In metal fabrication and manufacturing operations, various tools use cutting wheels to cut material from a workpiece.
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What is a cutting wheel? Cutting wheels, or cut-off wheels, differ from grinding wheels in their function and structure. Where grinding wheels use an abrasive to grind large pieces of material off a workpiece from a shallow angle, cutting wheels typically make narrow, precise cuts at 90-degree angles. Consequently, cutting wheels are often thinner than grinding wheels — though they do not have the lateral strength required for side grinding, their minimal thickness makes them better for clean, accurate cuts.
Weiler Abrasives offers several cutting wheels for different applications. We provide everything from 1-millimeter cutting wheels to extended-diameter wheels for larger cuts. This guide to cutting wheels covers the differences between various types of cutting wheels and explains how to choose the right wheel for a given application.
Cutting wheels come in a few different types. Some common types are type 1, type 27, type 41, and type 42, where the various numbers signify the wheels' different shapes and properties.
A type 1 cut-off wheel, also known as a type 41 cut-off wheel, is completely flat. It is typically considered the most efficient type of wheel for general all-purpose cutting. Because it lacks a depressed center, it provides more cutting surface and minimizes interference with the workpiece.
The flat profile helps create deep 90-degree cuts into a workpiece. It allows for the maximum depth of a 90-degree cut at the expense of a small amount of visibility for the operator. Though their straight profile and the way they mount close to the guard can diminish visibility for the operator, type 1 cutting wheels are exceptionally useful in grinders, die grinders, high-speed saws, stationary saws, and chop saws.
Instead of being completely flat, a type 27 cut-off wheel, also known as a type 42 cut-off wheel, has a depressed center. The depressed center allows for added clearance when the operator is working at a constrained angle, though it gives the wheel limited cutting ability when working around corners, profiles, or extrusions. The depressed shape allows for a raised hub as well to hold the wheel securely in place.
The profile of a depressed-center cutting wheel gives the operator a better view of the cut, and it provides the ability to flush-cut because the raised hub means the locking nut can be recessed. Type 27 cutting wheels are designed for right angle grinders.
Cutting wheels typically contain a few different materials — primarily the grains that do the cutting, the bonds that hold the grains in place, and the fiberglass that reinforces the wheels.
The grains within the abrasive of a cutting wheel are the particles that perform the cutting.
Grains may come in several types. Common types of grains for cutting wheels include ceramic alumina, zirconia alumina, aluminum oxide, and silicon carbide.
The grain's grit helps determine its physical and performance properties as well. The grit refers to the size of the individual abrasive particles, in the same way sandpaper grains receive classification by their size. Grit sizes range from 16 to 60, with smaller numbers indicating larger, coarser particles and larger numbers indicating smaller, finer particles.
The bond of a cutting wheel is the substance that holds the abrasive grains in place.
Manufacturers often refer to the grade, or hardness, of a wheel. The grade signifies not the hardness of the abrasive grains themselves but the hardness of the bond holding them in place. Generally, under identical conditions, a harder bond means the cutting wheel will have a longer lifespan, whereas a softer bond means the cutting wheel will have a shorter lifespan.
A softer bond does provide certain advantages — it sheds its grains more rapidly to provide a faster cut. With a stronger bond, the bond may hold the grains in place after they have become worn. A softer bond releases them faster to reveal fresh, sharp grains more often and increase the wheel's cut rate.
With certain metals, it is important not to introduce contaminants into the metal when cutting. When cutting stainless steel and aluminum, always make sure the abrasive contains less than 0.1% of chlorine, iron, and sulfur, ensuring it is contaminant-free. Contaminant-free products will have identifying labels.
One of the bonds commonly used with abrasive grains for cutting wheels is resinoid. Resinoid bonds contain organic compounds. They tend to have better shock resistance than other types of bonds and can withstand operation at elevated peripheral speeds. They are ideal for cut-off applications, and they allow for self-sharpening by exposing new grains. Some specialized bonds are resin-over-resin bonded. These bonds provide additional moisture and heat resistance, as well as a stronger overall bond to make better use of the grains.
Cutting wheels contain fiberglass that may provide single, double, or triple reinforcement. Single reinforcement relies on a single layer of fiberglass and is useful for delivering exceptional cutting speed while reducing burrs on the workpiece. Double and triple reinforcement use multiple layers of fiberglass to provide added support for high-vibration and heavy-duty industrial applications.
At Weiler Abrasives, all our cutting wheels for right angle and die grinders have two layers of reinforcement. We do offer some single-reinforcement wheels in our large-diameter chop saw line and some triple-reinforced wheels in our new high-speed gas and electric saw wheel line.
With cutting wheels, the tool the operator has access to will often determine the wheel size, and selecting the correct size for the given application is also essential. Choosing the correct size involves calculating the right rate of revolutions per minute (RPMs) — the RPM rating of the cutting wheel should match or exceed the RPM rating on the grinder that will use it. In addition to verifying the RPM rating, it is also important to ensure that the wheel fits on the tool without interfering with or removing the guard.
A wheel's RPM rating tends to correspond with its diameter and the tool it is designed for. Common cutting wheel diameters range from 2 to 4 inches for die grinders, 4 to 9 inches for angle grinders, and 12 to 20 inches for chop, stationary, or high-speed saws.
The right wheel thickness often depends on the precision and accuracy necessary for the cut. For a highly precise cut, a thinner wheel can perform with greater accuracy and precision. They cut more quickly and generate less heat. Thinner wheels also remove less material with each cut, which is ideal when making repairs or fitting up parts. The tradeoff is that they tend not to last as long as thicker wheels under identical conditions. In applications where precision and accuracy are not as critical but longevity is, a thicker wheel may be suitable.
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Weiler Abrasives offers two ultra-thin high-performance cutting wheels — the Tiger® Zirc Ultracut 1-millimeter and the Tiger Inox Ultracut 1-millimeter. Both of these cutting wheels come in 4 1/2- or 5-inch diameters. The Tiger Zirc Ultracut 1-millimeter offers an ultra-fast cutting rate and long life, and it is ideal for cutting thin sheet metal, tubes, profiles, and small cross-section rods. The Tiger Inox Ultracut 1-millimeter is ideal for stainless steel because it is contaminant-free.
Weiler Abrasives has an exciting new line of chop, stationary, and high-speed saw wheels as well. The chop saw wheels have a 3/32-inch thickness, and the high-speed saw wheels and stationary saw wheels have a 1/8-inch thickness. These cutting wheels are ideal for cutting applications in the metal fabrication, construction, and rail industries, and some of the specialized models can provide precise rail cutting, burr-free cutting, and stud cutting for heavy-duty applications.
So far, we've discussed how types 1, 27, 41, and 42 cutting wheels offer distinctive shapes for different cutting applications. We've delved into the various common grains used in cutting wheels and how they are optimized for use on different metals, and we've explored the way diameter and thickness affect wheel speed and precision. Now let's look into a few applications for industrial and professional cutting wheels and how to choose the right wheels for these uses.
In general metal fabrication, 0.045-inch wheel diameters are common choices. With thinner materials, an operator may want to choose a 1-millimeter wheel instead for greater precision, less heat generation, and fewer burrs that will require removal before welding. The choice of grain will likely depend on the material composition of the workpiece — higher-performing grains for structural steel and difficult-to-cut metals, contaminant-free wheels for stainless steel.
In metal pipe fabrication, the choice of cutting wheel often depends on the diameter of the pipe to be cut. For a 3/4-inch or smaller pipe, a 4 1/2-inch diameter will usually be sufficient. For a pipe of up to 2 1/2 inches, a 6-inch cutting wheel is effective, and for a pipe of up to 3 1/2 inches, a 9-inch cutting wheel is often most suitable. It's also advisable to choose the thinnest wheel possible to minimize heat and friction and to use a type 1 wheel for a deeper cut unless the application imposes a particular constraint. For larger pipe often found on the pipeline, a depressed-center cutting wheel provides added clearance when working at a constrained angle, and 0.045-inch wheel thickness is ideal for cutting applications in fabrication yards or on the right of way for field repairs.
When an operator is working on the confined, hard-to-access spaces of a ship, making a cutting wheel last as long as possible is often a priority. For this reason, the operator will often want to choose a harder, potentially longer-lasting wheel like Tiger Ceramic. However, when operators must use air tools whose hoses have stretched over long distances to access difficult areas of the ship, the tools may be underpowered. In this case, wheels with a soft bond will be ideal because they make it easier to maintain a fast cut. In shipbuilding, the work material often influences the cutting wheel selection. When working with aluminum, an operator may want to select a cutting wheel that will not load or gum up, like Tiger Aluminum.
Preparing for welding typically involves exact metal cutting. With a basic cut-off operation, precision is not critical, but with complex work or repairs that need to preserve the initial aesthetic qualities of the material, precision can save time and money. Using a 0.045-inch cutting wheel — a little more than a millimeter thick — is common in welding to allow for precise and accurate cuts. For precise cuts on thin sheet metal, profiles, and small diameter rods, a 1-millimeter UltraCut wheel will provide smooth cutting and exceptional control for clean, ultra-precise cuts.
Modern railways use hard-to-cut alloy steels, so a high-performance cutting wheel is necessary for high-speed gas saws. A self-sharpening zirconia alumina grain that retains a high cutting performance throughout the life of the wheel offers excellent performance. The Tiger Zirc 14- and 16-inch cutting wheels are designed specifically for high-speed gas saws and deliver the high-performance solutions needed to increase productivity and profitability.
Building and construction sites feature a wide variety of metal cutting applications. Operators often look for a wheel that can do it all, from cutting off rebar to making long cuts on sheet metal. Many times, an aluminum oxide wheel provides the right mix of versatility, performance, and price. The Tiger AO line offers both flat and depressed-center cutting wheels in various sizes for die and right angle grinders. The Tiger AO line also expands into larger sizes from 12 to 16 inches for chop saws and high-speed gas and electric saws.
These large-diameter cutting wheels have several signature wheels designed with the construction industry in mind. For chop saws, the line includes a wheel designed for stud cutting and options for burr-free cutting that feature a single layer of fiberglass. The high-speed saw offering includes wheels with three layers of fiberglass for added support in heavy-duty cutting applications.
To see the benefits of superior cutting wheels in your industrial and professional operations, make Weiler Abrasives your trusted source for surface conditioning solutions. Our cutting wheels come in various types, grains, bonds, diameters, thicknesses, specialized features, and price points, so we can help you find the wheels or small cutting discs that are right for your applications.
The value you'll receive extends far beyond the purchase of a cutting wheel. Our Value Package offers additional advantages such as safety training to facilitate the safe and effective use of your cutting wheel and direct field support to answer your questions and help you make your facility more efficient and productive.
At Weiler Abrasives, we have an extensive line of abrasive grinding wheels designed to deliver the performance welders and fabricators need to get the job done right and done fast. Our grinding wheels are available in performance tiers, offering a choice between long life, fast cut or both.
We have grinding wheels made for working on all metals in both our Type 27 and Type 28 designs. These wheel styles each have triple reinforcement for added stability in aggressive applications but differ in their profile to offer unique advantages:
Grinding wheels are mixed combinations of resin and abrasive grains. The abrasive does the work and grinds metal when it makes contact with metal surfaces, while the bond holds the abrasives in place and helps the wheel keep its shape. Abrasives vary in strength and hardness. Choosing a grinding wheel with the right composition for the application and material will ensure consistent results and continuous efficiency.
The grinder also plays a pivotal role in the choice of grinding wheel. Grinding wheels come in different exterior diameters made to accommodate different size grinders. The inner diameter is also important to note. Wheels attach to angle grinders on a spindle, known as an arbor. Arbor size varies, and an exact match for the grinding wheel ensures a secure fit. Our lineup of grinding wheels offers compatibility with 5/8-inch and 7/8-inch arbors, and we have wheels with 5/8-11 threaded arbor hubs for easy spin-on/spin-off mounting.
While grinding wheel size and style are relatively straightforward, it can be a little harder to select a wheel with the right abrasives. For any metalworking application, the best method for choosing a grinding wheel is to start with the material and go from there.
Aluminum is a preferred material for countless metal fabrication applications due to its lightweight and natural resistance to rust and corrosion. While only weighing around 30% as much as steel, aluminum can be just as strong — and sometimes even more durable when made in the proper alloy. Due to aluminum's composition, fabrication work involving this material requires a grinding wheel for non-ferrous metals. We make an aluminum grinding wheel precisely for this purpose:
Stainless steel is more resistant to the elements than carbon steel, making it more desirable — and more expensive — so it is critical to choose the right abrasives for grinding applications. The most important factor when grinding stainless steel is to use contaminant-free or INOX wheels. This designation means the wheels are manufactured with additives that contain less than 0.1% iron, sulfur and chlorine. Our grinding wheels overcome this challenge, and we have two options available:
Carbon and structural steel are both durable materials integral to construction and building applications. With the right grinding wheel for carbon and structural steel, grinders are some of the most efficient tools for quickly shaping and grinding large volumes. At Weiler Abrasives, we manufacture several different grinding wheels for use on carbon and structural steel. These leading-edge grinding wheels are all dependable, consistent and made to last. We have options in each of our lines to match any scale operation's needs and budget, including:
At Weiler Abrasives, we produce grinding wheels capable of working on any metal type, including the hardest materials in metal fabrication. For grinding wheels for titanium, armored steel, Inconel®, tool steel, high-nickel alloys and other hard-to-grind metals, get fantastic results with a Tiger Ceramic grinding wheel. These tools take on any metal types and deliver a superior combination of cut rate and wheel life.
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