Grinding

A fine-grit wheel brings the part to its design shape and finish: cylindrical, internal, external and surface grinding.

Grinding is performed on a grinding machine whose tool is an extremely hard, fine-grit wheel. It brings a component to its optimal design shape or surface, and follows roughing: roughing removes most of the excess, while grinding removes what is left and gives the machined surface a high degree of finish.

It is a costly operation, so it is used only where a high finish is required, for example bearing seats and gear profiles.

Used on cylindrical, tapered or contoured surfaces, both external and internal.

The part is mounted on a spindle that turns slowly in the same direction as the wheel and also traverses axially. The wheel turns at high speed and removes the material.

A typical application is the crankshaft grinder. Because of its shape, the crankshaft is the most complex cylindrical part to machine: crankshaft manufacturers and engine rebuilders use these machines to grind both main bearing journals and crankpins.

Used on flat surfaces. Machines fall into two groups according to the position of the wheel:

• Peripheral surface grinder
• Face grinder