If your shop does a lot of grinding, you have specialized machinery for the job. However, when it comes to surface and cylindrical grinding, you can deliver high-quality work and save time if you follow some simple and helpful tips. Here are some important things to consider before you begin.
Wheels and Grit
Do you want the best surface finish possible? If so, wheel grit is the most important consideration. When you need to remove a great deal of material at one time, use a rough or coarse grit. Of course, you do not get a smooth finish this way. Fine grit is best for finishing, but it can cause some problems.
Fine finish wheels tend to clog easily, especially when you try surface or cylindrical grinding with softer metals or plastics. Remember, the lower the grit number, the rougher the finish and higher numbers give you the smoothest finish. If you want to finish the job in the quickest manner, consider a two or three-step grinding wheel which gives you smooth and rough finish grit on one wheel.
Speed
How fast you run your workpieces through is an important consideration for surface and cylindrical grinding finishes. This is called feed rate. When you grind hard metals, you can run them through at a faster rate and still get a good finish. Softer metals need more grinding time. The length of your workpiece is also important, as longer pieces usually require slower feed rates.
Cooling Efficiency
With harder metals, you can sometimes dry grind, but some materials like softer metals and plastics need a good coolant. If you use coolant frequently, consider installing a coolant filtration and recycling system. This can save you a lot of money on coolant, and you spend less money on used coolant disposal fees.