Guide to Using Grinding Wheels for Stone Processing

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Grinding wheels are essential cutting tools used in the process of stone grinding. They consist of numerous small, hard abrasive grains bonded together with a binder to form a porous object. The abrasive grains directly carry out the cutting work, requiring them to be sharp, highly hard, heat-resistant, and possess a certain level of toughness. Two common abrasives used are aluminum oxide (also known as corundum) and silicon carbide. Aluminum oxide abrasives offer high hardness and good toughness, making them suitable for grinding steel materials. On the other hand, silicon carbide abrasives are even harder, sharper, and have excellent thermal conductivity, but they are relatively brittle, making them suitable for grinding cast iron and hard alloys.

The Fineness of Grinding Wheels and Its Impact:

Even for the same type of abrasive, the grinding wheel's fineness determines the workpiece's surface roughness and efficiency after processing. Coarser abrasive grains are used for rough grinding, while finer abrasive grains are suitable for precision grinding. As the abrasive becomes more insensitive, the grit size becomes smaller.

The Role of Binders in Grinding Wheels:

The binder plays a crucial role in bonding the abrasive grains together. Ceramic binders are commonly used, followed by resin binders. The choice of binder material influences the grinding wheel's corrosion resistance, strength, heat resistance, and toughness.

The Hardness of Grinding Wheels:

The hardness of a grinding wheel refers to the ability of abrasive grains on the wheel's surface to resist detachment under external forces. A firmly bonded grinding wheel is less likely to shed abrasive grains, making it considered hard. In contrast, a grinding wheel that easily sheds abrasive grains is considered soft. The hardness of the grinding wheel and the hardness of the abrasive are two different concepts. If the surface of the workpiece to be ground is relatively soft, the cutting edges of the abrasive grains will not wear easily. In such cases, a grinding wheel with a higher hardness (firmly bonded) can be chosen for prolonged use. Conversely, a lower-hardness grinding wheel is suitable for grinding harder workpieces.

Safety and Maintenance of Grinding Wheels:

Grinding wheels operate under high-speed conditions, making it essential to inspect them for any defects, such as cracks, before installation to ensure safety. Additionally, dynamic balancing tests should be conducted before use to ensure the smooth operation of the grinding wheel.

Regular grinding work may cause the surface of the grinding wheel to become clogged with debris, the abrasive edges to become dull, and the original geometric shape to deform. Therefore, periodic dressing is necessary to restore cutting ability and the correct geometric shape of the grinding wheel. Diamond pens are used for dressing the grinding wheel.

Grinding wheels are indispensable tools in stone grinding, offering the ability to process hard materials such as hardened steel and hard alloys. Their unique characteristics allow for uniform, minimal cutting and high-speed grinding, providing economical high-precision processing and fine surface roughness. However, careful consideration should be given to factors such as cooling, radial forces, and the abrasives' self-sharpening nature to ensure safe and effective grinding operations. By understanding the essential aspects of grinding wheel usage, stone grinding processes can be optimized, leading to enhanced efficiency and precision in component manufacturing.