What are the Applications of Grinding Wheels?

Grinding, or abrasive machining is that removing metal within the sort of minute chips by the action of irregularly shaped abrasive particles. These particles could also be in bonded wheels, coated belts, or just loose.

What are Grinding Wheels?

Grinding wheels are composed of small abrasive grains held together by a bonding material. Each abrasive grain may be a leading edge. Because the grain passes over the workpiece, it cuts a little chip, leaving a smooth, accurate surface. As each abrasive grain becomes dull, it breaks faraway from the bonding material.

The capability of an abrasive wheel is decided by the abrasive utilized in making the wheel. The hardness, toughness, and skill to chop sharp edges also are determined by the abrasive used. The bonding or coating material is employed to work out the structure and shape integrity of the wheel in use.

Types of Grinding Bonds

Abrasive grains are held together during an emery wheel by a bonding material. The bonding material doesn't cut during the grinding operation. Its primary function is to carry the grains alongside varying degrees of strength. Common emery wheel bonds are vitrified, resinoid, silicate, shellac, rubber, and metal.

Vitrified bond

Vitrified bonds are used on quite 75 percent of all grinding wheels. The vitrified bond material is composed of finely ground clay and fluxes with which the abrasive is thoroughly mixed. The mixture of bonding agent and abrasive within the wheel is then heated to 2,400°F to fuse the materials. Vitrified wheels are strong and rigid. They keep high strength at elevated temperatures and are practically unaffected by water, oils, or acids. One disadvantage is that they exhibit low shock resistance. Therefore, their application is restricted, where impact and enormous temperature differentials occur.

Resinoid bond

Resinoid bonded grinding wheels are second in popularity to vitrified wheels. Phenolic in powdered or liquid form is mixed with the abrasive grains during a formation and cured at about 360F. Resinoid wheels used for grinding accelerates to 16,500 SFPM. Their primary use is in rough grinding and cut-off operations.

Silicate bond

This bonding material is employed when grinding heat must be kept to a minimum. Silicate bonding material releases the abrasive grains more quickly than other bonding agents. Speed is restricted to below 4,500 SFPM.

Shellac bond

Shellac is an organic bond used for grinding wheels that produce smooth finishes on parts like rolls, cutlery, camshafts, and crankpins. Generally, they're not suitable for heavy-duty grinding operations.

Rubber bond

Rubber-bond is extremely tough and robust. Their principal uses are as thin cut-off wheels and driving wheels in centerless grinding machines. They're also used when excellent finishes are required on bearing surfaces.

Metal bond

Metal bonds are used primarily as binding agents for diamond abrasives. They're also utilized in electrolytic grinding, where the bond must be electrically conductive.

See Also: What are Diamond Grinding Cup Wheels? 

Applications of Grinding Wheels

Grinding wheels are abrasive for various cutting and grinding applications. It uses this Grinding wheel for cutting and grinding multiple metal and other workpieces during a workshop. It also uses these wheels to chop and shape complex workpieces.

The usage of abrasive wheels is more in demand lately because they're more accurate than other sorts of grinding machines. Also important to notice are the two sorts of abrasives used. These are:

Silicon Carbide

It is sharp and hard, and it can be brittle. It should use this only to grind low-lasting materials like grey forged iron, chilled iron, bronze, aluminum, copper, and brass.

Aluminum Oxide

It is slightly softer than carbide but much more rigid. It should be cutting and grinding high-lasting materials like steel, malleable iron, bronze, etc.

Weld Grinding

After welding, you regularly got to level the weld and smooth the surface. To accomplish this, we recommend employing a Cubitron™ II fiber disc, flap disc, or depressed center emery wheel. It enables you to remove the weld and make A level surface quickly.

Beveling

Beveling is completed to shape the edges of your workpiece before welding. It will be done using either a fiber disc, flap disc, depressed center emery wheel, or maybe with an abrasive belt. Our selection of metalworking abrasives can assist you in taking the sting off of any metal part or substrate.

Precision Grinding

When precision isn't only expected but required, trust 3M abrasives to deliver. We have the products and expertise to support and improve your precision processes – including centerless grinding, creep-feed, and surface grinding, gear grinding, micro finishing, and more.