If you are new to the process of grinding a rigid object into a smoother shape, look no further. Grinding machines use high-powered abrasives to form the new shape, but there are small variations in the equipment used that can make a big difference in the quality of the piece if used improperly. Here’s what to look for.

What wheel do you need?
Wheels come in different types, depending on the job: flat wheels (type 1), depressed-center (type 27), cup wheel (type 11), and semi-flexible (type 29). A depressed-center wheel can be used in metal fabrication; construction jobs involving concrete fabrication, and weld grinding. A cup wheel is used for tool and slot grinding. It is best to have an understanding of what job you need to accomplish to find the right wheel.

Grinding machine wheels also come in different degrees of coarseness. A wheel with numbers below 70 are a coarse grain, 70 and higher are a fine grain.

Consider the bonds.

A grinding machine also has three different types of possible bonds:

1. Vitrified, which is best suited for precision grinding.

2. Resinoid, which is well-suited for a variety of jobs.

3. Rubber, which is very strong and works well for snag grinding machine jobs.

What happens if the wrong piece is used?

Because there are different components to the grinding machine that specialize in certain jobs, using an incorrect component could potential damage the machine, or at the very least, do a poor job. All it takes is for a piece is off by as little as .0001 inches. Using the right bond, wheel type, and grain type is just a matter of doing a little research on the material used.

Grinding machines can complete various jobs, ranging from rapid grinding of a metal to using it more as a polishing machine with a very fine grit wheel. To do a job from start to finish, you might need a few different wheels on hand to take it from shaping to polishing.