Phoenix Abrasives specialty is the production of organic bond abrasive wheels and within this section of the bonded abrasive market has particular expertise in the manufacture of Fine Grit wheels, sticks and blocks.
These are designed, manufactured and tested in accordance with the European standard ISO. EN12413 (safety requirements for bonded abrasives) and produced in compliance with the quality management system ISO 9001:2015.
Strict quality control procedures are adhered to in the making of fine grit products. Manufacture is undertaken within a controlled environment to avoid coarse grit contamination as these wheels incorporate micro grits from 180grit through to 1000grit. Depending upon the grinding / polishing finish required the wheel will be made either cold pressed, warm or hot pressed.
There is a very wide range of end use products where fine grit wheels are used for example, blade edge polishing, medical needles through to steel roll finishing. Sticks and blocks for dressing diamond wheels in the glass industry.
Premium grinding and polishing results are achieved from wheels manufactured with a phenolic bond and warm pressed. Wheels are supplied either as a plain wheel or with a prescribed helix form.
The grinding of the steel strip is undertaken within typically a staged grinding process. The Hones are formulated to include silicon carbide abrasive micro grits. The first stage grind is carried out with Hones within the abrasive grit range 180g, 220g or 240g followed by further grinding with Hones in the range 500g, 600g 800g. At the end of the process the steel strip is "stropped" with either leathers or with ultra micro grit Hones, 1000g to 1200g.
Needle sharpness is an important factor in ensuring the highest level of patient comfort during penetration and one element of the process to achieve this condition is the correct choice of grinding wheel.
Among the variables that contribute to the needle sharpness are the grind geometry, grinding wheel choice and grinding coolant. The hardness of the tubing is also another important factor as soft tubing will not grind as easily as needle tubing which has been tempered.
Hypodermic needles are traditionally manufactured using conventional grinding techniques. The point consists of three facets, the primary bevel and two lancets. It is therefore important to choose the correct wheel specification and grading to suit the tubing material. Grinding of soft tubing tends to load the wheel if the incorrect wheel choice has been made.
Phoenix Abrasives have been manufacturing high quality abrasives products for precision grinding applications since 1968, gaining particular expertise in grinding needles, razor blades, scalpels and blade sharpening.
Please contact our technical department who will be pleased to make grinding wheel recommendations for your grinding applications.
Specifically formulated polishing wheels are available to carry out the Lapping operation which will present the ball with a mirror finish, spherical form and very low surface roughness. This process is achieved with proven grades of wheels ranging from 400grit through to 1500grit F.E.P.A. classification, 600grit through to 6000grit J.I.S. classification.
