In general, electroplated wheels have just one layer of abrasive grits. Therefore, tool life can be a major determining factor and grit strength is of major relevance. The range of characteristics available in diamond grit types is considerably wider for metal bonds than for use in other bonding systems. Often high strength crystalline diamond types are used. Abrasives that are more friable at lower loads are chosen for surface finish operations. [BAIL99]
The typical wear behavior of an electroplated grinding tool is not based on grit pull-out. Preferrably, the grits undergo progressive chipping which maintains sufficient cutting action of the tool [BAIL99]. The worn surface, however, has minimal grit protrusion and the top surfaces of the grits are rough [BAIL99]. The achieved surface roughness Rt amounts to around 10 % of the abrasive grit size for a new electro-plated tool; with tool wear (running-in) Rt amounts to around 5 % [BOLD02].
Electroplated grits are held mechanically, brazed grits are held mechanically and chemically. In comparison to an electroplated CBN grinding wheel, a brazed CBN tool may offer higher grit protrusion and a stronger grit-bond adhesion [CHAT94]. The solder is able to establish a strong joint between the grit, solder, and the metal substrate of the wheel body as a result of chemical affinities [DING05]. Regular grit distribution can overcome loading problems from clustered grits in a random grit distribution [CHAT94].
A major improvement in performance for single-layered metallic bonds was achieved by the so called “Touch dressing” method in the mid 1980s [FERL92, p. 9]. Small depths of dressing cut level the protruded grit tops, so that the surface roughness of the grinding wheel is decreased, its profile accuracy improves, and the grinding process stability rises [STUC88]. Electroplated tools can be cleaned with a sharpening stone or ultrasonic bath [BOLD02].