SPECIFICATIONS

Superabrasive Type - There are two basic types of superabrasives, diamond and CBN (cubic boron nitride).  Diamond is used to grind/cut glass, quartz, carbide, hard alloys, ceramic and other nonferrous materials.  CBN was developed to grind/cut tool and die steels, stainless steel and aerospace materials.

Mesh Size - Diamond and CBN products are available in a wide selection of grit sizes.  The grit size has a direct effect on  the cutting/grinding ability of the superabrasive product and the resulting finish on the work piece.

Grade - The grade of a superabrasive wheel is the "hardness" or wear resistance of the bond matrix.

Concentration - Superabrasive content of a wheel is usually expressed in terms of concentration.  A 100 concentration diamond or CBN wheel contains 72 carats of superabrasive per cubic inch of bond area (diamond/CBN section). A 75 concentration wheel is 54 carats per cubic inch, 50 concentration is 36 carats per cubic inch and 25 concentration is 18 carats per cubic inch.

Bond Type - There are three bond types used to manufacture superabrasive products, resin bond, metal bond and vitrified bond.  The choice of which bond to use is dependent upon the specific application and the conditions under which the superabrasive wheel is to be used.

Modification - Alpha or numeric modification designations are sometimes used by manufacturers to identify a specific resin, metal or vitrified bond matrix.

Superabrasive Depth - Superabrasive depths range from 1/32" to 1/2" depending on the style wheel, peripheral, cup, dish or face, or tool type.  Generally it is more cost efficient to work with the largest superabrasive depth for the particular wheel/tool style.