Resin Bond Diamond & CBN Grinding Wheels for CNC Toolrooms: 11V9 vs 4A2 Cup & Dish Wheels

August 5, 2026

Quick Answer: For CNC tool and cutter grinders (ANCA, Walter, Rollomatic, Deckel), the two workhorse wheel shapes you need to know are the 11V9 Flaring Cup and the 4A2 Dish Wheel. The 11V9 cup wheel (commonly #180 grit) is your go-to for rough grinding carbide end mill flutes and OD relief — its flared shape provides clearance for deep grinding. The 4A2 dish wheel (commonly #320 grit) is for finish grinding and end-face operations — its shallow dish profile gives excellent access to tight tool geometries. In Resin Bond, Diamond wheels handle carbide/PCD/CBN inserts, while CBN wheels handle HSS and hardened steels. This guide breaks down shape selection, grit strategy, and bond chemistry for modern CNC toolrooms.

11V9 Flaring Cup vs 4A2 Dish Wheel: Shape & Application

Factor11V9 Flaring Cup Wheel4A2 Dish Wheel
Shape DescriptionTapered cup — rim extends outward at an angle (typically 70°–80° included)Shallow dish — flat abrasive rim on a recessed hub (typically 60°–70° included)
Best Grinding OperationOD (outside diameter) grinding, flute grinding, relief grinding on end mills and drillsEnd-face grinding, bottom grinding, gashing, notch grinding on cutting tools
Clearance AdvantageFlared shape prevents rubbing against the tool shank during deep flute grindingRecessed hub prevents interference when grinding tool end faces and small radii
Typical CNC MachineANCA, Walter Helitronic, Rollomatic GrindSmart, Deckel S0/S11Same machines — often loaded as wheel #2 in a multi-wheel changer
Common Dimensions100mm–150mm OD × 10mm–20mm width × 20mm–32mm bore100mm–150mm OD × 3mm–6mm abrasive depth × 20mm–32mm bore
Recommended Grit Range#120–#240 (rough); #270–#400 (semi-finish)#270–#400 (semi-finish); #500–#1200 (finish)

Resin Bond Diamond vs Resin Bond CBN: Material Match

AbrasiveGrinds These MaterialsTool ExamplesWhy Resin Bond?
Resin Bond DiamondTungsten carbide (WC), PCD (polycrystalline diamond), ceramic, cermet, glassCarbide end mills, PCD inserts, carbide drills, carbide reamersResin bond is self-sharpening — the resin wears slightly during grinding, exposing fresh diamond grains for consistent cutting action. Ideal for the hard but brittle materials Diamond is made for.
Resin Bond CBNHSS (M2, M42, M35), PM-HSS (powder metallurgy HSS), hardened tool steels (D2, A2, M4)HSS end mills, HSS gear cutters, HSS broaches, hardened steel punchesCBN is chemically inert to iron — no carbon diffusion wear. Resin bond keeps grinding temperatures low, protecting the HSS from losing temper (critical for tools hardened to HRC 62–67).

The Standard 2-Wheel CNC Toolroom Setup

🛠️ Most CNC Toolrooms Run This Configuration:

PositionWheelGritBondJob
Wheel #1 (Rough)11V9 Flaring CupD180 / #180Resin BondFlute grinding, OD relief, stock removal
Wheel #2 (Finish)4A2 Dish WheelD320 / #320Resin BondEnd face, gashing, finish passes

💡 With this 2-wheel setup, a 5-axis CNC grinder (like an ANCA FX5 or Walter Helitronic) can grind a complete carbide end mill — flute, OD, end face, and gash — in a single clamping. The 11V9 handles the bulk of material removal; the 4A2 finishes the critical end geometry. Both wheels use the same bore size so they share a single arbor adapter set.

Grit Size, Concentration & Resin Bond Hardness Explained

ParameterWhat It MeansCommon Range for CNC ToolroomHow to Choose
Grit Size (Mesh)Particle size of the Diamond/CBN abrasiveD120/D180 (rough) → D320/D400 (finish)Lower number = coarser, faster stock removal. Higher = finer finish, smaller corner radii possible
ConcentrationAmount of abrasive in the bond (C100 = standard)C75 (light) → C100 (standard) → C125 (heavy)Higher C = more abrasive grains per volume, longer life, slightly slower cut. C100 is the sweet spot for most toolroom applications
Bond HardnessHow firmly the resin holds the abrasive grainsJ (soft) → N (medium-hard) → R (hard)Softer bond = faster grain exposure, cooler grind, shorter life. Harder bond = longer life, but more heat. N-grade suits most CNC tool grinding

Quick Decision Guide

  • Grinding carbide end mills and drills on an ANCA/Walter? → Start with 11V9 Resin Diamond D180 + 4A2 Resin Diamond D320
  • Sharpening HSS gear cutters and broaches? → Use 11V9 Resin CBN B180 + 4A2 Resin CBN B320 instead
  • Single-wheel budget setup? → Buy the 11V9 D180/Diamond first — it handles 70% of toolroom grinding operations
  • Need surface finish Ra < 0.2μm on carbide? → Add a 4A2 Resin Diamond D800–D1200 finish wheel
  • Custom bore size for your grinder? (ANCA uses 31.75mm, Walter uses 20mm, Rollomatic varies) → RONGDA manufactures wheels with your exact bore specification. Contact us with your machine model →

About RONGDA DIAMOND TOOLS: We supply Resin Bond Diamond and CBN grinding wheels in 11V9, 4A2, 12V9, 1A1, and custom profiles for all major CNC tool grinder brands — ANCA, Walter, Rollomatic, Deckel, Schneeberger, Star, and more. Standard grits D64–D1200, custom bonds available. ISO 9001 certified manufacturing. OEM/ODM welcome — send us your wheel drawing for a custom quote. Request a quote →

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