While most types of grinding services are fairly standard and will work with a wide range of alloys and metals, there are some types of grinding that require experience and expertise.
One example of a material that can be particularly challenging to work with is carbide. While many machining shops and grinding companies will advertise they can complete carbide grinding, that is not the same as having expertise and experience in working with the material.
Finding a specialized carbide grinding company, start by completing a search online or, if you know someone already using a service, ask them for a reference. While these companies may not be in your location, choosing one within a reasonable shipping distance can help to keep the cost of logistics down. Just remember, paying a bit more for freight and having a superior final product may be a fair trade-off and one that should be carefully considered.
Capabilities and Capacity
Within the niche category of a carbide grinding company, there are also specializations. For example, some of the top companies will provide thread grinding, which can provide precision grinding for small through to much larger parts.
For any type of carbide grinding, verify the company has the machines and the production capacity to meet your needs. Even for small orders, low capacity within a carbide grinding company can result in significant turnaround time from ordering to delivery.
Industry Reputation
Quality, the ability to meet deadlines on orders and the ability to complete custom carbide grinding to high tolerances will be essential. This information should be available online through the website and can be verified with a phone call.
A good indicator of a quality company is one that has been in business for a significant amount of time. Some of the top companies have been providing specialized carbide grinding services for decades, which makes them an ideal place to start.
