Grinding machines
Surface grinding machines
Surface grinding machines are a type of machine designed to process non-metallic and metallic materials to achieve a precise, smooth finish.
To achieve this, surface grinders feature a rotating, round, abrasive wheel that, despite rotating, remains in a single position. As the wheel rotates, the feed table alternates from left to right under the grinding wheel.
It is possible to specify the amount of material to be processed when feeding the head by placing the material at a certain distance and lightly touching the rotating wheel.
Surface grinders have the ability to make a metal surface perfectly level or flat, which can be very useful in various industries.
This is achieved through an abrasive process, which occurs when the grinding wheel rotates at high speed, eliminating height differences. This process is known as "abrasive machining."
Part of these components is the CNC, which could be considered the most important element for the execution of mechanisms by the milling machine.
Components of surface grinding machines
To summarize, on a technical level, what a surface grinding machine is, there are two essential components: the moving table and the grinding wheel. The table's function is to hold the workpiece. However, in some cases, an electromagnet is used to hold the workpiece.
In both cases, a configuration is required to achieve this, determining the appropriate height for the workpieces to be under the grinding wheel. It's worth noting that the grinding wheel is usually made with a bonding agent, corundum, quartz grains, or silicon carbide. These materials ensure the component's proper efficiency.
After this, the grinding wheel must reach the selected grinding speed for the work table to begin its reciprocating motion. When this happens, the work table rises slightly.
The workpiece is raised, in stages, until it reaches the grinding pass. It's worth mentioning that the work table also moves from the inside out during the grinding process, as otherwise, a precise, flat surface finish could not be guaranteed.
Types of grinding machines
An important aspect worth mentioning is that surface grinders are not the only type of grinder available, as they are classified according to their characteristics. Therefore, the types of grinders are as follows:
Flat surface grinding machine
They are characterized by being the easiest to use, as they consist of only a grinding wheel, a translational movement piece, and a longitudinal carriage. Depending on the position of the grinding wheel, two subtypes of surface grinding machines can be distinguished: tangential and end-face.
A tangential grinding machine is one in which the grinding wheel is located above a horizontal spindle. Its motion is pendulum-like and circular, and it works edge-on to the material.
This type of surface grinder is designed to provide precise precision on inclined, flared, single, recessed, grooved, profiled, or shoulder surfaces.
A face grinder , on the other hand, has the grinding wheel located above a vertical spindle. In this case, the movement is straight, and the work is carried out flat on the material. This subtype is designed for high-speed workpiece processing, but it also typically offers great precision.
Cylindrical grinding machine
This type can operate in different ways, but it only works with workpieces that have a central axis of rotation. These include parts such as cones, ellipses, cylinders, and cams. As with the previous type, there are two subtypes: external and internal.
In external cylindrical grinding machines, the grinding process is performed on an external surface, with a center piece that allows rotation. Furthermore, in this subtype, the grinding wheel rotates in the same direction as it touches the work material.
In the case of the internal cylindrical grinding machine, the grinding process is performed inside the workpiece. This is possible because the grinding wheel has a smaller diameter than the workpiece. This machine has a metal ring, which supports the workpiece and provides movement.
