BIZOMAT MAKEOS · Manufacturing
Cylindrical Grinding Planner (Traverse: Speeds, Power and Time)
What wheel and work speeds, removal rate and spindle power does this traverse cylindrical grinding job need, and how long will it take?
Plan of an external traverse cylindrical grinding operation: wheel surface speed against the wheel’s marked maximum, work speed from the work surface speed, speed ratio, equivalent diameter and contact length (as the grinding geometry tool), traverse rate from the share of wheel width per work revolution, removal rate and grinding power from your specific grinding energy, and passes and time for the stock with spark-out (as the grinding cycle time tool).
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How this tool works
Inputs, units and where to find them
| Input | Unit | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Wheel diameter | mm | Diameter of the grinding wheel. |
| Wheel speed | rpm | Wheel spindle speed. |
| Wheel maximum operating speed (marked) | m/s | Maximum operating speed marked on the wheel; never exceed it. |
| Work diameter | mm | Diameter of the work. |
| Work surface speed | m/min | Surface speed of the work. |
| Wheel width | mm | Width of the grinding wheel. |
| Traverse per work revolution (share of wheel width) | % | Axial traverse per work revolution as a share of wheel width (about 1/2–2/3 roughing, 1/4–1/3 finishing). |
| Length ground | mm | Length of the ground diameter. |
| Depth per pass (radial) | mm | Infeed per pass on the radius. |
| Stock to remove (radial) | mm | Total stock on the radius. |
| Spark-out passes | Passes without infeed at the end. | |
| Specific grinding energy | J/mm³ | Specific energy to grind the material with this wheel (your value). |
| Spindle motor power | kW | Rated power of the wheel spindle motor. |
| Spindle efficiency | % | Share of motor power available at the wheel. |
What each input means
Open an input to see what it is, its units, the worked example and the common mistakes, with a small diagram.
What this means: Wheel diameter
- What it is
- The outside diameter of the grinding wheel as it is now, which sets the wheel surface speed at a given spindle speed.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in mm: millimetres. The form accepts 0.000001 mm to 2000 mm. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 400 mm as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- A larger wheel runs faster at the same spindle speed.
- Get it right
- Use the current diameter; a worn wheel runs slower at the same spindle speed.
What this means: Wheel speed
- What it is
- The rotational speed of the wheel spindle, used with the wheel diameter to find the wheel surface speed.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in rpm: revolutions per minute. The form accepts 0.000001 rpm to 100000 rpm. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 1600 rpm as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- Wheel surface speed rises in direct proportion.
- Get it right
- This is the wheel spindle speed, not the work speed.
What this means: Wheel maximum operating speed (marked)
- What it is
- The maximum operating speed marked on the wheel or its blotter, which the wheel surface speed must never exceed.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in m/s: metres per second. The form accepts 0.000001 m/s to 200 m/s. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 35 m/s as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Get it right
- Read it from the wheel marking in m/s; never exceed it.
What this means: Work diameter
- What it is
- The diameter of the workpiece being ground, which with the work surface speed sets the work rotational speed.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in mm: millimetres. The form accepts 0.000001 mm to 2000 mm. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 50 mm as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Get it right
- Use the diameter being ground, not the largest diameter of the part.
What this means: Work surface speed
- What it is
- The surface speed of the rotating workpiece, set on the machine for the material and finish.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in m/min: metres per minute. The form accepts 0.000001 m/min to 200 m/min. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 15 m/min as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- A higher work speed raises the traverse rate, removal rate and power, and shortens the time.
- Get it right
- This is m/min, while the wheel speed is in m/s.
What this means: Wheel width
- What it is
- The width of the grinding wheel face. The traverse per work revolution is a share of it, and it is added to the ground length for overtravel.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in mm: millimetres. The form accepts 0.000001 mm to 500 mm. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 40 mm as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Get it right
- Use the active face width after dressing.
What this means: Traverse per work revolution (share of wheel wi…
- What it is
- How far the work moves along its axis in one work revolution, as a share of the wheel width.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in %: percent: the number is read as a percentage, so type 8 for 8 %. The form accepts 5% to 95%. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 50% as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- A larger share raises the traverse rate, removal rate and power, and shortens the time.
- Get it right
- Type the percentage itself. Finishing passes usually use a smaller share than roughing.
What this means: Length ground
- What it is
- The length of the diameter being ground along the work axis.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in mm: millimetres. The form accepts 0.000001 mm to 10000 mm. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 150 mm as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- Grinding time rises with length.
- Get it right
- Do not add the wheel width; the tool adds it for overtravel.
What this means: Depth per pass (radial)
- What it is
- The infeed of the wheel into the work for each traverse pass, measured on the radius.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in mm: millimetres. The form accepts 0.000001 mm to 1 mm. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 0.01 mm as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- A deeper pass raises the removal rate and power but needs fewer passes.
- Get it right
- This is radial: a diameter change of twice this value per pass.
What this means: Stock to remove (radial)
- What it is
- The total material to remove, measured on the radius, from the starting size to the finished size.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in mm: millimetres. The form accepts 0.000001 mm to 10 mm. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 0.1 mm as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- More stock needs more passes and more time.
- Get it right
- Halve the diameter allowance: radial stock is half the diameter difference.
What this means: Spark-out passes
- What it is
- Passes at the end with no infeed, which let the wheel and work deflection relax to improve size and finish.
- Units and format
- Enter a plain number with no unit. The form accepts 0 to 50. Use a whole number. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 2 as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- Each pass adds one traverse to the time.
- Get it right
- Count only zero-infeed passes; they add time but no removal.
What this means: Specific grinding energy
- What it is
- The energy needed to remove one cubic millimetre of the work material with this wheel and condition. It turns removal rate into power.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in J/mm³: J/mm³. The form accepts 0.000001 J/mm³ to 500 J/mm³. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 30 J/mm³ as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- Grinding power rises in direct proportion.
- Get it right
- Take it from wheel maker data or tests; it rises sharply with a dull wheel and fine infeed.
What this means: Spindle motor power
- What it is
- The rated power of the motor driving the wheel spindle, from its nameplate.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in kW: kilowatts. The form accepts 0.000001 kW to 10000 kW. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 7.5 kW as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Get it right
- Use the motor rating for continuous duty.
What this means: Spindle efficiency
- What it is
- The share of motor power that reaches the wheel after losses in belts, bearings and the spindle.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in %: percent: the number is read as a percentage, so type 8 for 8 %. The form accepts 10% to 100%. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 80% as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- A lower efficiency leaves less power available for grinding.
- Get it right
- Type the percentage itself, not a fraction.
Method and formulas
- Wheel speed v_s = π d_s n_s ÷ 60 000; work speed n_w = 1000 v_w ÷ (π d_w); speed ratio = v_s ÷ v_w.
- Equivalent diameter D_e = d_s d_w ÷ (d_s + d_w); contact length l_g = √(a_e D_e) (as the grinding geometry tool).
- Traverse rate = share × b × n_w; removal rate Q = π d_w a_e × traverse rate; power = u Q.
- Passes = stock ÷ a_e (rounded up) + spark-out; time = passes × (L + b) ÷ traverse rate (as the grinding cycle time tool).
- Example: the wheel runs at 33.51 m/s; traversing at 1,909.9 mm/min removes 50 mm³/s with 1.5 kW; the job takes 1.1938 min.
Limitations
- External traverse grinding; plunge and internal grinding differ.
- Specific energy varies strongly with wheel sharpness and depth of cut.
- Example values are illustrations. Replace them with values for your actual task.
Typical uses
- Plan a cylindrical grinding operation
- Check spindle power and wheel speed
- Estimate grinding time for a shaft diameter
Who it is for
- Grinding machinists
- Process planners
- Manufacturing engineers
What you get
- Wheel and work speeds, speed ratio, contact length
- Traverse rate, removal rate and power
- Passes and grinding time
Interpreting the result
- A finer traverse improves finish and roundness but lengthens every pass.
References
- Machinery’s Handbook, 29th edition (Industrial Press, 2012), printed pp. 1199–1268. Topic reference; no source tables or recommended settings are reproduced.
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Open the Cylindrical Grinding Planner (Traverse: Speeds, Power and Time) calculator