Factors Influencing The Prices of Diamond And CBN Grinding Wheels

What factors affect the cost of a grinding wheel? Probably more than you realize! Some of these factors will be obvious when evaluating price, while others may be unexpected. We've put together an easy reference guide below to help you gain a better understanding.

The obvious factors

1. Wheel diameter: The larger the wheel, the more expensive it is.

2. Abrasive section thickness: A thicker wheel contains more abrasive, making it more expensive.

3. Depth of the abrasive section: As with thickness, the deeper the abrasive section, the more expensive the wheel. More material is used as the depth increases.

4. Quantities Quantities: The majority of manufacturers follow the "buy more, save more" model. The more abrasive and resin that can be combined in a single batch, the more cores that can be produced. A larger quantity of a particular wheel typically lowers the cost of materials.

Unexpected circumstances

1. Abrasive concentration: A higher concentration of C100 or C125 will raise the cost of the wheel, but in some applications, C125 is required to ensure wheel performance. The carats per cubic centimeter are referred to as concentration.

2. Certain bonds are more expensive than others. Metal bonds, poly bonds, hybrid bonds, vit bonds, electroplated, and vacuum-brazed are among the more expensive bonds.

3. Fine grits (400 and above) are more expensive.

4. Tight Tolerances: If the application or customer requires extremely tight tolerances, the price will rise.

5. Core Material: The core material has two effects on pricing:

Bakelite is typically the least expensive and lightest material, so it saves on freight.

Steel is the most expensive and heaviest material, which raises shipping costs.

How much will a diamond or CBN wheel cost?

As can be seen, the price of a super abrasive wheel varies greatly depending on the type and application. The information presented above should help you determine the "total cost" of both pre-stocked and custom grinding wheels. Remember that your investment in a grinding wheel includes more than just the wheel itself. It also includes the long-term value of your wheel.

When approaching manufacturers, make sure you're prepared so you can make the best decision possible. If Eagle's solutions appear to meet your grinding requirements, rest assured that our expert application engineers will walk you through the process and answer any questions you may have. We offer free grinding wheel quotes from our engineers. We believe in providing you with the education you need to guide you in the direction of the best grinding wheel solution in a no-pressure environment.

Saw blade sharpening with diamond wheels

When it comes to grinding carbide-tipped saw blades, diamond wheels provide numerous advantages. Diamond wheels offer the consistency required for repeatable top, face, and side grinding on manual and CNC machines. It is critical to have the proper wheel on the grinder to meet your operational objectives.

How to Begin Saw Grinding Improvements

Consider the result you want to achieve before switching to a different diamond wheel in your saw grinding operations. Typically, the solution revolves around having a wheel that cuts cool and quickly removes carbide. Rather than focusing solely on wheel price, the goal should be to produce more products. Simply because a wheel is less expensive does not imply that it will save you money in the long run. We go into greater detail about this here.

Grinding carbide requires the use of a diamond wheel. The use of synthetic diamonds in the grinding industry has grown exponentially since their introduction. Diamond particles have become less shock-resistant and more uniform in size over time. Improved coatings that hold the diamond particle in the bond have also contributed to increased wheel life.

1. Bonds for saw grinding

Eagle provides a variety of bond types for various applications. However, resin is the preferred bond for carbide-tipped saw blades. Metal bonds are useful on nonmetallic surfaces such as glass or ceramics, but not on carbide. Metal bonds are simply too strong.

2. Improving the formulation

Eagle engineers can create resin bond wheels in a variety of grades and hardnesses. Our diamonds are also available in a variety of grit sizes and coarseness levels. The coarsest is 60/80 mesh, while 2,000 grit will provide a mirror finish for saw blades or plastics. We typically produce grits as fine as 1,000-1,200, but we can produce grits as fine as 2,000 for special applications.

On carbide saw blades, a finer grit wheel provides a smoother finish. It also improves the quality of the cut and requires less power than saws with rough grinds, but a finer grit also means that material cannot be removed as quickly. You want to eliminate as much lateral movement as possible when grinding saw blades. Make sure the blade is clamped close to the ground tip. Pushing a wheel too hard can cause machine deflection or cause the wheel to push off the tip. The same problem can be caused by using a wheel that is too hard for the type of infeed and material removal. It is critical to consult with an engineer before deciding on the formula that will work best for your operation.

3. Variables of operation

The "grindability" of various grades of carbide varies significantly, with some being more damaging on a diamond wheel than others. Increased cobalt content in the carbide softens the carbide, causing the diamond wheel to wear faster. It is also necessary to consider the diamond wheel's concentration. Increased diamond particle concentration improves grinding performance. The wheel's extended life will benefit your operational profitability. An increase in diamond concentration of up to 125 improves grinding performance significantly. Wheels with diamond concentrations of 50 or less should be carefully considered.

It should be noted that carbide grinding success is heavily influenced by speed, traverse rate, and diamond concentration. These variables should be evaluated and tracked over time. Keeping a record of facts and figures over time can help your engineer identify any changes that need to be made to the grinding wheel.