To date, grinding, according to the German DIN Standard 8580, is “machining with geometrically
undefined cutting edges” while other machining processes such as turning and milling are classified as
processes with “geometrically defined cutting edges”. New abrasive grains, called PSG and developed by
3M, stand this definition on its head. For the first time, grinding wheels made with PSG, called Cubitron TM
II, can claim to be made up of “geometrically defined cutting edges” as each and every grain is exactly the
same engineered shape. Hence, it might be more appropriate to talk about “micro-milling” rather than
grinding. This is borne out by looking at the resulting “flowing” chips which are akin to chips seen in
milling operations, just finer.
These free-flowing chips no longer clog up the grinding wheel and, therefore, the grinding wheel remains
free-cutting and dressing becomes only necessary due to loss of from rather than loss of cutting ability. In
repeated tests, this has shown to drastically reduce the risk of burning and to give consistent and
predictable results. Furthermore, tests and subsequent long term trials under production conditions have
shown that grinding time can be cut in most cases by at least 50% in comparison to grinding wheels
made of standard ceramic abrasives.

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