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Model G0763 (Mfg. Since 8/13)
-25-
Most grinding wheels from major manufactur-
ers are marked in a somewhat uniform man-
ner. Understanding these markings will help you
understand the capabilities of various wheels.
Always refer to the manufacturer’s grinding rec-
ommendations when selecting a wheel for your
project.
The grinding wheel you choose will depend on
several factors related to the operation you plan to
perform. The hardness of the material you will be
grinding and the surface finish you desire are the
two primary factors to consider when selecting a
grinding wheel.
An example of the basic format for wheel number-
ing is shown below. The wheel in this example is
a “36A60LV”.
Prefix
Abrasive
Type
Grit
Size
Grade
Bond
Type
36 A 60 L V
Results
Operation
Consideration
Coarse Grit
(10–46)
Fine Grit
(54–180)
Material
Removal
Increased Decreased
Surface Finish Rough Smooth
Workpiece
Hardness
Soft Hard
Width of Cut Wide Narrow
The prefix is a manufacturer-specific designation
and will vary depending on the manufacturer.
Use the charts below as a basic wheel selection
outline for most grinding operations.
Abrasive Type
Abrasive
Type
Application
A
Aluminum Oxide. For grinding
common steel.
WA
White Aluminum Oxide. For
grinding harder metals (heat
treated steel, carbon steel, alloy
steel, etc.).
H For grinding high speed steel.
C
Silicon Carbide. For grinding
cast iron and non-ferrous metals.
CG
Ceramic Grain. For extremely
hard metals, such as tungsten
carbide.
Grit Size
The ideal grit for an operation depends on a
number of considerations. Use the table below to
choose a grit suitable for your desired results.
Grade
The grade of a wheel is an indicator of its hard-
ness based on an alphabetical scale in which A is
the softest and Z is the hardest.
Wheel Hardness
Operation
Consideration
Soft
A–M
Hard
N–Z
Workpiece
Hardness
Hard Soft
Width of Cut Wide Narrow
Feed Rate Slow Fast
Wheel Speed Fast Slow
Wheel Selection
Bond Type
This refers to the type of bonding material used to
hold the abrasive material. Most general purpose
wheels will have a V indicating vitrified clay is
used, providing high strength and good porosity.
The other most common is B where synthetic res-
ins are used. These are used to grind cemented
carbide and ceramic materials.