Tool grinding and tool sharpening services manufacture, recondition, regrind, and provide special profiling for cutting and machining tools. Services range from the manufacturer-approved re-sharpening and reconditioning of another manufacturer's tools to full design and engineering assistance for specialty cutting applications. Tools that are manufactured or reconditioned include end mills and other milling cutters, drills, turning and boring tools, broaches, form tools, burrs, counterbores and countersinks, and other specialty cutting tools for materials such as high-speed steel, different carbide grades, and industrial diamond or diamond coatings.  Tool design services may provide rake and relief-angle designs, application-specific layouts, and help with material selection. Tool repair services can provide brazing, tool component installation, and subsequent grinding to tolerance specifications. Tool manufacturing services, tool sharpening services, and tool reconditioning services are other commonly available types of tool grinding services.

With regard to capabilities, tool grinding and tool sharpening services use many different types of tools and cutter materials. Choices for tool types include: boring tools and bars, blades and knives, broaches, carbide inserts, counterbores, diamond tools, drills, end mills and milling cutters, form tools, gear cutters and hobs, grooving and slotting tools, keyseat cutters, punches, reamers, routers, saw blades, tapes and dies, turning tools, and working tools. Carbide, micrograin carbide, ceramic, high-speed steel, tool steel, diamond, and polycrystalline diamond (PCD) are common types of cutter material. Tool grinding services may also provide brazing, coating, honing, and lapping services as secondary operations. Choices for coatings include: titanium nitride (TiN), titanium carbonitride (TiCN), titanium aluminum nitride (TiAIN), aluminum oxide (Al2Ox3), chromium nitride (CrN), zirconium nitride (ZrN), and diamond.    

Certifications

Tool grinding and tool sharpening services provide several types of certifications. ISO 9001:2000 establishes requirements for company quality management systems and covers standards ranging from manufacturing to services such as design, development, production, and installation. AS9000 is a set of quality guidelines and requirements published by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) in cooperation with major aerospace manufacturers. AS9000 is based on ISO 9001 but maintains a particular focus on the aerospace industry. QS-9000 is a quality standard for suppliers of DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors Corporation. QS-9000 is based on the 1994 edition of ISO 9001, but contains additional requirements that are particular to the automotive industry. Specifically, QS-9000 applies to suppliers of production materials, production and service parts, heat treating, painting and plating, and other finishing services. Tool grinding services may also be registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or meet U.S. military specifications (MIL-SPEC).