Surface grinding
Whether you require single-piece customization, small-batch prototyping, or high-volume efficient production, we can tailor surface grinding processes (longitudinal/plunge/deep grinding, etc.) based on your workpiece drawings and technical specifications, with tolerances controlled to within 0.005mm.
What is surface grinding ?
Surface cylindrical grinding is a precision machining technique that uses grinding processes to process the outer cylindrical surfaces of workpieces. It effectively enhances dimensional accuracy, geometric accuracy, and surface finish. The core principle involves a rotating grinding wheel contacting the workpiece’s outer cylindrical surface to remove excess material and correct geometric errors, ultimately achieving a surface that meets design specifications.
Surface grinding material
Surface grinding is primarily used for machining metal materials, though it can also process certain plastic materials. However, there are differences in application scenarios and machining results.
Metal material :
Aluminum
Aluminum is the most commonly used precision-machined component. It has a low density, a hard texture, and a soft material. Thanks to its corrosion resistance, it is widely used in aerospace, bionic bones, and automotive parts manufacturing.
Color : Silver.
Types : Aluminum 6061、7075、2024、5052、6063 and MIC-6.
Surface finish : Polishing, Brushing, Sandblasting, Chrome Plating, Anodizing, Electroplating, Powder Coating, Laser Etching.
Delivery time : 1-5 days.
Stainless steel
Stainless steel offers strong corrosion resistance and a smooth, easy-to-clean surface. It is primarily used in kitchen equipment components, medical devices, building materials and construction, as well as automotive parts.
Color : Silver.
Types : Stainless steel 304/316/201/202/430/444/410/420/440c/2205/2507/17-4ph/17-7ph.
Surface finish : Polishing, Brushing, Sandblasting, Electroplating, Spraying, PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition), Passivation, Pickling, Coloring.
Delivery time : 2-5 days.
Copper
Possesses electrical conductivity, tensile ductility, and antimicrobial properties, primarily used for processing into crafts, decorative items, and medical equipment.
Color :Orange,yellow.
Types : copper H59/H62/Hpb59-1/C36000/HAI77-2/HSN62-1/HPb/HMn/HAl/HSn/HNi.
Surface finish : Passivation, Electroplating, Chemical Plating, Shot Peening, Sandblasting, Chemical Film Treatment, Polishing, Bright Cleaning.
Delivery time : 1-5 days.
Bronze
Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin （possibly including lead, zinc, and phosphorus），low melting point (800-900°C) and excellent fluidity, along with corrosion resistance. Low-tin bronze exhibits a golden yellow hue, while high-tin bronze appears grayish-white or silver-gray. It is primarily used in mechanical manufacturing for sculptures, bearings, gears, valves, as well as in marine engineering components such as propellers, as well as marine engineering components like hull fittings and water pumps.
Color : gold/brown.
Types : Tin bronze, aluminum bronze, beryllium bronze, silicon bronze, manganese bronze.
Surface finish : Sandblasting, polishing, knurling, grinding, passivation, chemical film coating, impregnation coloring, brush/spray coloring, electroplating, anodizing, powder coating, brushing.
Delivery time : 1-5 days.
Steel
Iron alloyed with carbon (typically 0.1%-1.7%) and other alloying elements (such as chromium, nickel, manganese, etc.). By adjusting composition and heat treatment processes, diverse properties can be achieved, including high strength, high toughness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance. It is suitable for producing components such as bolts, shafts, gears, drill bits, milling cutters, and turning tools, and is also frequently used in manufacturing engine valves and turbine blades.
Color : Silver .
Types : Steel S20C,S45C,S50C,SK85,SK95,40Cr,4140,4130,H13,D2,W1,A2,D2,M2,SKD11,ASP-23,S136.
Surface finish :Sandblasting, Mirror Finish, PVD Coating, Brushed Finish, Spray Coating, Electroplating.
Delivery time : 1-5 days
Magnesium
Magnesium has a density approximately two-thirds that of aluminum and one-quarter that of steel. Its low hardness results in minimal cutting force and reduced tool wear. With superior thermal conductivity compared to aluminum, it saves CNC machining time and material. Its strength-to-weight ratio outperforms both aluminum alloys and steel, while its damping capacity is 1.5 times that of aluminum, effectively absorbing vibrations and noise. These properties make it an ideal material for aerospace, automotive, and electronics industries.
Color : Silver.
Types : Magnesium alloy AZ91D/AM60B/AM50A/AS41B/ZK60/MB8/AZ31/WE43/ZE41/LA141/LZ91.
Surface finish : Chemical conversion coating, anodizing, nickel plating, electroplating, composite coating, spray painting, powder coating, electrophoretic coating.
Delivery time : 1-5 days.
Plastic material :
ABS
Combining the rigidity of acrylonitrile, the toughness of butadiene, and the processability of styrene, it offers excellent impact resistance (maintaining toughness even at low temperatures) with a balanced hardness and rigidity. Suitable for precision components subjected to moderate loads, it is ideal for manufacturing precision parts such as electronic and electrical enclosures, automotive ducting, interior trim components, and exterior trim components.
Color : Beige,black.
Types : General-purpose, flame-retardant, heat-resistant, high-impact-resistant, transparent (MBS), filled modified, alloyed, functionalized ABS.
Surface finish :Spray coating, electroplating, screen printing, laser engraving, hot stamping, vacuum coating, water transfer printing, sandblasting, anti-fingerprint coating.
Delivery time : 1-5 days.
PC
High-performance thermoplastic with high toughness (low-temp resilient) and rigidity, ideal for CNC precision machining (cutting, drilling). Lighter than acrylic, it offers strong creep resistance and high-frequency insulation, suited for stress-resistant, insulated components. Eco-friendly via recycling by melting, used in electronics casings, spectrometer mounts, heat sinks.
Color : white or black.
Types : General Machinable/Flame Retardant/Reinforced/Blended PC.
Surface finish : Polishing, Hardening, Spraying, Laser Engraving, Electroplating, Hot Stamping.
Delivery time : 1-5 days.
PMMA
With a light transmittance as high as 92%, it is hailed as “plastic crystal,” serving as material for optical components such as lenses and light guides. Its optical uniformity surpasses that of ordinary glass, while weighing only half as much. It offers easy machinability, moderate thermal stability, low shrinkage, and impact resistance. Primarily used in consumer electronics industries for display protective covers, lenses, and mobile phone frames.
Color : clear,white,black,colored.
Types : General-purpose / Impact-resistant / Heat-resistant / Pearlescent.
Surface finish : Polishing, enhanced coating, sandblasting for texture, printing for coloring, anti-scratch and anti-fingerprint treatments.
Delivery time : 1-5 days.
POM
High tensile strength and low friction coefficient, excellent dimensional stability, easy machinability, can replace metal as raw material for wear-resistant components such as gears and bearings, widely used in automotive industry, industrial machinery,medical tools, etc.
Color : white,black,blue,yellow,etc.
Types : POM-H, POM-C.
Surface finish : Polishing, sandblasting, chemical polishing, laser polishing, anodizing/painting.
Delivery time : 1-5 days.
PA
PA (Polyamide, Nylon) exhibits tensile strength ranging from 62 to 85 MPa, low friction coefficient, and excellent heat resistance. Primarily used in high-load structural components such as gears and bearings, it facilitates the manufacturing of automotive parts, consumer electronics, and industrial machinery components.
Color : Colored.
Types : PA6, PA66, PA6T, PA9T.
Surface finish :Mechanical grinding, acid/alkali etching, hydrolysis technology, coating.
Delivery time : 1-5 days.
Surface grinding cnc machining capability
Our ISO 9001 certification demonstrates that our surface grinding parts meet stringent tolerance requirements. We adhere to ISO-2768f tolerance standards for metals and ISO-2768m for plastic parts, enabling you to obtain CNC-grinding components with high-precision machining standards.
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Maximum part size | The maximum direct machining diameter is 500mm, with a maximum machining length of 1000mm. For longer components requiring precision grinding, we can adjust the equipment accordingly. |
| Minimum part size | The diameter is as small as 3 mm, depending on the specific part size requirements and material. |
| General tolerance | Our CNC grinding standard tolerance is 0.005mm. If material and structure permit, tighter tolerances as low as ±0.001mm can be achieved. |
| Lead time | Prototype machining typically ships within 1-3 days. Small-batch CNC grinding takes 3-5 days, with the fastest turnaround possible within 24-48 hours depending on part complexity and material. |
Surface grinding machining guideline
| Classification | Parameter/Type | Specific Description |
|---|---|---|
| Grinding Wheel Selection | Grit Size | Rough grinding (stock removal > 0.1mm): 24-60 grit Precision grinding (0.05-0.1mm): 60-100 grit Super-precision grinding (Ra < 0.1μm): W63-W14 micro-powder |
| Hardness | For hard workpieces, use a grinding wheel that is 1-2 grades softer (e.g., HRC60 workpiece uses H-grade wheel) For soft workpieces, use a grinding wheel that is 1-2 grades harder (e.g., copper uses K-grade wheel) |
|
| Material | Aluminum oxide: for steel types Silicon carbide: for hard alloys/ceramics Diamond: for high-hardness conductive materials CBN: for titanium alloys/high-temperature alloys |
|
| Bond | Ceramic bond: universal use Resin bond: suitable for high-speed grinding (>50m/s) |
|
| Grinding Parameters | Speed | Normal grinding: 30-35m/s High-speed grinding: 50-150m/s (cooling required) |
| Feed Rate | Longitudinal: 0.5-2mm/r (upper limit for rough grinding, lower limit for precision grinding) Transverse: rough grinding 0.05-0.15mm/pass, precision grinding 0.005-0.02mm/pass |
|
| Workpiece Speed | 10-30m/min For hard/large-diameter workpieces (>200mm or HRC > 50): reduce to 10-15m/min |
|
| Coolant | Flow Rate | Rough grinding: 20L/min Precision grinding: 10L/min |
| Pressure | 0.1-0.3MPa (ensure penetration of the grinding zone) | |
| Type | Water-soluble: for rough grinding Oil-soluble: for precision grinding of non-ferrous metals |
Surface grinding machining prototypes
Our surface grinding CNC machining services effortlessly handle complex curved surfaces and three-dimensional multi-faceted structures, covering plastics, metals, large (small) components, and large (small) batch production. Tolerance control precision reaches 0.005mm.
Advantage of surface grinding
1. High Precision
Machining accuracy achieves within ±0.005mm, with strict flatness and parallelism, suitable for high-fitment parts like molds and gauges.
2. Ultra-High Surface Finish
Surface roughness Ra values can reach below 0.1μm, meeting mirror-like finish requirements for optical components and hydraulic slides.
3. Rapid Material Removal
Rough grinding achieves feed rates exceeding 0.1mm per pass, swiftly removing excess material from castings/forgings to shorten mass production cycles.
4. Broad Material Adaptability
Through selection of grinding wheel materials (aluminum oxide, CBN, diamond, etc.), it can process various materials including steel, titanium alloys, ceramics, and cemented carbides.
5. Process Stability
CNC or automated equipment ensures machining consistency, minimizes human error, and is suitable for standardized parts in large-scale production.
Application of surface grinding part
1. Automotive Manufacturing:
Crankshafts, drive shafts, bearing rings
Ensures journal dimensional accuracy to IT5 grade (±0.005mm) and surface roughness Ra≤0.4μm, reducing friction loss and enhancing power transmission efficiency.
2. Aerospace:
Turboshafts, engine blades, landing gear struts
Machining nickel-based alloys and titanium alloys to achieve surface roughness Ra ≤ 0.1μm, meeting strength requirements under high-temperature, high-pressure conditions.
3. Energy Equipment:
Wind turbine main shafts, gas turbine rotors
Control taper error ≤0.01mm (wind turbine shafts) and dynamic balance accuracy ≤G1 grade (gas turbines) to withstand complex loads.
4. Precision Machinery:
Hydraulic spool valves, optical instrument shaft systems
Clearance fit 1-3μm (hydraulic spool valves), surface roughness Ra ≤ 0.025μm (optical shafts), reducing leakage rates.
