21 Types of Grinding Machines
Machined components undergo various processes to achieve the desired shape, dimensions, and finishing. Grinding machines are very commonly used in manufacturing and finalizing the components used in different industries.
If you intend to learn about the 21 types of grinding machines, the guide below features them. So, let's go through it.
Qu'est-ce qu'une machine à broyer ?
A grinding machine is also called a grinder, which is a type of tool used to machine components. It offers versatility and precision when it comes to manufacturing metal components.
A grinding machine has an abrasive wheel that allows for finishing the workpieces and achieving the desired surface quality and accuracy in terms of dimensions.
21 Types of Grinding Machines
There are 21 types of grinding machines, and each of these has been discussed below:
Belt Grinder
A belt grinder has an abrasive belt that is used to shape the components. The machine continuously drives the belt of abrasive material with the help of a roller.
As soon as the component is brought close to the belt, it helps remove the material and finish the surface. There are stationary and hand-held belt grinders for different applications.
Belt grinders are used for finishing wooden and metal components, and it is used to remove burrs from the machined components and also help in finishing and sanding the composite workpieces.
Bench Grinder
Bench grinders are very easy to use and have two grinding wheels that have different sizes of grain for the purpose of finishing. These wheels are operated manually and are mounted over a benchtop. There are different wheel diameters and power levels for motors in different models.
Some of the applications of bench grinders are sharpening chisels, drill bits, smoothening the edges of metal components, and polishing the metal surfaces.
Cylindrical Grinder
A cylindrical grinder works on the outer part of the component, which has the shape of a cylinder. It has a rotating workpiece and grinding wheel. It shapes metal rods and components in cylindrical shapes.
Meuleuse de surface
Surface grinders are commonly used for flat surfaces, and they offer a smooth finish. Surface grinders have a chuck and an abrasive wheel followed by a rotary table.
When the material and grinding wheel come into contact, a flat and finished smooth surface is achieved. There are two types of surface grinders: vertical spindle and horizontal spindle.
Surface grinders are used to create flat surfaces on the metal components, helping the components achieve tight tolerance and attain a specific thickness.
Tool and Cutter Grinder
The tool and cutter grinder help shape and sharpen the cutting tools. It has a grinding head that rotates and has adjustable fixtures that hold the workpiece in a specific position. There are different types of tools and cutter grinders; one of them is the drill bit grinder.
Tool and cutter grinder are used to sharpen tool bits. They help in tool manufacturing and even help to recondition the cutting tools.
Flexible Grinder
Flexible grinders are versatile and easy to use, specifically for components that have hard-to-reach areas. It has a flexible shaft and can easily be fitted with different grinding tools. It has portable as well as bench-mounted models.
The flexible grinder is used for finishing, polishing the components, deburring the components, and grinding in areas that are hard to reach.
Jig Grinder
A jig grinder is a precision grinding machine that can grind shapes that have holes and complex geometries. These grinders offer a high precision and finish. They use a high-speed air spindle, which rotates the grinding bit.
A jig grinder helps in grinding shapes and holes, helps to finish holes of molds, and offers complex geometries for precision machining.
Gear Grinder
Gear grinders are used to machine gears in a precise way and are composed of methods like generating grinding and precise grinding.
These grinding machines offer grinding gear teeth precisely, offer to finish high-precision gears, and even help produce gears for aerospace and automobile applications.
Bore Grinder
Bore grinders are designed to grind the internal area of cylindrical components. It has a spindle that rotates the grinding wheel inside the bore and grinds precisely.
It is used for internal grinding of bushings and bearings, and also helps finish the inner part of the gears and cylinders.
Center Grinder
Center grinders are designed to grind the center points of the cylinder-shaped components so that they can be held properly in the machining processes. It has multi-functional machines and center grinders, which help with different types of center grinding.
These are used in grinding the center part of rods and shafts, and also preparing the workpieces for other machining processes.
Die Grinder
Die grinders are rotary tools that are handheld and have high speed. These tools are used for honing, sanding, and grinding processes. They offer versatility to fit with different grinding bits. They have different types of grinders, like electric die grinders and pneumatic die grinders.
The die grinders offer finishing for the dies and metal molds. It also helps in smoothing edges and can be chosen for detailed working on the wooden components.
Angle Grinder
Angle grinders are vertical tools that use a grinding disc that is perpendicular, and helps in grinding, cutting, and even polishing different materials. These grinders are handheld and have cordless and corded models with different speed settings.
An angle grinder helps grind versatile materials like concrete, stone, and metal. It even helps remove paint and rust from surfaces and polishes the materials used in the construction industry.
Hand Grinder
Hand grinders are manually operated, portable tools that help with polishing and grinding. These grinders have a rotating wheel composed of abrasive particles, and they allow direct control over the workpiece.
These grinders are straight, die, and angle grinders. They help sharpen blades and tools, smooth the surfaces, and polish light-duty components.
Pedestal Grinder
A pedestal grinder is a large machine that has a stand over which it is mounted. These grinders are stationary and consist of two grinding wheels that have different grid sizes offering to finish the component.
These grinders are used for shaping and grinding components and metal parts, polishing metal components, and sharpening chisels and drills.
Portable Grinder
Portable grinders are the type of grinders that are meant to offer mobility and are compact in size. They have an abrasive wheel that can be powered by electricity. They are used in surface finishing, welding preparation, cutting, and grinding material on different sites.
Precision Grinder
Precision grinders are used for such applications which need a high level of accuracy and precision. These grinders have fine grit wheels for grinding and even have advanced mechanisms that ensure precision.
Precision grinders are used to achieve precise dimensions in metal components and even help in precision grinding components used in aerospace and automobiles.
Plunge Cut Grinder
Plunge cut grinder helps to grind the components by plunging the wheel, which rotates in the workpiece with no lateral movement. It is a type of cylindrical grinding that uses CNC plunge cut grinders so that high precision can be achieved.
It is used in creating slots in the metal parts and also for the finishing operation of complex manufacturing processes.
Form Grinder
Form grinders are meant to grind the surfaces with the help of a fine grinding wheel that matches the workpiece shape. It is composed of CNC as well as a manual grinder and hence can deal with different levels of complexity.
Form grinders are used in the detailed finishing of tools, creating precise patterns on metal components, and grinding of dies and molds.
Internal Grinder
Internal grinders are meant to grind the cylindrical workpieces from their inner part and create an accurate and smooth surface.
These grinders use CNC processes and cater to components of various sizes. Internal grinders are used for grinding the internal surfaces of bearings and gears.
Meuleuse sans centre
Centerless grinders have no centers to hold the component. It is placed between the two wheels, namely the regulating wheel and grinding wheel, followed by a work blade. It offers precise grinding and is used mostly for grinding parts that are long and slender.
Universal Grinder
Universal grinders are very versatile machines that can perform multiple grinding processes as they have changeable attachments. They can grind cylindrical, flat, and even complex shapes.
They are used for general purpose grinding of different components and offering precise shaping of metal parts.
How to Choose the Right Grinding Machine?
Choosing the right type of grinding machine, there are multiple factors that need to be considered; some of these are as follows:
- You need to understand what your requirement is, and then you can choose the grinding machine because there are different types of grinders, such as surface grinders, tool and cutter grinders, and cylindrical grinders.
- The material you need to grind is also a determining factor for the right grinder. For instance, harder materials need a suitable grinder with an abrasive wheel that grinds it accurately.
- The size and shape of the workpiece are also considerable. Some workpieces may be large or have irregular shapes, and they need grinders that have a larger area and offer flexibility.
- If you need a tight tolerance for the components, then you must choose grinders that are compatible with CNC machining.
- The size of the grinding wheel, grain size, and diameter also impact the process, and based on your workpiece and required finish, you have to choose a compatible option.
- The speed of the wheel and motor of the machine as the speed and power are important for removing material.
- The grinding process releases heat, and hence, coolants must be used during the process.
- Every type of grinding process is different. Some machines are easy to use, and some require skills, and based on your skill, you have to choose the machine.
- Factors like budget and cost of the machine also are considerable factors when choosing one because you can have multiple models and options priced differently.
Conclusion
The guide above gives complete details on the different types of grinding machines and how you can choose one.
Nous, à DEK have a wide variety of grinding machines that carry out versatile grinding processes. You can get in touch with our team for services de meulage de précision.
