The Tormek Way of Sharpening
Professional sharpening of all edge tools
- on the Tormek water-cooled sharpening system
We are happy to offer diamond grinding wheels to our users in three different grades; coarse (360 grit), fine (600 grit) and extra fine (1 200 grit). Diamond is the world’s hardest material and functions optimally with our machine’s low wheel rotation speed. With the diamond grinding wheels from Tormek you can sharpen all types of materials, including steel, HSS, ceramics and carbide.
In this video, we get to meet our CEO Håkan who was responsible for the development of our diamond grinding wheels. He explains why Tormek has chosen diamond over other abrasives and answers common questions on the subject.
In addition to the diamond grinding wheels shown in the video we offer another three diamond grinding wheels; DC-200 Diamond Wheel Coarse, DF-200 Diamond Weel Fine and DE-200 Diamond Wheel Extra Fine. They fit the Tormek T-4 and older machine models with a grinding wheel 200 mm (7 7/8”) in diameter.
Tormek’s Diamond Wheels are constructed with a precision machined steel frame. The frame is coated with a single layer of diamond grit that is electrolytically anchored with nickel.
The Tormek Diamond Wheels also have a layer of diamond on the side, which enables sharpening on the side of the grinding wheel with the MB-102 Multi Base for a fully flat bevel.
New diamond wheels are sensitive to high pressure since the grits are very sharp. Therefore, sharpen with a very low pressure in the beginning. You'll notice that the diamond grinding wheel seems quite aggressive the first few sharpenings, and gives a coarser surface.
After a short break-in period, the diamond crystals will stabilize to a uniform level to give a finer surface. When sharpening with diamond, always use a lower sharpening pressure than when you sharpen with grindstones. If you are unsure, begin with a lower sharpening pressure and gradually increase.
Synthetic diamond is ideal for tool grinding and is used in the manufacturing of whetstones when highest performance is prioritized. CBN, or Cubic Boron Nitride, is classified as the world’s second hardest material according to the Knoop scale. The diamond grits are harder and maintain the cutting properties better compared to CBN, which means that sharpening with diamond is faster.
CBN is better suited when sharpening with a traditional bench grinder. The high speed generates heat, which would break down the diamond grits. With the Tormek method, where you sharpen at a low speed (90-100 rpm), we can offer the possibility to sharpen with the world's hardest material, diamond, since no harmful heat is generated. Sharpening with a low rotating speed is always beneficial, since your tools don't risk overheating either.
The diagram shows different types of material and their hardness according to the Knoop scale.
The diagram shows how the diamond’s hardness decreases at high temperature.
The diamond ‘s characteristics provide a high and constant abrasive power and a wheel that always has a full-size diameter which remains flat. It can be of great use if you often sharpen the same tool, as it simplifies both the setting and grinding. Our Diamond Wheels also have a diamond layer on the outside, which allows for a completely flat grinding surface with the MB-102 Multi Base.
You can alternate between sharpening with a grindstone and a diamond wheel on the same machine. The particles from the grinding wheels sink to the bottom due to their weight, which means you cannot damage your diamond wheel if there are stone particles in the water trough and vice versa.
The life span of a diamond wheel is affected by several external factors, e.g. how often you sharpen, sharpening pressure and if you shape your tools often. This means that we cannot give our diamond wheels an exact life span, but we know several professionals who have used our diamond wheels in their workshop for over a year, without noticeable wear. Compared to CBN, diamond wheels have a longer life span. This is because diamond is clearly harder and resistant to abrasion for much longer.
How you maintain your Tormek Diamond Wheel also affects the life span. We recommend to always sharpen with water, since it prolongs the life of the diamond wheel. When sharpening with water, always use ACC-150 Anti-Corrosion Concentrate to prevent rust on your grinding wheel.
We recommend to always use water when sharpening with Tormek’s Diamond Wheels, as water cooled sharpening prolongs the life of the wheel and provides a finer surface. It is also possible to sharpen without water.
When the diamond layer is touched by the swarf from your tool, pores will be created in the nickel coating, exposing the steel core. Therefore, always use the ACC-150 Anti-Corrosion Concentrate in the water when sharpening with water to prevent rust on the grinding wheel. Add 10 ml of concentrate to 250 ml water (~4%). Every diamond grinding wheel comes with a 150 ml bottle of anti-corrosion concentrate.
If you want to save the mix overnight, remember to lower the water trough to prevent discoloration on the diamond wheel. As long as there is water in the water trough, the concentrate retains its characteristics.
Please note that ACC-150 does not contain any fungicide, so be aware that no biological particles are left in the water trough if you want to save your mix. It is also good to let the diamond wheel drain after use.
Exceptional wear resistance and constant shape
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