A new generation of diamond impregnated grinding wheels provide low cost, high productivity manufacture and resharpening of solid carbide drilling and milling tools.

For low cost, high productivity manufacture and resharpening of solid carbide drilling and milling tools, a new generation of diamond impregnated grinding wheels has been introduced by the Austrian manufacturer, Tyrolit, and is available in the UK through the company's subsidiary in Crick, Northamptonshire. Called Startec HP, they have a newly developed, easy cutting bond system said to result in outstanding cooling characteristics during creep feed grinding of flutes. Further benefits are typically 20% lower power consumption, accurate profile holding and 30% longer wheel life.

In addition, Startec HP products are easy to dress, which is particularly important for profile wheels.

A non-ferrous core system is used which is lighter and provides better vibration damping characteristics than a steel core; and it is more tolerant to operator error, eliminating sparking if the wheel approaches the component too quickly.

Production of solid carbide cutters was revolutionised in the 80s, since which time significant improvements have been made to the rigidity of grinding machines, and to the formulation and delivery of synthetic oil coolants (as opposed to emulsions), allowing higher stock removal rates and better surface finish.

In the past five years, peripheral wheel speeds in the range 16 to 20m/s have been promoted when grinding tungsten carbide tools, demanding higher power at low revs.

Startec HP has been developed with these factors in mind.

As with all grinding techniques that Tyrolit offers, it supplies a package of additional services to manufacturers using the wheels.

They include advice on recommended coolant pressure and quantity to achieve optimum self-sharpening effect, and infeed / rotational speed combinations that result in the best balance between stock removal rates and wheel lifetime.