A Surface Grinding Machine is the finishing operation used when tolerances or surface finish are beyond what cutting tools achieve reliably, particularly on hardened steel. This page covers the Surface Grinding Machine configured with a programmable wheel head and automatic dressing and supplied to tool and die shops: precision grinding with controlled wheel dressing and coolant filtration. The headline figure is size held to ±0.002 mm, and the rest of the page explains what it means in daily use.
In practice the difficulty is rarely the nominal size. ±0.002 mm is held on the features that locate the part in the assembly, and the process is set up so that the first piece and the five hundredth measure the same way.
Specification
| Process | Precision grinding with controlled wheel dressing and coolant filtration |
|---|---|
| Material / configuration | a programmable wheel head and automatic dressing |
| Size / capacity | size held to ±0.002 mm |
| Tolerance | ±0.002 mm |
| Surface finish | ground finish, Ra 0.05–0.4 µm |
| Application | surface grinding machine for tool and die shops |
| 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
Production begins with a drawing and material review. Stock is certified, the operation sequence is fixed, and precision grinding with controlled wheel dressing and coolant filtration is carried out on equipment maintained to hold ±0.002 mm over a full shift, not just on a first piece.
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
Inspection is not a final formality. Dimensions are checked during the cycle and again at the end, so drift is corrected while there is still stock to remove.
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
Orders start from a single piece. Samples are quoted from the 3D model, and production pricing follows once quantity, finishing and inspection are agreed.
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.
Send the drawing or the 3D model for a quotation. Include material, quantity, tolerance and finish, and a detailed quote with lead time is returned within one working day.
