At Gentzler Tool & Die, we understand that the quality of a metal component often hinges on its surface finish and flatness. Our surface grinding services deliver the precision and consistency your parts require—whether for a prototype, small batch, or high-volume production. We work with professional vendors who pair state-of-the-art equipment with decades of expertise to ensure every workpiece meets your exact specifications.

Located just south of Akron in Uniontown, OH, our facility is equipped to handle parts of all sizes. From aerospace components that demand micrometer tolerances to heavy-equipment plates needing flawless flatness, our team is ready to serve your needs.

 

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What Is Surface Grinding?

Surface grinding is a machining process that removes material from the face of a workpiece using an abrasive wheel. The workpiece is clamped to a magnetic chuck or fixture on the grinder’s table, and the abrasive wheel traverses back and forth across the surface, shaving off microscopic layers with each pass. Key characteristics of the process include:

    1. Flatness Control: Achieving tolerances down to ±0.0001 inches.
    2. Surface Finish: Producing finishes as smooth as 8–16 microinches Ra.
    3. Depth Precision: Removing material in increments as small as 0.0005 inches.

Surface grinding machines range from compact benchtop units to large “blanchard” grinders capable of handling plates up to 4 × 8 feet or more. Our vendors’ facilities feature both vertical spindle and rotary table grinders, allowing us to match the machine type to the part size, material, and tolerance requirements.

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Benefits of Surface Grinding

Surface grinding offers distinct advantages over other finishing methods. Below, we explain each benefit in detail:

  1. Exceptional Flatness and ParallelismBy controlling the depth of cut and the movement of the grinding wheel, surface grinding achieves consistent flatness across the entire workpiece. This is critical for parts that must mate with other surfaces or require uniform sealing.
  2. Superior Surface Finish The abrasive action of a surface grinder produces a uniform, fine texture that often eliminates the need for secondary finishing operations. Smooth surfaces reduce friction, improve wear resistance, and enhance appearance.
  3. Tight Tolerance Capability Surface grinding can routinely hold tolerances within ±0.0002 inches, making it ideal for precision components like gauge blocks, bearing surfaces, and mold bases.
  4. Versatility Across Materials Whether you’re working with hardened tool steels, aluminum alloys, stainless steel, or even plastics and composites, we select the proper wheel, speed, and coolant to optimize material removal and surface integrity.
  5. Improved Part Performance Flat, smooth surfaces ensure better contact, reduce the risk of leakage or vibration, and extend component life—especially in dynamic assemblies like hydraulic valves or aircraft actuators.

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Materials We Work With

Our surface grinding services accommodate a broad spectrum of materials. Each material presents unique grinding challenges that our team is equipped to handle:

Aluminum

Lightweight and soft, aluminum requires careful wheel selection and coolant control to prevent loading and heat buildup.

Brass

Brass’s ductility can cause smearing; we use specialized abrasives and speeds to maintain crisp finishes without wheel glazing.

Cast Iron

Cast iron grinds readily and responds well to standard aluminum oxide wheels, yielding excellent flatness and finish.

Mild Steel

For mild steel, we balance aggressive material removal with fine final passes to achieve both dimensional accuracy and smoothness.

Stainless Steel

Stainless alloys can harden under heat; our process keeps temperatures low to avoid workpiece distortion or discoloration.

Plastic

Certain engineering plastics—like nylon or acetal—are ground with silicon carbide wheels under controlled feed rates to prevent melting.

Titanium

Titanium’s low thermal conductivity demands minimal heat generation; we grind titanium slowly, with ample cooling, to avoid galling.

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Industries We Serve

Gentzler Tool & Die’s surface grinding services support critical components in a wide array of sectors:

  • Aerospace: Machined frames, actuator faces, and hydraulic block plates requiring micro-inch finishes.
  • Automotive: Transmission plates, fixture bases, and tooling plates for assembly lines.
  • Medical: Surgical instrument surfaces, implant fixtures, and diagnostic device components.
  • Defense & Military: Armor plate faces, gun mount surfaces, and precision sensor housings.
  • Consumer Electronics: Heat sink faces, PCB fixtures, and chassis panels.
  • Energy & Power Generation: Valve seats, turbine shrouds, and pump flow plates.
  • Construction & Heavy Equipment: Guide rails, baseplates, and wear strips.

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Why Choose Gentzler Tool & Die for Surface Grinding?

  • Decades of Expertise: Our team collaborates with expert vendors who have extensive experience in grinding techniques, having worked on thousands of parts to ensure predictable and repeatable results.
  • Quality Management: ISO 9001-certified processes and in-house inspection ensure every part meets your print requirements.
  • End-to-End Service: From initial consultation and fixturing design to final inspection and packaging, we manage the entire workflow.
  • Local Convenience: Based in Uniontown, OH, we provide rapid turnaround to Ohio and Midwest customers, minimizing shipping time and cost.

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Explore Our Full Finishing & Coatings Capabilities

In addition to surface grinding, Gentzler Tool & Die offers a comprehensive suite of finishing and coating services—managed end-to-end—including powder coating, anodizing, plating, and precision grinding. Learn more about how we can streamline your complete finishing process and deliver production-ready parts.
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Ready to achieve flawless flatness and surface finish? Contact Gentzler Tool & Die today to discuss your part requirements and receive a customized quote.

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