The following chart is an example of the ANSI standard marking system for identifying grinding wheels and other bonded abrasives.

A24RBF
Primary grain used to make the wheelSize of the abrasive grainHardness of the bondType of bond used
A = Aluminum Oxide
C = Silicon Carbide
Z = Alumina Zirconium
SG = Seeded Gel
CoarseMediumFineVery Fine

8 30 70 220

10 36 80 240

12 46 90 280

14 54 100 320

16 60 120 400

20 150 500

24 180 600


Soft



Medium



Hard



A

N

R

T

Z

B = Resinoid
BF = Resinoid Reinforced
E = Shellac
O = Oxychloride
R = Rubber
RF = Rubber Reinforced
S = Silicate
V = Vitrified

Wheel Configurations

Bonded abrasive wheels have different configurations depending upon the tool the wheel is used on and the desired end result.

Below are the configurations that a wheel can have:

Type 1 / Type 41 –Straight Wheel
Type 27 /Type 42 –Depressed Center Wheel
Type 28 – Saucer-Shaped Wheel
Type 29 – Flexible Wheel
Type 11 – Flaring Cup Wheel
Type 16 – Rounded Cone
Type 17 – Straight-Sided Cone
Type 18 – Plug
Type 18R – Round Plug