GRINDING WHEELS
The most important abrasive product manufactured is the grinding wheel. Made of abrasive grain and a binder, or “bond,” it is a self-sharpening cutting tool. As the grains on the periphery become dull, they are shed from the surface of the grinding wheel, and fresh, sharp cutting edges are exposed. The ability to resharpen is controlled by the nature of the bond used and the ratio of abrasive to bond, measured by volume.
FORMING AND FIRING
In the manufacture of grinding wheels, abrasives of the proper size and bonding materials are weighed and mixed together in a power mixing machine. When thoroughly mixed, measured amounts of the abrasive and bond mixture are evenly distributed in steel molds. The mold is placed in a powerful hydraulic press, and the mixture is compressed to the desired wheel size, allowing some oversize in dimensions for finishing operations. Pressures vary with wheel size and may be upwards of several hundred tons. Some shaving and shaping of the wheels is done before they are baked or fired.