What tolerance can cylindrical grinding hold?

About ±0.003–0.005 mm on diameters is normal, with fine surface finishes around Ra 0.2–0.8 µm.

How much grinding allowance should I leave?

Commonly about 0.2–0.4 mm on diameter for hardened parts, depending on size and distortion. Ask the grinding shop first.

Cylindrical or centreless grinding?

Centreless is fast and cheap for plain pins and rods in volume. Parts with steps, shoulders or several diameters are ground between centres.

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Cylindrical grinding

Also called: OD grinding, cylindrical grinding job work, centreless grinding, internal grinding, shaft grinding

Cylindrical grinding finishes round parts with a rotating abrasive wheel to very close sizes, about ±0.003–0.005 mm, and smooth finishes. It is used after hardening for shafts, pins, bearing seats and bores that turning alone cannot make accurately enough.

Quick facts

Machines: Cylindrical grinder, centreless grinder, internal grinder
Typical tolerance: About ±0.003–0.005 mm
Typical surface finish: About Ra 0.2–0.8 µm
Usually done: After hardening
Usually priced: Per piece
Typical allowance: About 0.2–0.4 mm on diameter left by turning

Kinds of cylindrical grinding

Between centres (OD grinding): shafts and spindles with steps and shoulders
Centreless grinding: plain pins, rods and rollers in large numbers, without centres
Internal grinding: bores, bushes and bearing housings
Plunge and traverse grinding, depending on the width of the ground surface

Why grind after hardening

Hardening slightly distorts a part and leaves scale. Turning leaves a small allowance on the critical diameters; after hardening, grinding removes it and brings the part to its final size and finish. Ask your workshop what allowance they want before turning.

What to send

Drawing with the diameters to be ground, tolerances and finish
Material and hardness
Whether the part has centres (for between-centres grinding)
Quantity
Roundness, runout or concentricity limits, if any

Need cylindrical grinding done?

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Related job work

Machines

CNC lathe

Materials

Questions

What tolerance can cylindrical grinding hold?: About ±0.003–0.005 mm on diameters is normal, with fine surface finishes around Ra 0.2–0.8 µm.
How much grinding allowance should I leave?: Commonly about 0.2–0.4 mm on diameter for hardened parts, depending on size and distortion. Ask the grinding shop first.
Cylindrical or centreless grinding?: Centreless is fast and cheap for plain pins and rods in volume. Parts with steps, shoulders or several diameters are ground between centres.

The figures on this page are typical values for guidance, written by Diemeco from standard engineering practice. They are not a specification: confirm grades and properties with the relevant standard or the supplier's mill test certificate, and tolerances with your workshop. Last checked 8 October 2026.