High speed grinding uses conventional abrasives

Edited by the Manufacturingtalk editorial team Dec 3, 2002

For high speed grinding, a revolutionary system using conventional abrasives operates at 140m/s to produce higher metal removal rates than can be achieved with vitrified CBN wheels.

The demand for high speed grinding has led Saint-Gobain Abrasives to develop Optimos, a revolutionary system that delivers superior grinding economics using conventional abrasives.

Until now, only electroplated or vitrified cubic boron nitride (CBN) wheels have been able to offer the grinding force required at elevated speed without excessive thermal damage.

However, the performance of CBN wheels comes at a price.

Saint-Gobain Abrasives has launched the Optimos grinding system, which uses conventional abrasives that can operate at 140m/s to produce higher metal removal rates than can be achieved with vitrified CBN wheels.

Because it uses conventional ceramic wheels, Optimus offers a grinding tool that can be redressed with standard or low-cost dressing systems.

These savings allow Optimus to make both volume production and short to medium batches a viable proposition.

Not only does Optimos offer economic advantages but also excellent performance with a core of highly porous abrasive.

Saint-Gobain Abrasives is the technology behind brands including Norton, Universal, Winter, Bay State and Flexovit.

(This was Manufacturingtalk's Top Story on 1 December 2002).