Grinding wheel shapes

[colinbParticipant @colinb]

I just acquired a GHA Tool/Cutter Grinder (Deckel clone, “D-bit grinder). Much to learn in many domains, but the biggest thing I’ve not yet found any solid explanations on is how to select a shape of wheel.

There are straight, cylinder, straight cup, flared cup, dish, saucer, tapered, recessed, etc etc etc

How does one choose which shape for which task?

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

I have ta admit I have never seen any recommendations other than if getting into small spaces like tap flutes etc. I tend to use straight cup and flared cup most of the time and then I mostly do drills,slot drills ,end mills and D bits. I will say that using the correct compound is important. IMHO stay away from green grit wheels unless you grind 100yds away from your workshop!!!

[colinbParticipant @colinb]

When do you choose straight Vs flared cup then?

Aluminium oxide is definitely coming nowhere near the workshop! Most likely CBN only, with dust extraction and probably physical segregation too

[bernard towers]

On bernard towers Said:

I have ta admit I have never seen any recommendations …

Me neither.   Unlike lathes and milling machines, where several good books describe the basics, I’ve never come across anything  that explains tool-grinding in useful detail.

Might be because sharpening tools is a specialisation, and firms would start by sending the operator on a course covering the various types of cutter and how to grind them, including selecting the most appropriate wheel.   Must be a major investment because my 1948 Engineering book recommends sending tools out to be resharpened by specialists rather than buying a machine.   Presumably an awful lot of cutters had to be resharpened before it paid to do it in-house.

Does anyone know of a book or anything else that explains tool-grinding in detail?

Dave

[Anonymous]

The Clarkson T&C grinder manuals give examples of the most common cutter grinding operations. A straight wheel and a flared cup wheel will cover most cutter grinding operations. For grinding the lead on taps a straight cup wheel will be needed.

All my T&C grinding wheels are aluminium oxide, as are those on my surface and cylindrical grinders.

Andrew

[Clive Brown 1Participant @clivebrown1]

Although a very different machine, Prof. Chaddock’s book on building the “Quorn” gives quite a lot of information on wheel selection and set-ups for various tool grinding operations.

It might be worth a read, it seems readily available on Ebay or Amazon.

Since some ops call for wheels that are dressed to shape, it might be difficult to avoid aluminium oxide altogether.

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

It seems that on reading the above mentioned book that there are several times where you have the choice of two wheels so it seems that if it fits the job in hand its ok?.

[Paul LousickParticipant @paullousick59116]

Lots of videos on Youtube about tool grinders and types of wheels.

[colinbParticipant @colinb]

Thanks all, much to look into.

@paullousick59116 I found many on T&CG grinders, many on different abrasives/grades, but none on wheel shapes – could you share one you’ve found on the topic?

[Earny49Participant @earny49]

I have an excellent book on tool and cutter grinding. Unfortunately it is probably out of print now. It is one of ‘Machinery’s standard Reference series.

The title is : Tool and cutter Grinding (second edition)

Author :      Robert S. Connell

Publisher:  The Machinery Publishing Co Ltd

Date of publishing. 1964

There is no ISBN number  in the book !

I see that it cost me 25 shillings from a pencilled price inside the front cover.

If you are really interested it might be worth seeking out but it covers a very wide range of cutter and tool grinding.

I can endorse the advice that a copy of the Clarkson T & C manual or the one from ‘Union ‘ give all the information you need and the Clarkson does everything with a flared cup wheel or a plate wheel except for a heavy straight cup wheel used with their drill grinding attachment.

 

Hope this is useful

David E

[Earny49]

On Earny49 Said:

…except for a heavy straight cup wheel used with their drill grinding attachment.

Like this:

Andrew

[Author]

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