Grinding is a material removal and surface generation process used to shape and finish components made of metals and other materials. Grinding uses an abrasive product, usually a rotating wheel brought into controlled contact with a work surface. The grinding wheel is composed of abrasive grains held together in a binder. These abrasive grains act as cutting tools, removing tiny chips of material from the work. It can produce very fine finishes and very accurate dimensions.
There are many forms of grinding, but the four major industrial grinding processes are:
- cylindrical grinding
- internal grinding
- centerless grinding
- surface grinding