Tech Talk
What is "Form Grinding"
Form grinding is a surface grinding process which machines an accurate shape parallel to the table traverse. An example might be a form ground on the edge of a carbide insert. The form would be dressed by crushing, diamond roll dressing, CNC diamond disk dressing or by pantograph dressing. The machine would be operated in the same manner as for grinding a flat surface except that no cross-feed is used.
Strict attention must be paid to the condition of the grinding wheel and the process parameters when form grinding very accurate work, particularly if the grinding wheel is allowed to become dull and the workpiece is very thin. Heat will be generated in the surface of the workpiece which will either cause the workpiece to expand and distort during the grinding operation or create such high residual stress that once the clamping on the part is released, it will spring into an arch.
