If you need a superior surface finish and a high degree of dimensional control for a component or a bore, honing machines or honing grinders are the ideal machining systems. Honing is a super finishing operation and has less of a material removal rate compared to conventional grinding.

Automobile components, metrological instruments and aerospace equipment spares require honing operations for superior surface finish and high dimensional accuracy. Common examples of honed components are piston-cylinder assembly, gear trains and snap gauges.

Traditional honing or hone machines require manual feed for either the honing tool or the component. Modern CNC honing machines have a programmable feed facility for the honing tool as well as for the component. These modern honing machines also provide the capability to use multiple honing tools with minimal tool changing time.

Some of the important parameters you must consider before buying a hone machine are:

1. Material of the component
2. Dimensions and tolerance requirements
3. Desired surface finish
4. Spindle speed variations for the honing machine

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy a honing machine from a reputable manufacturer

After understanding the honing requirements, check standard honing machines available with reputable manufacturers. Buy a honing machine suitable for your requirements and application.

I recommend: Barnes Bore Honing & Finishing Systems offers various machines suitable for many commercial honing operations such as bore honing and edge honing. Superior Honing Equipment Inc. provides honing machines suitable for gear honing and cylinder honing. Ohio Tool Works Corp. provides horizontal and vertical honing machines for medium and heavy-duty production applications.

Buy a honing machine through a directory site

Compare various honing machines by reputable manufacturers, their specifications and prices on a directory website. Buy a honing machine that satisfies your requirements best.

I recommend: Find a hone machine supplier and its products on ThomasNet, a leading online directory. DirectIndustry, an online directory for industrial products, provides product catalogs of the leading honing machine manufacturers. LocatorOnline.com offers an online list of used metalworking machinery including honing machines.

Buy appropriate honing tools and accessories

Honing tools or honing stones are very important as they decide the surface finish of the component. Various accessories such as honing guides and honing coolants affect the efficiency of the honing operation.

I recommend: Sunnen provides an assortment of honing machine accessories such as diamond plated honing tools and honing coolants. Gleason Cutting Tools manufactures honing tools used for diamond honing machines. Brush Research offers soft cutting tools such as flexible honing tools and customized honing brushes.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Check the after-sale service before buying a honing machine.
• •  Use additives for honing coolants for improving the performance of the honing setup.
• •  Keep an inventory of honing tools and accessories to avoid breakdown of machining cycle.