What is a Grinding Disc? Grinding disc contain abrasive grains and layers of fiberglass bonded into a wheel shape by another substance. The abrasive grains act as grinding tools, removing material from a workpiece to shape and refine it. Grinding wheels are useful in many grinding and machining operations.
Several types of grinding wheels are available, so when a facility is choosing a disc, it's essential to consider the specifications of contrasting styles and how well they can handle different environments and operational challenges. Grinding wheels - along with other more portable grinding products like cones and plugs - come in various styles. Selecting the right type of wheel for a given application allows users to get demanding metal fabrication jobs done quickly and accurately.
There are three main types of grinding wheels, where various numbers differentiate between wheels with specific properties and uses - type 1 snagging wheels, type 27 grinding wheels and type 28 grinding wheels.
TYPE 1
A type 1 snagging wheel has a straight profile and a relatively small diameter of about 2 to 4 inches. Its size makes it ideal for use on high-speed die grinders for grinding off excess metal. Weiler Abrasives' type 1 snagging wheels incorporate aluminum oxide grains for a long life grinding and a consistent cut-rate.
TYPE 27
Type 27 is by far the most common abrasive grinding wheel. Type 27 grinding wheels differ from other wheels in that they have a flat profile with a depressed center. A depressed center allows for clearance when the operator must work at a constrained angle. Using a wheel with a depressed center allows for a range of grinding angles, typically from 0 to 45 degrees. However, the optimal angles for working with type 27 grinding wheels range from 25 to 30 degrees. The steeper the grinding angle, the more aggressive the cut will be. Working at shallow angles with these wheels requires some consideration of potential ramifications. Grinding at shallow angles can prolong the wheel's lifespan, but it also often compromises the cut-rate. On harder materials, shallow grinding angles may also increase unwanted vibration and chatter.
TYPE 28
Type 28 grinding wheels, also known as saucer wheels, have similarly depressed centers and are optimized for low grinding angles. They differ from type 27 wheels in that their concave or saucer-shaped design allows for better access to the workpiece - especially in tighter areas, such as corners, fillets and overhangs - and increased aggression at smaller working angles. They can work at angles between 0 and 30 degrees but typically work best for use with grinding angles from 0 to 15 degrees.
