What’s a Surface Grinder?

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One of the most common grinders in the average shop is the surface sander. It is comparable to a multi-tooth cutter, except that it has a grindstone as an abrasive cutting tool. This wheel removes much smaller metal chips. These tiny chips, called shavings, are deposited because the grinding wheel is made up of thousands of cutting edges.

Two types of abrasive material are used in the grinding wheel. Aluminum oxide is used when machining materials with a high ductility or ability to permanently deform. Silicon oxide is used for low ductility materials.
The abrasive grains in a grinding wheel allow for a smooth finished product no matter what material you are working on. These abrasive particles are usually coated with a diamond dressing. Steel, aluminum and glass are examples of the many materials that can be ground. Surface grinding is commonly used as a finishing operation.

There are two basic types of surface grinder. Both types only grind flat surfaces. Planer-type grinders hold the grindstone stationary while moving the worktable. This reciprocating back and forth motion can be controlled manually or by a mechanical or hydraulic drive mechanism. The spindle used to rotate the grinding wheel can be positioned vertically or horizontally.

A rotary type grinder has a rotating and circular work surface. The grindstone also turns. Spindle-assisted rotation can be vertical or horizontal.
There are several reasons to use a surface grinder. The most obvious one is for removing excess material. A surface grinder is suitable for processing very hard materials such as steel and diamond. Produces a high quality finished surface. Very tight tolerances can be maintained.

The surface edger has evolved over time. Concerns about ergonomics and portability have created a market for user-friendly machines. Computer numerical control (CNC) grinders are available. PC-based control systems simplify the user interface.

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