WHAT ARE SUPERABRASIVES?
Abrasives that belong to the Superabrasive family includes,Industrial diamonds: an industrial diamond is a non-gem quality small diamond that is for abrasives, cutting, and drilling tools.
Cubic boron nitride (CBN): Usually called CBN it is the second hardest cutting tool material after a diamond.
Polycrystalline: Is an abrasive material that has a multiple collection of crystal grain structures with individual orientations
CVD Diamond: These are synthetic diamonds made by a process known as chemical vapor deposition.CVD diamonds grow from a hydrocarbon gas mixture. They are extremely hard, have a high thermal conductivity that is five times that of copper. They also have broadband optical transparency, are chemically inert, and only reach graphitization at very high temperatures.
Nanodiamonds: These tiny diamonds are the product of a controlled explosion. Sometimes called a detonation nanodiamond (DND) or an ultradispersed diamond, as this is how they form.
INDUSTRIES THAT USE SUPERABRASIVES
A great number of industries use Superabrasive grinding wheels and the coated abrasives subsection of the abrasives industry continues to grow. Industries that are prime buyers of Superabrasive grinding wheels are:
Aerospace
Automotive
Medical
Electronics
Composites
Oil Industry
ADVANTAGES OF SUPERABRASIVES
These include,
Less expensive tooling and fixturing costs
More wheels on the spindle, smaller wheels, multiple operations
Less floor space needed for manufacturing
Virtual elimination of wheel wear
Automated CNC machines, less labor intensive operations requiring less training
Consistent surface speed from part to part
Better overall throughput with fewer machines needed
Improved Material Removal Rates, Lower Per Part Abrasive Costs and higher speeds
With Superabrasives, production increased by automated CNC equipment, industries have found one way to compensate for the lack of availability of skilled labor. With fewer machines needed, so is fewer workers. With Superabrasives CNC, automation is more concerned with defining a manufacturing process using machine capabilities and mechanization. There is less concern on operator technique. A properly defined process, combined with automatic loaders make for equipment that is almost running itself.
