Surface grinding machines · Table and travel capacity, wheel size and surface speed, feed resolution, wheel guarding and mounting, thin-part clamping
A surface grinding machine produces flat, accurate surfaces by passing a workpiece, for example one held on a magnetic chuck, beneath a rotating abrasive wheel while the table reciprocates and the wheel is fed down in small increments. Ask three things first: the largest workpiece and the table, travels and height under the wheel needed, the wheel size and spindle speed, and the feed resolution and control (manual, hydraulic, NC or CNC).
Horizontal-spindle reciprocating-table surface grinders, from manual toolroom machines to CNC and gantry types. Cylindrical, centreless and internal grinders, bench and pedestal grinders, and floor grinding machines are outside this page.
01
Biga's PCA250 precision surface grinder, offered in AHR, AHD, NC and CNC versions, lists in its parameter table a 200 × 500 mm table, 600 mm X and 220 mm Y travel, 480 mm maximum from wheel centre to table, 450 kg maximum table load, 5–25 m/min table speed, Y handwheel graduation 0.02 mm with automatic cross-feed of 0.1–8 mm, Z handwheel graduation 0.005 mm, a maximum wheel of Φ180 × 12.5 × 31.75 mm at 2,850/3,360 rpm, a 2 HP spindle motor, a footprint of 1,750 × 1,400 × 1,680 mm and about 1,200 kg mass. Standard accessories include a magnetic chuck, diamond wheel dresser, wheel balancing arbor and base, coolant system and 1 µm linear scales on two axes. [2]
Editorial note: the same page's short description gives a 150 × 450 mm table and 465 mm grinding length, different from its parameter table, so confirm the configuration being quoted. [2]
Editorial calculation: a Φ180 mm wheel at 2,850 rpm runs at π × 0.18 × 2,850 ÷ 60 ≈ 26.9 m/s, and at 3,360 rpm about 31.7 m/s; both are below the 8,000 surface feet per minute (about 40.6 m/s) up to which OSHA allows cast or malleable iron guards. [2] [1]
Give the supplier the largest workpiece size and weight, material and hardness, flatness and finish required, batch sizes, whether forming or profile grinding is needed, the control level (manual, hydraulic, NC, CNC), wheel and coolant preferences, and power supply and floor space.
02
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.215 limits the guard exposure on surface grinding machines that use the wheel periphery to 150°, starting at least 15° below the horizontal plane of the spindle; the guard must cover the spindle end, nut and flange projections. Wheels are mounted between flanges at least one-third of the wheel diameter with blotters between flange and wheel, and immediately before mounting each wheel must be inspected and ring-tested and the machine's spindle speed checked against the maximum operating speed marked on the wheel. Spindles are made to nominal size plus zero minus 0.002 in so the wheel fits freely. [1]
Biga notes that thin parts such as washers and templates deform when pulled down by the magnetic chuck and spring back when released, so flatness can fail; it suggests an elastic pad between part and chuck, with a "smaller grinding amount combined with multiple grinding passes" (Biga), bonding the part to a flat support plate with epoxy before grinding each side in turn, or holding it in a vise on the chuck with controlled clamping force. [3]
03
Chevalier Machinery publishes specification tables in inch and metric units for its "FSG-618M" manual surface grinder and its "FSG-3A818" 3-axis fully automatic grinder with surface and plunge grinding cycles. Both use the same 2 HP (1.5 kW) spindle motor at 60 Hz 3,450 rpm or 50 Hz 2,850 rpm, the same Ø 205 × 12.7 × Ø31.75 mm wheel, 457 mm grinding length and 450 mm from table to wheel centreline. [4] [5]
The 3A818 page lists a cartridge type spindle with 4 pieces of class 7 angular contact ball bearings, a separate hydraulic system to prevent vibration and reduce heat transference, Turcite-B coated and hand scraped double V guideways, and a wheel head that rises and a table that parks at the end of a cycle. [5] The manual 618M lists Meehanite cast iron castings, an interlock between the electrical cabinet door and power supply, and spring loaded table travel stops. [4] Biga offers its PCA250, with a 200 × 500 mm table, in AHR, AHD, NC and CNC versions [2]; ask each supplier which automatic cycles are included in the price.
OSHA requires the spindle speed to be checked before mounting so that it does not exceed the maximum operating speed marked on the wheel [1]. Chevalier gives two spindle speeds depending on supply frequency [4], so the wheel rating has to cover the higher one if the machine may run on 60 Hz.
Editorial calculation: a 205 mm wheel at 3,450 rpm runs at π × 0.205 × 3,450 ÷ 60 ≈ 37.0 m/s, and at 2,850 rpm ≈ 30.6 m/s; the automatic version weighs 1,320 kg against 674 kg, about twice the manual machine. [4] [5]
| Item | FSG-618M (manual) | FSG-3A818 (3-axis automatic) |
|---|---|---|
| Grinding width | 152 mm (6.0") | 203 mm (8.0") |
| Table size | 150 x 460 mm | 203 x 457 mm |
| Max. table load | 210 kg (462 lbs.) | 250 kg (551 lbs.) |
| Max. manual table travel | 482 mm | 530 mm |
| Table speed | — | 5~ 25 m/min (16 ~ 82 fpm) |
| Cross feed (Z) | Manual travel 180 mm | Feed speed 960 mm/min; auto traverse 0.4 ~6 mm; manual travel 240 mm |
| Floor space (W x D x H) | 1,900 x 1,400 x 2,130 mm | 2,250 x 1,790 x 1,900 mm |
| Net weight | 674 kg | 1,320 kg |
Values are from Chevalier's model pages; accuracy and finish figures were not published there.
04
Dongguan City BiGa Grating Machinery Co., Ltd. lists PCA, PCD and gantry surface grinders; Almaco Machine Tool lists CNC and double column surface grinders; ASIATOOLS and ESTOP CNC MACHINERY CO LTD list surface grinders beside milling machines, and Jinan North Jinfeng Sawing Machine Co., Ltd. lists them with sawing machines.
Ask any supplier for table size, travels and height under wheel, maximum table load, wheel size and spindle power and speeds, feed resolution and scale resolution, table speed, slideway type, achievable flatness and finish on a stated test piece, chuck type, standard accessories, and guarding to the applicable standard.
05
| Part | Role | Fix in the order |
|---|---|---|
| Wheel spindle and motor | Drive the abrasive wheel. [2] | Power; speeds. |
| Wheel guard and flanges | Contain the wheel. [1] | Exposure; flange size. |
| Reciprocating table | Carry the work under the wheel. [2] | Size; travel; speed. |
| Cross and vertical feeds | Set step-over and depth. [2] | Resolution; automatic feed. |
| Magnetic chuck | Hold ferrous work. [2] [3] | Size; type. |
| Wheel dresser | True the wheel. [2] | Diamond dresser. |
| Coolant system | Cool and flush. [2] | Tank and filtration. |
06
Values are from Biga's PCA250 page and Chevalier's two toolroom models; surface finish, supply voltage and workshop temperature were not published and must come from the supplier.
| Field | What it means and published values | Ask the supplier for |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Grinding Length (mm) | X travel, e.g. 600 mm. [2] | Length. |
| Maximum Grinding Width (mm) | Y travel, e.g. 220 mm. [2] | Width. |
| Maximum Distance Under Wheel (mm) | e.g. 480 mm to wheel centre. [2] | Height under wheel. |
| Grinding Wheel Diameter (mm) | e.g. Φ180 × 12.5 × 31.75 mm. [2] | Wheel size. |
| Spindle Speed (rpm) | e.g. 2,850/3,360 rpm; below wheel's marked maximum. [2] [1] | Speeds. |
| Table Travel Speed (m/min) | e.g. 5–25 m/min. [2] | Range. |
| Motor Power (kW) | Spindle 2 HP [2]; 2 HP (1.5 kW). [4] | Spindle and hydraulic power. |
| Surface Finish (Ra) | On a stated test piece. | Ra achieved. |
| Grinding Wheel Speed (m/s) | ≈26.9–31.7 m/s calculated for PCA250 [2]; ≈30.6–37.0 m/s for Ø205 mm at 2,850/3,450 rpm. [4] | Surface speed. |
| Worktable Size (L×W) (mm) | e.g. 200 × 500 mm. [2] | Table size. |
| Machine Weight (kg) | e.g. about 1,200 kg [2]; 674 kg manual, 1,320 kg automatic. [4] [5] | Mass. |
| Overall Dimensions (L×W×H) (mm) | e.g. 1,750 × 1,400 × 1,680 mm. [2] | Footprint. |
| Power Supply (V AC) | Plant supply. | Voltage. |
| Operating Temperature (°C) | Workshop temperature. | Range for accuracy. |
07
Paste it into your enquiry below or into an email to a maker, then replace every bracket.
Parts: [size; weight; material; hardness] Accuracy: [flatness; parallelism; finish] Machine: [table; travels; height under wheel; control] Wheel: [size; speed; dresser] Shop: [power; space; coolant]
Dongguan City BiGa Grating Machinery Co., Ltd. and Almaco Machine Tool list CNC and gantry or double column surface grinders; three further machine-tool makers list surface grinders beside milling or sawing machines.
Lists PCA, PCD and gantry surface grinders with cylindrical grinders and EDM machines.
Product scope checked 2026-10-11
Lists CNC surface grinding machines with milling and machining centres.
Product scope checked 2026-10-11
Lists surface grinding machines with sawing machines.
Product scope checked 2026-10-11
Lists surface grinding machines with CNC milling machines.
Product scope checked 2026-10-11
Lists CNC surface grinding machines and double column surface grinders, with CNC lathes and milling machines.
Product scope checked 2026-10-13
Explore company information and manufacturing capabilities, then discuss the scope of your project with a relevant supplier.
OSHA 1910.215 allows at most 150° of exposure on surface grinders using the wheel periphery, starting at least 15° below the spindle's horizontal plane. [1]
OSHA requires inspecting and ring-testing the wheel and checking that the spindle speed does not exceed the maximum speed marked on the wheel. [1]
Biga suggests an elastic pad under the part, bonding it to a support plate with epoxy, or a vise on the chuck, with a "smaller grinding amount combined with multiple grinding passes". [3]
On Chevalier's figures, its manual FSG-618M and 3-axis automatic FSG-3A818 share a 1.5 kW spindle and 205 mm wheel, but the automatic adds 5~25 m/min variable table speed, 960 mm/min cross feed with 0.4~6 mm auto traverse, surface and plunge cycles, and weighs 1,320 kg against 674 kg. [4] [5]
Sources checked 2026-10-12. OSHA's abrasive wheel rule is a US regulation; Biga is a supplier linked to this page.
Ask for use case, specification boundaries, supplier type, and RFQ preparation information for this product.
Compare manufacturer profiles with relevant product and process capability.