Grindplates

Grindplates are flat metal plates used as workholding or support surfaces in grinding operations. They help stabilize and align workpieces during grinding to improve accuracy and surface finish. They are typically made from hardened steel or cast iron and are offered in standard sizes or as modular tooling plates with a grid or pattern of holes. The holes may be threaded or non-through, enabling clamps, stops, or fixtures to be attached precisely.

They function to distribute clamping loads, reduce vibration, and provide a repeatable reference plane for measurement and inspection. They can be plain plates used with clamps, or they may be part of a modular fixture system, enabling quick changeovers between parts. Some grindplates are designed with built-in features for vises or clamp pockets, while others rely on separate fixtures.

In grinding operations such as surface grinding, a grindplate may serve as the base on which a workpiece sits, with the grinding wheel mounted on a machine bed. They are also used in belt grinding and deburring, where the plate supports delicate or irregular shapes. Maintenance involves keeping the plate clean and flat, protecting against corrosion, and periodically checking flatness and parallelism with appropriate gauges.

Grindplates may be referred to as tool plates, fixture plates, or grinding plates in some contexts, and their exact design varies by manufacturer and application. They are not a single standardized component but a family of products used to improve stability and repeatability in grinding processes.