June 25, 2026CNC Precision Grinding Services
By Matt Watson and Nolan Watson
HFW Industries provides CNC precision grinding services with faster cycle times and tight tolerances on coated and uncoated parts. Programming a CNC cylindrical grinder still depends on the same judgment a manual grinder calls on—material hardness, coating thickness, heat buildup, and wheel wear—just applied through software instead of a hand wheel. In addition, a CNC grinder allows for repeatability and faster turnaround times, especially on parts that are going to come back through the shop again, or that need the exact same tolerance held across a batch.
At HFW Industries, CNC precision grinding is part of our larger grinding department based in Buffalo, NY, that's been doing precision finishing work since 1950. For us, precision grinding is both a standalone service and a complement to our thermal spraying, hardfacing, and machining services.
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📧 RFQ@hfwindustries.com | 📞 (716) 875-3380 | Contact Form
Precision cylindrical grinding of a coated turbine shaft in our CNC grinder.
Precision grinding of a turbine shaft at HFW Industries in our Palmary CNC cylindrical grinder.
Our Palmary CNC Cylindrical Grinder
In 2024, HFW invested in a Palmary CNC cylindrical grinder: 12" swing, 80" centers, and 660-lb capacity. The headline benefit is cycle time. Programmed passes hold a consistent feed and depth of cut in a way that's hard to match by hand, which means lower lead times on jobs that need tight tolerances and fine surface finishes.
Our new CNC machine works alongside our existing cylindrical and ID grinding capability. Some jobs are a better fit for CNC. Others, especially one-off or unusually shaped parts, still go to a manual grinder and a grinder who's done this for decades. Part of the value of having both is knowing which one a given job actually needs.
CNC Grinding Services for Thermal Spray Coatings
A large share of what comes through our CNC grinder has already been through a coating booth. Tungsten carbide and chrome carbide, applied by HVOF, are harder than the base metal they're sitting on top of, sometimes significantly harder. Grinding that surface down to a fine finish, without burning it, without losing the coating's integrity, and without missing tolerance, is a different problem than grinding bare steel.
This is where experience matters more than the machine. HFW's grind department sees this combination, hard coating over a softer substrate, often enough that it's routine work for us rather than a special case.
Who CNC Precision Grinding Serves
Our grind department regularly sees shafts and rolls, including turbine shafts and processing rolls, for customers in power generation, oil & gas, chemical processing, mining & extraction, and high-tech industries. If you're a reliability engineer, maintenance planner, or procurement contact dealing with a part that needs to go back into service at OEM tolerance, CNC grinding is frequently the last step before it ships.
Ready to Discuss Your Project?
Whether it's a single coated shaft or a batch run that needs the same tolerance held every time, our team is ready to talk through your CNC grinding needs.
Request a Quote
📧 RFQ@hfwindustries.com | 📞 (716) 875-3380 | Contact Form
Explore More of HFW's Grinding Services
- Precision Grinding Services — the full overview of HFW's grinding capabilities, tolerances, and one-source model
- Internal Diameter (ID) Grinding — a specialty within a specialty
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between CNC and conventional cylindrical grinding?
CNC grinding programs the feed and depth of cut for consistent repeatability, which helps most on batch work or jobs that need the exact same tolerance held across multiple parts. Conventional grinding still has the edge on one-off or unusually shaped parts where a skilled grinder's judgment matters more than repeatability.
Can HFW CNC grind parts that already have a thermal spray coating?
Yes. Tungsten carbide and chrome carbide HVOF coatings are routine work for our CNC grinder. Grinding a coated surface to final tolerance and surface finish, without damaging the coating, is one of the things our grind department does most often.
Can CNC grinding handle a rush job?
Yes. CNC programming and setup don't have to slow down an emergency request. We support emergency and rush grinding jobs on their own, separate from any combined coating or machining order, with standard quotes typically turning around in 1 to 3 business days.
What is HFW's Palmary CNC cylindrical grinder?
It's a 2024 equipment investment with a 12" swing, 80" centers, and 660-lb capacity, added specifically to improve cycle time on tight-tolerance, fine-finish work.
Take a Look at Our Broader Grinding Department
Precision cylindrical grinding of a large compressor shaft at HFW Industries.
Internal diameter grinding of a journal housing at HFW Industries.
