The term “Blanchard Grinding” is to rotary surface grinding what Xerox is to photocopying. Rotary surface grinders use a lot more horsepower than other methods, removing a large amount of stock from one side of a part faster than other grinding methods. Furthermore, both the leading and trailing edges of the grinding wheel are in contact with the work piece, resulting in highly accurate, flat surfaces, perfect for mating parallel surfaces or if part-to-part tolerances are close.

The right size Blanchard grinder can handle very large projects like rotary tables, side plates or vacuum chambers, or when you need to cut out several smaller pieces with each part made the exact same thickness. You can also place multiple parts to be ground together, minimizing the per-unit finishing cost, such as resurfacing brake rotors or sharpening a group of stamping tools. As with any manufacturing process, you must consider how best to stretch your budget.

1. Contract out your Blanchard grinding services.

2. Buy your own machine from a Blanchard grinder company.

3. Service your grinder with Blanchard parts.

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

Connect with a Blanchard grinding service

Large parts or parts that need to be cut from large plates of stock present a challenge if you can't afford to dedicate the floor space to a dedicated machine like a grinder. Let a service do the millwork for you.

I recommend: Precision Grinding mills steel plates in their Birmingham, Alabama steel fabrication plant. Their largest Blanchard grinder can swing 129 inches, corner to corner. TCI Precision Metals gives you the choice of machining materials you provide, contracting the whole operation over to them or even buying its pre-machined blanks.

Buy new from Blanchard grinder manufacturers or used from a supplier

If you decide to grind your own products, stretch your budget by buying new rotary surface grinders for smaller projects and buying used Blanchard grinding machines for large projects.

I recommend: DCM has been designing and building industrial rotary grinders since 1974. Grinders Clearing House (GCH) Machinery Division possesses one of the largest stocks of pre-owned precision and tool room grinders in the world. The company can restore any American-made grinder to original OEM specifications.

Maintain your Blanchard grinding machine with parts and repair services

Large Blanchard grinders have a reputation for longevity. Establish an account with a reliable supplier for a ready source of parts or repair service to extend that long life, and save money over replacing the grinder.

I recommend: GCH Tool Group claims to have the world’s largest inventory of new, used and remanufactured Blanchard parts. Magnetic Chuck Services focuses on repairing and rebuilding magnetic chucks and controls, as well as electronic controls, electrical panels and motors.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you purchase a Blanchard grinder, build in some flexibility by ordering a vacuum chuck to hold non-magnetic materials like wood, plastic or glass.