Abrasive Wheels Training Certificate Safe Mounting & Dressing Procedures 2

Question 1

What is 'wheel dressing' and what tool is used for it?

Accepted Answer

Restoring the wheel's cutting face by removing glazed, loaded, or out-of-true abrasive material using a diamond dresser or star-wheel dresser

Answer

Wheel dressing restores the wheel's cutting face: it removes glazed or loaded grains to expose fresh sharp abrasive, corrects out-of-roundness, and re-profiles the wheel face. Diamond dressers (single-point, multi-point, or roller) and star-wheel (Huntington) dressers are the standard tools. Regular dressing maintains cutting efficiency and reduces heat.

Question 2

What is the correct technique for using a single-point diamond dresser on a bench grinder?

Accepted Answer

Present the diamond at a 10–15 degree angle to the wheel face, traverse across the face with a slow, steady movement, using light cuts of 0.02–0.05mm per pass

Answer

The diamond dresser must be presented at 10–15 degrees (not perpendicular, to prevent chattering) and traversed slowly across the full wheel face. Light cuts (0.02–0.05mm) prevent overloading the diamond. Too fast a traverse leaves a coarse thread-like surface; too deep a cut can damage the diamond or crack the wheel.

Question 3

What personal protective equipment is required when dressing an abrasive wheel?

Accepted Answer

Safety glasses or goggles (not just spectacles), face shield, and hearing protection; leather gloves are NOT recommended as they reduce dexterity

Answer

Wheel dressing ejects fine abrasive particles and metal fragments at high velocity. Safety glasses or goggles with side protection are mandatory; a face shield provides additional full-face protection. Hearing protection addresses the high-frequency grinding noise. Leather gloves reduce dexterity and are generally not recommended — the hands should be kept well clear of the wheel.

Question 4

After dressing a bench grinder wheel, what adjustment must be made to the machine?

Accepted Answer

The work rest must be readjusted to maintain the maximum 3mm gap, as dressing reduces the wheel diameter

Answer

Each dressing operation reduces the wheel diameter. The work rest gap must be readjusted after dressing to maintain the maximum 3mm clearance. Additionally, the wheel guard's tongue (spark deflector) may need adjustment to maintain its correct position relative to the reduced wheel diameter.

Question 5

What is the minimum time a newly mounted abrasive wheel should be run before it is used for work?

Accepted Answer

At least 1 minute at full speed with the guard in place and no one in the burst danger zone, to detect any defects before use

Answer

A new or freshly mounted wheel must be run at operating speed for at least 1 minute (some standards specify longer for larger wheels) before use, with the guard in place and personnel standing clear of the danger zone. This allows any mounting defect or latent crack to manifest before the wheel contacts a workpiece.

Abrasive Wheels Practice Test

Abrasive Wheels Practice Test

Abrasive Wheels Training Certificate Safe Mounting & Dressing Procedures 2