory.

Aluminum oxide dressing sticks are a good option as well. Aluminum oxide is often used to dress tools made from diamond. The diamonds are easily sharpened with aluminum oxide. If the tool you’re working with is itself diamond, opt for this type of dressing stick to keep it maintained.

Dressers come in many shapes so you can restore any type of grinding wheel easily. A chisel dresser creates a fine contour. Plunge dressers are best for a concave radius. Grit dressers have broad even faces for fast dressing on a large surface. There’s a tool for any grinding wheel so you can always keep your surfaces in top shape. Plan to use your dressing tools often and your grinding wheels will have a long life span.

Continental Diamond Tool has acquired Consort Precision Diamond

Continental Diamond Tool Corporation (CDT), an industry leader in Diamond & CBN grinding wheels and tools, today announces their acquisition of Consort Precision Diamond Company Limited, a leading manufacturer of Rotary Diamond Dressers in the United Kingdom. You can find them exhibiting together at GrindTec 2018 this week: Hall 4,  Booth 4082.

About CDT

Continental Diamond Tool, a private company located in New Haven, Indiana, is a leading producer in the global market for superabrasive grinding wheels and custom tooling. For more than 40 years, they have specialized in the design, manufacture and application of diamond and CBN cutting and grinding products and services. Their Electroplated, Resin Bond, Metal Bond, Vitrified Bond, and CDT-exclusive Hybrid Bond products serve a wide range of industries, including medical, oil & gas, automotive, aerospace, cutting tools, power generation, wood & saw, electronics, and many others.

About Consort Precision

Consort Precision Diamond Company Ltd is a private company established in 1984 by its shareholders as a manufacturing facility specializing in the production of Rotary Diamond Dressers for niche grinding operations. Their highly accurate precision components are used predominantly in automotive, aerospace and land-based turbine engine production.

For information on Consort Precision Diamond's Rotary Diamond Dressers, please contact our Customer Service at 800-443-6629 or info@cdtusa.net and they can assist you with a quote.

Dressing or Truing: What’s the Difference?

Any time a grinding wheel is mounted on a machine it must be trued and dressed to produce satisfactory work. These two terms are sometimes lumped together as “conditioning” but they mean different things. Inexpensive conventional abrasive wheels are relatively robust: dressing and truing can often be performed at the same time and repeated periodically. The same is not true for CBN and diamond grinding wheels.

These superabrasive grinding wheels represent a considerable investment, which should be repaid in longer life and higher productivity. However, achieving that performance demands close attention be paid to truing and dressing.

WHY TRUE A GRINDING WHEEL?

No matter how precisely manufactured, once a grinding wheel is mounted on a spindle there will be some eccentricity. Even if it's less than 0.001” it's going to affect the final size and finish of the workpiece, so to produce high-quality work the wheel must be trued.

One method of finding high spots is with a child's wax crayon. Spin up the wheel and bring in the crayon until it just touches: high spots will quickly gain a colored layer.

TRUING SUPERABRASIVE WHEELS

Conventional grinding wheels are easily trued with a diamond cutter that's harder than the wheel matrix. Diamond and CBN wheels can't be cut, and instead are effectively ground to size. While this can be done by traversing a conventional grinding wheel or sintered diamond roller across the wheel face, many machinists prefer to use a brake-controlled truing device (BCTD.)

Like the other methods, the BTCD presents an abrasive surface to the wheel, but turns more slowly. This speed differential results in a precise and controllable truing operation.

DRESS AFTERWARDS

Truing creates a smooth surface on the wheel periphery, and with no exposed grit the wheel won't cut. Dressing sharpens the wheel by removing bond material and fracturing the superabrasive grit to expose fresh edges, so dressing always follows truing.

A superabrasive grinding wheel is largely self-sharpening, although the workpiece material can cause it to dull or load-up. In such situations the grit starts to either rub against the surface or plow, (pushing material aside). Both affect surface finish, increase cutting forces and create heat, which can damage the workpiece. The solution is periodic dressing.

IMPACT OF WHEEL CONSTRUCTION

Resin and vitrified superabrasive grinding wheels have some depth to the matrix. This allows a wheel to be dressed and trued several times. However, plated and metal bond wheels have a much thinner layer of grit and can only be trued to the depth available.