Introduction

Plated wheels differ from bonded wheels in that they are made by bonding a single layer of superabrasive to a preformed steel core. The bonding is accomplished by electroplating nickel to the preform while CBN particles are in contact with the wheel core. As nickel plates onto the steel core, the particles are trapped in place. The unique attributes of this abrasive coating provide some specific performance advantages. Manufacturers of turbine engine components have improved productivity and workpiece quality by employing plated CBN wheels in a variety of grinding applications. These components are made of nickel and cobalt based alloys referred to as superalloys: alloys that maintain their strength and shape at the high temperatures commonly encountered in gas turbines. The increased popularity of CBN plated wheels in grinding superalloys is due to several beneficial characteristics inherent in plated wheels.

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