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CNC Grinding Service
Are you looking for perfect finishes on hard parts? Do you need parts made with no errors? CNC grinding might be just what you need! At Istar Machining, we use computer-controlled grinding machines to make parts that fit together perfectly.
CNC grinding is like a special kind of cutting that uses spinning wheels covered in tiny hard bits. These wheels rub against metal and other materials to make them smooth and exactly the right size. Let’s learn all about it!
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20+ Years
Istar Machining's years in the industry
300,000 square feet
The size of Istar Machining's factory
856 CNC machines
Our CNC equipment count
2000+ skilled workers
Istar's number of skilled machinists/operators
What is CNC Grinding?
CNC grinding uses computer-controlled machines to shape parts using abrasive wheels. Unlike other cutting tools, grinding wheels have thousands of tiny cutting edges. This helps us make parts with:
- Super smooth surfaces(less than 0.4µm Ra)
- Very exact sizes(within 0.0001 inches)
- Perfect shapeseven on very hard materials
Our CNC machining service experts program these machines to move the grinding wheel or the part in exact paths. This creates the perfect finish every time!
Types of CNC Grinding We Offer
We have many kinds of grinding to match your needs:
Why Our CNC Grinding Stands Out
Feature | What It Means For You |
±0.0001″ Tolerance | Your parts fit together perfectly every time |
Grinds Hard Materials (HRC 60+) | We can work with super hard steels that other methods can’t handle |
45 m/sec Grinding Wheel Speed | Faster production without losing quality |
Surface Finish ≤0.4 µm Ra | Parts so smooth they sometimes don’t need more polishing |
Handles Parts Up To Ø500 mm x 1500 mm | We can work on small precision parts or large components |
Our CNC parts machining team uses the best Fanuc and Siemens controls to make sure every grinding job is done right.
Materials We Can Grind For You
CNC Grinding excels at producing parts with exceptional precision, tight tolerances, and superior surface finishes, especially on hard or difficult-to-machine materials. Here are some of the common materials we work with:
Metals
Hardened Steels
Stainless Steel
Tool Steels
Titanium Alloys
Nickel Alloys
Tungsten Carbide
Hardened Steels
(Common Grades: Tool Steels like A2, D2, O1, M2; Bearing Steels like 52100; Alloy Steels like 4140, 4340 after heat treatment) possess high hardness, strength, and wear resistance achieved through heat treatment. Grinding is often the essential final step to achieve precise dimensions and fine surface finishes after hardening.
Good for:
- Dies and molds
- Cutting tools (drills, end mills, inserts)
- Precision shafts and spindles
- Bearings and races
- Gears
- Wear-resistant components
Why customers love it: “Grinding allows us to achieve critical tolerances and mirror-like finishes on extremely hard steel components after heat treatment, ensuring maximum performance and longevity.”
Stainless Steel
(Common Grades: 303, 304, 316, 440C, 17-4 PH) offers excellent corrosion resistance and good strength. Grinding is used for high-precision applications, achieving fine finishes, or machining hardened grades like 440C or precipitation-hardened grades like 17-4 PH.
Good for:
- Medical instruments and implants
- Aerospace components
- Food processing equipment
- Precision shafts
- Valve and pump components
Why customers love it: “It delivers high precision and excellent finishes on corrosion-resistant parts, essential for medical, aerospace, and food-grade applications, even on hardened variants.”
Tool Steels
(Common Grades: A2, D2, O1, S7, M2, H13) are specifically formulated for high hardness, wear resistance, toughness, and heat resistance, making them ideal for tooling. Grinding is the primary method for shaping and sharpening these materials after hardening.
Good for:
- Cutting tools (drills, taps, reamers)
- Molds and dies (injection, stamping, forging)
- Punches
- Shear blades
Why customers love it: “Enables the creation of highly accurate, durable tooling with sharp edges and complex geometries from extremely hard, wear-resistant materials.”
Titanium Alloys
(Common Grades: Grade 5 / Ti-6Al-4V, Grade 2) are known for their high strength-to-weight ratio, excellent corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility. Grinding is often necessary for achieving tight tolerances and fine finishes due to titanium’s machining characteristics.
Good for:
- Aerospace structural components and engine parts
- Medical implants (orthopedic, dental)
- High-performance automotive parts
- Marine hardware
Why customers love it: “Allows for high-precision manufacturing of lightweight, strong, and biocompatible components for demanding aerospace and medical applications.”
Nickel Alloys
(Common Grades: Inconel® 625, 718; Hastelloy® C276; Monel® 400) offer exceptional performance at high temperatures and in corrosive environments. These alloys are notoriously difficult to machine, making grinding a crucial process for finishing and achieving precision.
Good for:
- Jet engine and gas turbine components
- Chemical processing equipment
- Oil and gas industry parts
- Heat exchangers
- Marine applications
Why customers love it: “Grinding provides a reliable method to achieve precise dimensions and smooth surfaces on materials designed to withstand extreme heat and corrosive conditions.”
Tungsten Carbide
(Cemented Carbide) is an extremely hard and wear-resistant composite material made from tungsten carbide particles bonded with a metal binder (usually cobalt). Grinding, often with diamond wheels, is the standard method for shaping and finishing carbide parts.
Good for:
- Cutting tool inserts
- Wear parts (nozzles, seals, bearings)
- Dies and punches
- Mining and construction tool tips
- Abrasive blast nozzles
Why customers love it: “It’s the essential process for shaping ultra-hard carbide, creating exceptionally durable and wear-resistant tools and components with precise geometries.”
Ceramics
Alumina (Aluminum Oxide)
Zirconia (Zirconium Dioxide)
Silicon Carbide (SiC)
Silicon Nitride (Si3N4)
Alumina (Aluminum Oxide)
(Common Grades: AD 96, AD 99.5, AD 99.8) is a very hard, wear-resistant, and electrically insulating technical ceramic. Grinding is required to achieve precise shapes and tolerances due to its hardness.
Good for:
- Wear-resistant components (seals, linings)
- Electrical insulators and substrates
- Medical components
- Grinding media
- Furnace components
Why customers love it: “Enables the fabrication of highly accurate parts from a durable, wear-resistant, and electrically insulating material suitable for demanding environments.”
Zirconia (Zirconium Dioxide)
(Common Grades: Y-TZP) is known for its exceptional toughness, strength, and wear resistance among ceramics. Precision grinding is used to shape this high-performance material.
Good for:
- Ceramic bearings
- Cutting blades
- Medical implants (dental, hip joints)
- Pump components and valves
- Wire drawing dies
Why customers love it: “Allows for precise manufacturing of components from an incredibly tough and wear-resistant ceramic that often outperforms metals in wear applications.”
Silicon Carbide (SiC)
(Common Grades: Sintered SiC, Reaction Bonded SiC) is extremely hard, has excellent thermal conductivity, chemical resistance, and retains strength at very high temperatures. Grinding is necessary for precision shaping.
Good for:
- Mechanical seals and bearings
- Heat exchangers
- Semiconductor processing equipment parts
- Kiln furniture
- Armor plating
Why customers love it: “Makes it possible to create precise components from an ultra-hard material ideal for high-temperature, high-wear, and chemically aggressive applications.”
Silicon Nitride (Si3N4)
Offers a unique combination of high strength, toughness, thermal shock resistance, and wear resistance. Grinding is essential for achieving the required precision on finished parts.
Good for:
- High-performance bearings (especially hybrid)
- Cutting tools for cast iron
- Automotive engine components (valves, turbochargers)
- Welding nozzles
- Non-ferrous metal handling
Why customers love it: “Grinding enables the production of high-precision components offering superior toughness, thermal stability, and wear resistance for extreme operating conditions.”
CNC Products Produced by Istar Machining
Common Uses for CNC Grinding
Aerospace Parts
Jet engines need parts that can handle extreme heat and stress. Our grinding creates turbine blades and landing gear parts that meet strict aerospace rules.
Medical Devices
Doctors need tools and implants that are perfectly made. We grind surgical instruments and joint replacements that help save lives.
Automotive Components
Cars need parts that last for years. We grind crankshafts and gears that keep engines running smoothly.
The CNC Grinding Process
Here’s how we make your parts perfect:
- Planning: We study your drawings to pick the right grinding method
- Programming: Our experts tell the computer exactly how to move the grinding wheel
- Setup: We carefully mount the part and choose the right grinding wheel
- Grinding: The machine removes material bit by bit until the part is perfect
- Checking: We measure the part to make sure it meets your exact needs
- Finishing: We clean and package the part so it arrives ready to use
Why Choose Istar Machining for CNC Grinding?
- 50+ CNC grindersfrom top brands like Studer and Okuma
- In-process measuringthat checks parts while they’re being made
- 5-day standard turnaround(faster than most shops)
- ISO 9001 certifiedquality systems
- Experience with aerospace, medical, and automotive standards
Our surface grinding services team can help you get the perfect finish on your flat parts too!
Get Started With Your CNC Grinding Project
Ready to get the perfect parts for your project? Our team is ready to help!
- Send us your drawings
- Get a free quote within 24 hours
- Approve the quote to start production
- Receive perfect parts in as little as 5 days
Contact our team today to learn how our precision grinding can solve your toughest machining challenges.
Frequently Asked Question
A: Grinding uses abrasive wheels to remove tiny amounts of material, making very smooth finishes. Milling uses cutting tools with defined edges and removes material faster but leaves a rougher finish.
A: We can grind almost any material including hardened steels, titanium, Inconel, ceramics, and carbides. Some plastics can be ground too.
A: Simple parts might take just hours, while complex parts can take days. Our standard turnaround is 5 days, but we can work faster if you need it.
A: Cylindrical grinding holds the part at both ends while it spins. Centerless doesn’t clamp the part at all, making it better for thin parts and high-volume work.
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