What can a surface grinder do?

[JimGlass]

Over the years of surfing this and other forums this question has been raised by people trying to decide if a surface grinder can compliment their shops.

I'm rather fond of surface grinding in general. It is my understanding not all machinist feel the same way. Since I have operated Harig surface grinders for a majority of my machinist career it only seemed natural to buy a 6 x 12 for my own shop.

My point is, surface grinders can do other things besides surface grind. I have found with the proper abrasive cut-off wheel, a surface grinder is a time and cost effective cut-off machine.

Below I am using the cut-off wheel to cut parts to length. The material is D-2


Now to slit the parts to width


Flip the parts over to cut all the way through.


This is the wheel purchased from
J & L Industrial, #ACO-42862H. They are Non-reinforced and only .040" wide, last a very long time and only cost about $3.50 ea. They also cut much cooler than other cut-off wheels. Much cheaper than saw blades or endmills. I have no affiliation with J & L Industrial

This Hertel wheel is not one of the old rubber bonded wheels that smell so band when used.

In addition, this wheel can also cut notches and steps where the sections can be sliced out of a workpiece as a solid piece of scrap rather being milled into little chips.

While I'm at it, may as well post a pic of my 5C collet, cylindrical grinding attachmet. It is home built knock off of a Harding attachement.

The cylindrical attachment can grind OD's and grind shoulders and ends of shafts.

If you are having a boring, rainy Sunday like I am, here are more of my pics
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v30/jglass/?start=0

Hope this is of interest.
Jim

[Harold_V]

Thanks for the informative post, Jim. Great information provided for those that have not used parting wheels.

Their cutting speed is truly awesome, with the added benefit of having useful remnants instead of chips.

Harold

[BadDog]

Nice, thanks for the post. For a novice like myself, I had never thought of what seems such an obvious use.

[JimGlass]

Harold;

You speak so eloquently. I never would have thought to described scrap as “a useful remnant”, even though I famous for doing such things.


Jim

[kapullen]

Jim,

Tool grinding is also a good use for your surface grinder.

This block is machined to produce the side angles as well as top of a threading tool.

This really saves the old eyes.

I also have a similar block to make parting/grooving tools.



Kap

[JimGlass]

Saves the fingers from burning as well



Jim

[RANisbet]

My surface grinder is a Taft-Pierce with micro-adjustments and a head that can tilt up to 30 degrees. I also have a special Profile/Contour adapter set (from Boyar-Schultz) that can be mounted on the spindle.
I am told that it not only can do the tasks the other folks outlined, but with a fixture can be used to sharpen or shape mill cutters and reamers.
Unfortunately, my expertise falls far short of what is needed to do cutter sharpening. (I recenty decided to sell my setup.)
Bob Nisbet
eMail: Robert.Nisbet1@US.Army.MiL

[10 Wheeler Rob]

I was not aware they were made for that machine spindle size, It looks like a very cost efective additon for use on the surface grinder.

Rob

[RANisbet]

Yes. The adapter set is designed to be used on almost all the different manufacturers machines including KO Lee, Harig, Micromaster, Boyar Schultz, Taft Peirce, Parker and most other surface grinders.

I posted some pictures of my adapter set and surface grinder.
Profile/Contour Adapter Set Pictures:
http://www.metalwebnews.com/image/kit2.jpg [url]
http://www.metalwebnews.com/image/kit1.jpg [url]
http://www.metalwebnews.com/image/kit.jpg [url]
and
Surface Grinder Pictures:
http://www.metalwebnews.com/image/sgrinder1.jpg [url] http://www.metalwebnews.com/image/sgrinder.jpg [url]
http://www.equipmatching.com/uploads/im ... 602470.jpg [url]

[Buckrun]

Here is a picture of my surface grinder. I have had it for about two weeks. I am new to machining in general and had no idea how many uses one of these grinders have. I was lucky and bought out a guy's whole home machine shop. I have been wanting to do gun smithing for years and couldn't afford the equipment. I got a great deal!





Here is all the stuff.
http://www2.wcoil.com/~buckrun/Metal/

Steve

[wlw-19958]

Hi Steve,

I've owned a Delta/Milwalkee Toolmakers's Grinder for quite a while now.
I think they are a good home shop surface grinder. Did you get any of
the attachments with it?

Good Luck!
-Blue Chips-
Webb

[DIX]

A tool post grinder can do some of the jobs pictured here. I have used mine to cut up to 7/8" double ended mills in half to fit my machine. I use a 4" diameter 0.040" wheel. Rotate the work slowly in the oposite direction on the lathe the grinder slices the mill neatly in half in about 90 seconds flat. No mess no fuss. Of course the ways are covered. The double ended mills were a bargain at $1 each.