Why do we need to dress the grinding wheel

To achieve the quality and productivity requirements for most precision grinding operations, it is necessary that the grinding wheel is trued and dressed prior to grinding and periodically during the grinding operation. The truing process is initially performed to correct for any wheel runout, create the required profile on the wheel and condition the grinding wheel face.

During the grinding operation it is usually necessary to dress the wheel periodically to re-establish the wheel profile and/or recondition the wheel face. Wheel conditioning, typically involves the sharpening and opening up of the wheel face, while also removing dull abrasives, excessive bond and workpiece material (loading).

 A sharp and open wheel face will allow maximum possible material-removal rates by minimizing the high grinding power and forces associated with a dull and closed wheel. On the other hand, there may be occasions when a closed and dull wheel face is required, such as to improve the surface finish. This process of preparing of the wheel face to the desired condition (roughness) is achieved during the dressing process and fine-tuned by modifying the dressing parameters, including the dressing speed ratio.