• Surface grinding machines are used in industrial manufacturing facilities to smoothen surfaces of metal machine parts, also known as "workpieces." These metal parts or workpieces are usually parts of a more complex machine, such as an engine. A typical surface grinder is comprised of a grinding wheel with a rotating spindle, a hand wheel, and a base. The main purpose of surface grinders is to remove very specific amounts of material on a workpiece's surface to accurately create smooth surfaces with distinct specifications. Today's surface grinders vary in design and set up, but all of them are used for the same purpose of smoothening a workpiece's surface, removing specific amounts of material, and modifying very hard metal pieces.
  
  

Horizontal Spindle

• A horizontal spindle surface grinder uses a grinding wheel's periphery to modify the workpiece. Modern horizontal spindles are equipped with two different tables. One model has a reciprocating table that moves back and forth; while another one has a rotary table that rotates while the workpiece is in contact with the grinding wheel. Both designs are mainly used for modifying surfaces that require a precise smoothness and very specific sizes.
  
  

Vertical Spindle

• A vertical spindle surface grinder uses the wheel's face to manipulate the workpiece. It is also available in two tables; a reciprocating table that moves back and forth, and a rotary table that rotates while the grinding wheel comes in contact with the workpiece. Vertical spindle surface grinders are usually used to quickly remove materials from the workpiece, but sometimes it can also be used to grind a specific amount of material from the workpiece.
  
  

Disc Grinders

• Disc grinders follow the same grinding techniques of typical surface grinders, but contact between the workpiece and the grinding wheel has a fairly large area. It also utilizes both horizontal-spindle and vertical-spindle methods. A double disc grinder is also available, and its purpose is to manipulate both sides of the workpiece at the same time. Disc grinders are used as a finishing step when creating machine parts and tools that require very specific sizes. Some modern double disc grinders can also be made with modified feeding systems. The feeding system determines the way on how the discs will come in contact with the workpiece. Some companies that produce disc grinders usually offer custom-built machines depending on its purpose.