Technical Comparison: Grinding vs. Polishing
Dimension
Grinding
Polishing
Core Objective
Correct geometric errors (flatness/roundness), control dimensional accuracy
Enhance surface gloss, eliminate micro-scratches, achieve mirror finish
Processing Principle
Hard abrasive particles (e.g., diamond, silicon carbide) cutting removal
Flexible medium (polishing paste/wheel) plastic deformation & micro-asperity flattening
Material Removal
Micron-level (rough/semi-finishing)
Sub-micron (<0.1μm, finishing)
Surface Roughness
Ra 0.025~0.006μm (ultra-precision down to nanoscale)
Ra 0.01~0.001μm (optical grade <0.5nm)
Equipment/Tools
Grinding wheels/belts/discs (matched abrasive grain size & hardness)
Polishing wheels (wool/polyurethane), polishing pastes (alumina/chromium oxide micropowders)
Process Parameters
High pressure (0.01~0.1MPa), low speed (10~30m/s)
Low pressure (<0.01MPa), high speed (30~100m/s)
Typical Applications
Precision mechanical parts, semiconductor wafer pre-processing, optical element roughing
Optical lenses, decorative parts (e.g., phone cases), high-precision mold finishing
Key Differences