4 Steps To Improve The Performance of Diamond Grinding Wheels

Diamond grinding wheels have numerous advantages, ranging from high material removal rates to minimal thermal damage. Proper grinding wheel maintenance is critical to ensuring that your wheel produces consistent results. If you've arrived here, you're probably wondering, "How can I make my diamond grinding wheel perform better?" Check out these four steps to improve the performance of your diamond wheel, achieve better results, and extend the life of your grinding wheel.

1. Determine what success with a grinding wheel means to you

The first step toward better wheel performance is determining how you will measure success. This can be accomplished by asking yourself a few questions, such as:

Do I want to make my diamond wheel last longer?

Do I want my grinding wheel to hold its edge better?

Is it necessary for me to have higher stock removal rates and the ability to finish more parts in the same amount of time?

Is a mirror-like surface finish on my finished product my number one priority?

2. Think about the surface

Although diamond is the hardest naturally occurring material, it has limitations. Diamond grinding wheels are suitable for a wide range of materials, including quartz, alloys, carbides, and glass. HVOF, composites, PCD/PCN, and other non-ferrous materials may also be used.

In addition to the surfaces mentioned above, diamond is not suitable for steel or iron due to the intense heat reaction produced when carbon and iron collide at high speeds. When exposed to ferrous materials, the grit of a diamond wheel quickly erodes. Diamonds are excellent for almost any other purpose. They are capable of cutting through ceramics, sharpening carbide, and polishing granite. Diamond wheels are the best choice for using a grinding wheel on specialty materials.

3. Please perform a wheel check!

You'll be eager to put your new diamond wheel to use, but remember to check your wheel before you wreck it! Diamond wheels must be inspected to ensure there are no cracked or damaged areas. Before using, check for runout and ensure that the flanges, back plates, and spindles are clean. It's also a good idea to double-check that the cutting edge is open and sharp. In the long run, a quick inspection of your grinding wheel could save you a lot of time and money.

4. Operating conditions for diamond wheels

A diamond wheel is intended for straight cuts with even pressure. Avoid excessive pressure, jamming, and twisting while using. These errors could result in cracks and section losses. Remember to operate your diamond wheel under the proper conditions to get the longest life and the highest material removal rates. Wheel speed, work speed, feed rate, and the use of grinding fluids are among the four conditions.

4.1 Maximum wheel speed

The diameter of the wheel and the spindle speed of your machine are used to calculate wheel speed in surface feet per minute (SFM). This can be expressed in either meters per second (m/s) or revolutions per minute (RPM). Our wheel speed chart contains helpful guidelines. Other factors, such as whether or not you use coolant, may require you to run a little faster or slower.

Depending on how low or high it is, the SFPM can cause a wheel to act softer or harder than usual. If the wheel appears to be losing its edge too quickly, you may need to accelerate it. If it does not appear to be cutting at all, you may need to slow it down. These variables should be considered when determining the wheel's life and effectiveness.

Nobler Glass has a phone app that can help you figure out what SFPM you're running. To calculate your SFPM, enter the diameter of your wheel (in millimeters or inches) and the spindle speed (in RPMs or m/s).

4.2 Work rate

The amount of downfeed (depth) of cut controls the table traverse speed (crossfeed). Specific work speed rates can be difficult to define because they can vary greatly depending on the operation, machine, and conditions. Testing is usually used to determine the best speed, which can be pinpointed when there is no loss of speed or excessive wear on the wheel.

4.3 Feed rate

You want to avoid shortening the life of your diamond wheel. To avoid this, make sure you don't cut too deeply. This can lead to cracked tires, burns, and chips. This error can cause a variety of errors, depending on the application.

4.4 Cutting fluids

When possible, use diamond wheels with grinding fluids. They reduce grinding heat while also extending wheel life. It is also critical to apply coolant correctly. Allow the centrifugal force of the wheel to distribute the coolant in a constant stream to the area of ground contact when applying it. If dry grinding is your only option (for example, cutter grinding), use a resin-bonded wheel. Most wheel manufacturers offer a wide variety of resin-bonded wheels specifically designed for dry grinding cemented carbide tools. These grinding wheels are extremely effective and can operate without the use of any coolant.

We hope you found some useful tips to improve the performance of your diamond wheel after reviewing the information above.

Nobler Glass believes in making minor adjustments to ensure that you get exactly what you want from your diamond grinding wheel. Our application engineers will walk you through the entire process, from understanding your options to receiving post-purchase product support. When you're ready to get started, our engineers are standing by to answer your questions by phone or email.