Reduce Edge Chipping: Design & Engineering

Dear Doc: We grind brittle materials (carbide, cermets, ceramics) and are trying to reduce edge-chipping. Any advice?

The Doc replies: Here are three things you can do:

1. Try a smaller grit size. (Example: Switching from 280-mesh to 400-mesh.)

2. Try a lower grit penetration depth (or aggressiveness, chip thickness, chip load, etc.). Depending on the geometry, this is usually accomplished with a slower feed rate, faster wheel speed and/or smaller depth of cut.

3. Try a sharper wheel. For carbide, this typically means a wheel that isn’t loaded. For cermets and ceramics, this typically means a wheel that isn’t loaded and a wheel that doesn’t contain diamond grits that have become dull.