Grinding wheels
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Frequently asked questions
How do you read a wheel code such as WA 60 K 5 V?
Under ISO 525, WA is white aluminium oxide, 60 is the grit, K is the bond grade on a soft-to-hard letter scale, 5 is the structure or porosity and V is vitrified bond. B denotes resin bond, common on handheld grinding wheels. When ordering a replacement, give the full code together with outside diameter, thickness and bore.
Should hard materials be ground with hard or soft wheels?
As a rule, hard materials use a softer bond so dull grains break away to expose sharp ones, while soft materials use a harder bond. A wheel that is too hard on hardened steel glazes, heats up and burns the part. One that is too soft wears quickly and does not hold its form.
What should be checked when mounting a bench grinder wheel?
Vitrified wheels should be ring tested before mounting: a clear ring indicates a sound wheel, a dull sound may mean a crack. Mount with blotters on both sides and equal-diameter flanges, tighten moderately, and run it unloaded for about a minute while standing to one side. Keep the gap between the wheel and the work rest to no more than about 3 mm.
When does a grinding wheel need dressing?
Dress the wheel with a diamond dresser or wheel dresser when it glazes, loads with metal, cuts poorly or vibrates from running out of round. Dressing exposes sharp grains and trues the face. Avoid using aluminium oxide wheels on soft aluminium or copper, as soft metal clogs the pores quickly.
How is a Type 27 depressed-centre grinding wheel used safely?
A Type 27 wheel is used at about 20 to 30 degrees to the surface, grinding with the face rather than cutting with the edge. Use the correct guard for grinding wheels, clamp with the tool's flanges and check the maximum speed against the tool. If a wheel is dropped or knocked hard, inspect it for cracks before further use.
What is the ring test for grinding wheels?
It is a check before mounting vitrified wheels: suspend the wheel on a finger through the bore and tap it gently with a wooden or plastic mallet handle about 45 degrees either side of the vertical centreline. A sound wheel gives a clear ring, a cracked wheel sounds dull. The test does not work well on small wheels, resin-bonded wheels or depressed-centre wheels, so a visual inspection is still needed.
Why should a grinding wheel be test run after mounting?
A newly mounted wheel should run unloaded at operating speed for at least about one minute, with people standing clear of the plane of rotation. Most breakages caused by hidden cracks or incorrect mounting happen right at start-up. If vibration or unusual noise appears, stop the machine and check again.
Can the side of a straight grinding wheel be used?
No, a Type 1 straight wheel is designed for grinding on its periphery. Side loads can break the wheel, especially once it has worn thin. For flat surface work, use a cup or dish wheel designed for face grinding.
