What Is a Cutting Wheel?
A cutting wheel is a specialized wheel designed specifically for cutting applications and differs from a standard wheel primarily used for grinding.
Cutting wheels can be used with a variety of tools and machines, including disk grinders, engine cutters, and high-speed cutting machines, and the specifications of the cutting wheel vary.
In addition, a cutting wheel must be used according to the material to be cut. Therefore, it is necessary to check carefully on catalogs and other sources.
Each company has its own brand name for its main cutting wheel products, which are registered as trademarks.
Uses of Cutting Wheels
Cutting wheels are used in machining, construction, electronics, optical glass and ceramic cutting, and sample cutting for microstructural analysis.
Cutting wheels are mainly used to cut stainless steel, general steel, small-diameter pipes, and interior materials used in construction.
Since working with cutting wheels are hazardous task that requires close contact with the operator’s eyes, it is subject to special training, and trial operations during replacement are also required.
How to Select Cutting Wheels
When selecting cutting wheels, it’s crucial to consider the following factors, which should be thoroughly examined in catalogs and other sources before purchasing or using the wheel.
- Dimensions
The minimum dimensions required are the outer diameter (mm), blade thickness (mm), and hole diameter (mm), which are always listed in catalogs regardless of the manufacturer. - Types of synthetic abrasives
The main types of alumina-based abrasives include “light red alumina abrasive,” “white alumina abrasive,” and “alumina zirconia abrasive,” while silicon carbide-based abrasives include “black silicon carbide abrasive” and “green silicon carbide abrasive.” - Grain Size
Cutting wheels are made in the range of #20 (coarse) to #100 (fine). The smaller the number, the larger the grain size, and the shorter the cutting time, but the rougher the cut surface. - Bonding Degree
The standard for selecting the degree of bonding is that if it is too hard, it is more likely to be ground and clogged.
In addition, the horsepower (kW) of the motor to be installed and the wheel rotation speed (rpm) are also necessary items for selection.