Companies that choose to grind carbide are ones that do not fear to take on a challenge. This non-ferrous material presents some difficulties due to its high hardness. This characteristic is one reason why the material is very popular for tool making. It is also why carbide grinding remains a specialty trade.
What Industries Request Grinding Carbide?
Many industries choose to utilize carbide. Carbide, particularly tungsten carbide, is commonly employed in various tools. Tool rooms around the world contain tools constructed from carbide. Industrial engineering and aerospace industry are two concerns where carbide tools are common and important in carrying out their goals. They employ them for
* Cutter sharpening
* Form tool grinding
* Internal grinding production
* Surfacing
* Step tools
* Step drills
* Milling cutters
* Burrs
* Reamers
* Inserts
* Countersinks
* Punches
* Routers
* Masonry drills
The list seems to be endless. To manufacture such durable tools and cutters, it is important to have the right wheel.
It is All in the Wheel
The hardness level of carbide makes it imperative to choose the right tools for any process. When it comes to grinding, machine shops and finishers need to make certain they have the right tools. It is very important that the right wheel be selected to address the characteristics of carbide. When looking at the right wheel for grinding carbide, a carbide manufacturer specialist needs to consider the following:
* Wheel size
* Wheel speed
* Wheel shape
* Wheel width of the rim
* Traverse rate
* Grit material
* Grit bonding method
* Grit size – Wheels with finer grit size will provide a better finish for carbide. This will also improve the quality of the cut. They also lengthen the life between sharpening. Finer grit saws are also less power suckers than higher grit saws. Using such fine grit saws, however, increase the time to finish a saw
While you may be able to determine many of these factors on your own, you also have to carefully take into consideration the expectations and requirements of your customer. In general, two major materials tend to comprise the cutting wheel for carbide grinding. These are diamond or silicon carbide.
Grinding Carbide
While carbide may present difficulties in cutting, it makes up for this. Many machinists prefer to work with carbide because:
* It is easy to process than other substances e.g. steel
* The surface finish is smooth and more aesthetically pleasing
* It is easy to hold
* The dwells (intermittent motions in a machine) are much nicer
* Predictability – You know what to expect from carbide
If you intend to work with carbide, you must consider in selecting a tool that can produce the requisite results. When grinding carbide, always choose a wheel that will allow you to produce a finished result that boasts the best of everything: appearance, investment and function.
