Surface Grinding

The term surface grinding implies, in current technical usage, the grinding of surfaces
which are essentially flat. Several methods of surface grinding, however, are adapted and
used to produce surfaces characterized by parallel straight line elements in one direction,
while normal to that direction the contour of the surface may consist of several straight line
sections at different angles to each other (e.g., the guideways of a lathe bed); in other cases
the contour may be curved or profiled (e.g., a thread cutting chaser).

Advantages of Surface Grinding.—Alternate methods for machining work surfaces
similar to those produced by surface grinding are milling and, to a much more limited
degree, planing. Surface grinding, however, has several advantages over alternate methods
that are carried out with metal-cutting tools. Examples of such potential advantages are
as follows:
1) Grinding is applicable to very hard and/or abrasive work materials, without significant
effect on the efficiency of the stock removal.
2) The desired form and dimensional accuracy of the work surface can be obtained to a
much higher degree and in a more consistent manner.
3) Surface textures of very high finish and—when the appropriate system is utilized—
with the required lay, are generally produced.
4) Tooling for surface grinding as a rule is substantially less expensive, particularly for
producing profiled surfaces, the shapes of which may be dressed into the wheel, often with
simple devices, in processes that are much more economical than the making and the maintenance
of form cutters.
5) Fixturing for work holding is generally very simple in surface grinding, particularly
when magnetic chucks are applicable, although the mechanical holding fixture can also be
simpler, because of the smaller clamping force required than in milling or planing.
6) Parallel surfaces on opposite sides of the work are produced accurately, either in consecutive
operations using the first ground surface as a dependable reference plane or,
simultaneously, in double face grinding, which usually operates without the need for holding
the parts by clamping.
7) Surface grinding is well adapted to process automation, particularly for size control,
but also for mechanized work handling in the large volume production of a wide range of
component parts.