How to Select The Best Surface Grinding Wheel

Grinding is a machining method used to grind and polish metals in a workshop. Some grinding processes are simple (cutting through soft materials like nonmetals and plastic) while some are complex such as cutting through hard materials.

Let’s know more in detail about surface grinding?

What is Surface Grinding?

Surface grinding is a common machining process used to create a smooth finishing on flat surfaces. In the surface grinding a spinning wheel (grinding wheel) cuts metals, non-metals, and other material on a workpiece to provide a flat or smooth surface.

It's essential to choose the right surface grinding wheel if you are looking for proper results such as a better finishing. Grinding wheels come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and the differences between different types of abrasives can be difficult to understand. Let’s understand the types of abrasive grain.

Types of Abrasive Grain

Abrasive grains are divided into four categories such as alumina, silica carbide, zirconia alumina, and ceramic. In terms of toughness, hardness, impact strength, and shock resistance, each abrasive form is different. The selection of abrasives is directly connected to the workpiece material.

Alumina

It is the most popular abrasive grain in grinding wheels. It's typically used to grind stainless steel and tool steel, but it can also be used to grind certain high-strength aluminum and bronze alloys.

Silicon Carbide

Carbide grains are sharper and tougher than alumina. Silicon carbide is used to grind aluminum, brass, stone, and other non-ferrous metals.

Zirconia Alumina

Zirconia grains are used for harsh grinding tasks that require a large amount of cutting volume. High-tech resin bonding is linked to this grain.

Ceramic

It is the most advanced type of abrasive, sometimes referred to as ceramic steel. The ceramic particles have a microcrystalline structure that provides self polish tendency. This abrasive is incredibly utilized for the precision grinding of the hardened steel.

Factors to Consider Before Selecting a Surface grinding Wheel

The grinding wheel and abrasive grain have five important factors: abrasives type, bond, grain size, structure, and grade. Following are the important points to consider before choosing the best surface grinding wheel.

• Nature of abrasive grain 
• Size of abrasive grain
• Strength of abrasive grains 
• The proportion of grains in the wheel 
• Nature of bonding agent

Read More: Five Factors of Grinding Wheel

Choosing the Best Surface Grinding Wheel on the Basis of Material to Grind

The surface grinding wheel, particle size, and abrasive grade you choose are mainly determined by the type of material. Grinding high-strength materials like steel and cast iron with alumina-type abrasives is quite easy. The more brittle alumina variety is recommended in hard steels and applications with high contact arcs.

Grinding or cutting with abrasive silicon carbide is the most effective method for low tensile strength materials and non-metallic materials. The amount of traction available to the abrasive is determined by the material's hardness.

As a result, fine-grained grinding wheels are required for hard materials, while medium- and coarse-grained grinding wheels are preferred for soft materials. The grade must be adjusted to suit the material's hardness for the most effective operations.