A Tool and Cutter Grinder is the finishing operation used when tolerances or surface finish are beyond what cutting tools achieve reliably, particularly on hardened steel. The Tool and Cutter Grinder described here is built with a programmable wheel head and automatic dressing and specified for aerospace suppliers. precision grinding with controlled wheel dressing and coolant filtration sits behind the numbers below, which are stated as delivered rather than as a best case.
The parts that matter most are the interfaces: bores, sealing faces, threads and mounting patterns. Those are held to ±0.002 mm, verified against the drawing, and recorded before anything is packed.
Specification
| Process | Precision grinding with controlled wheel dressing and coolant filtration |
|---|---|
| Material / configuration | a programmable wheel head and automatic dressing |
| Size / capacity | roundness within 0.002 mm |
| Tolerance | ±0.002 mm |
| Surface finish | ground finish, Ra 0.05–0.4 µm |
| Application | tool and cutter grinder for aerospace suppliers |
| Inspection | Dimensional report, material certificate, first article report on request |
| Lead time | 7–15 working days for samples, 3–4 weeks for production |
| Minimum order | 1 piece for prototypes, from 50 pieces for production pricing |
Manufacturing process
The operation sequence is decided before the first chip is cut: roughing to leave even stock, semi-finishing, then precision grinding with controlled wheel dressing and coolant filtration as the final operation. That order is what keeps ±0.002 mm stable as the batch runs and the machine warms up.
Material is purchased against a certificate and checked on receipt, so the composition is known before any cutting starts. Work in progress is identified by part number and operation, and the finished parts are deburred, cleaned and protected before they leave the machine area.
Typical applications
Most of the work supplied in this category falls into the following examples.
- Hardened gauge blocks.
- Bearing journals and shafts.
- Die and punch details.
- Precision spacer rings.
- Hydraulic spool valves.
Quality control and documentation
Every batch is measured against the drawing with calibrated equipment, and results are recorded against the part number rather than kept on a scrap of paper.
Material certificates to EN 10204 3.1, dimensional reports and first article inspection reports are issued with the shipment where the application requires them. Calibration dates and measurement uncertainty are recorded alongside every result.
Ordering, lead time and packaging
Quotations are returned within one working day of a complete drawing package. Lead time is quoted from drawing approval, not from the date of enquiry.
Frequently asked questions
When is grinding necessary instead of hard turning?
Below about IT5, or when the material is above 55 HRC. Grinding gives consistent size over long runs and produces finishes down to Ra 0.05 µm that cutting cannot reach reliably.
Does grinding burn hardened steel?
It can, which is why wheel grade, dressing and coolant delivery are controlled together. Parts are inspected for temper burn when the application is safety critical.
What file formats do you need for a quotation?
STEP or IGES for the 3D model and a PDF drawing with tolerances, material and surface finish called out. Native files from SolidWorks, Creo or Inventor are also accepted.
To discuss tool and cutter grinder requirements, send the model and the drawing with the quantities required. Feedback on manufacturability is given free of charge before any order is placed.
