Metal Grinding

The manufacturing process of metal has been practiced by man predating the industrial revolution. The first machinist performed this task by hand. Most machining done today is done by computer automation, with the exception of special applications that require the human element.

Grinding is actually cutting. The abrasive wheel is if fact making tiny cuts sometimes at the microscopic level. This cutting can achieve two things. Either you are removing material to achieve a desired shape or thickness, or you are applying a finish to the material.

These metal cutting processes can be fine tuned resulting in various finishes. The more abrasive the cutting surface is, the rougher the finish the more material is removed. The lesser the abrasive is on the cutting surface, the more refined the finish will be, with the least amount of material removed. The smoothing of the edges is sometimes still done by hand.

There are several types of grinding. This machining is usually done on flat surfaces using a cylindrical grinding wheel but can be fitted to machine basically any shape desired. The work is held in place by a chuck while the machine works in a reciprocating manner. There are also several abrasive materials used to achieve a variety of finishes.

This process is considered to be the most accurate form of machining. Extreme tolerances can be calculated and achieved to one thousandth of an inch. This precision is essential in the manufacturing of products that require a high standard of machining where exact tolerances have to be met.