How to Dress Your Superabrasives(Diamond&CBN) Grinding Wheels?

What is Dressing a Superabrasives Wheel?

Dressing is the process of restoring the cutting efficiency and surface profile of a diamond grinding wheel by removing worn or glazed abrasive layers and exposing fresh diamond particles. It ensures consistent material removal, surface finish, and wheel longevity.

Dressing Stick vs. Truing vs. Diamond Dresser

• Dressing Stick: A handheld tool with bonded abrasive or diamond grit, used for minor touch-ups on small wheels.

• Truing: Corrects wheel shape or alignment (e.g., for cylindrical or flat surfaces).

• Diamond Dresser: Stationary diamond dresser or rotary dressing roll (e.g., profile roller, gear dressing wheel, or disc) for precise, high-speed dressing of complex profiles.

How to Choose the Best Dressing Method for Your Grinding Application?

• Material: Use diamond dressers for hard materials like ceramics or CBN wheels; dressing sticks for softer bonds.

• Precision: Profile rollers suit gears/turbines; single-point dressers for fine finishes.

• Volume: High-production applications benefit from rotary diamond dressers for efficiency.

  
  

What Do You Dress a Superabrasives Wheel With?

• Diamond Rollers: Ideal for contour grinding (e.g., automotive components).

• Gear Dressing Wheels: Designed for gear teeth profiles.

• Diamond Dressing Discs: Used for internal or high-speed grinding.

• Dressing Sticks: For quick maintenance on small wheels.

  
  

Steps for Dressing a Wheel

1. Inspect the Wheel: Check for glazing or uneven wear.

2. Secure the Dresser: Mount a diamond roller or disc on the grinding machine.

3. Adjust Parameters: Set the dresser speed and feed rate based on wheel material.

4. Dress the Wheel: Slowly feed the dresser into the rotating wheel until fresh diamond edges are exposed.

5. Clean Debris: Remove swarf to prevent wheel clogging.

Maintenance Tips for Longer Dresser Tool Life

• Store Properly: Keep dressers in a dry place to prevent moisture damage.

• Avoid Over-Pressure: Excessive force during dressing can wear out diamonds prematurely.

• Regularly Check Wear: Replace dressers when diamond particles are significantly worn down.

• Use Coolants: Flood cooling during dressing reduces heat buildup and extends tool life.

Conclusion: Choosing the right dressing method and tool ensures optimal grinding performance. For complex profiles, diamond dressers offer unmatched precision and efficiency. Need help selecting the best option for your application? Contact our experts today!