Grinding Machine Safety Precautions

      Grinding is the process of removing metal by the application

of abrasives which are bonded to form a rotating wheel. When
the moving abrasive particles contact the workpiece, they act
as tiny cutting tools, each particle cutting a tiny chip from the
workpiece. It is a common error to believe that grinding
abrasive wheels remove material by a rubbing action; actually,
the process is as much a cutting action as drilling, milling, and
lathe turning.

     The grinding machine supports and rotates the grinding
abrasive wheel and often supports and positions the workpiece
in proper relation to the wheel.

     The grinding machine is used for roughing and finishing flat,
cylindrical, and conical surfaces; finishing internal cylinders
or bores; forming and sharpening cutting tools; snagging or
removing rough projections from castings and stampings; and
cleaning, polishing, and buffing surfaces. Once strictly a
finishing machine, modem production grinding machines are
used for complete roughing and finishing of certain classes of
work.

GRINDING MACHINE SAFETY

     Grinding machines are used daily in a machine shop. To
avoid injuries follow the safety precautions listed below.

• Wear goggles for all grinding machine operations.

• Check grinding wheels for cracks (Ring Test Figure 5-11)

before mounting.

• Never operate grinding wheels at speeds in excess of the

recommended speed.

• Never adjust the workpiece or work mounting devices

when the machine is operating

• Do not exceed recommended depth of cut for the grinding

wheel or machine.

• Remove workpiece from grinding wheel before turning

machine off.

• Use proper wheel guards on all grinding machines.

• On bench grinders, adjust tool rest 1/16 to 1/8 inch from

the wheel.