Blanchard grinding for plates and large flat parts
Blanchard grinding, also called rotary surface grinding, takes a plate or other large flat part and grinds both faces flat and parallel. We do Blanchard grinding at our Reno shop, and it is the usual route for a thick steel plate that has to come out flat.
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Stock photo: gloved hands measuring a part with a digital caliper
Large flat parts are hard to make flat with a cutter alone. Flame cutting and welding warp plate, and old faces get hammered, scored or worn. A Blanchard grinder spreads the work across the whole face with an abrasive wheel, so a plate can finish flat and parallel from side to side.
At a glance
- Thick plates and large flat parts ground flat
- Both faces taken parallel to each other
- Warp from welding or flame cutting removed
- Worn or scored faces cleaned up
Love working with these guys, and gal. Great customer service and knowledgeable skill base. They have helped with many big projects and have always pulled though when our machines went down.
How does a Blanchard grinder work?
The part sits on a round table that turns under a large grinding wheel. The wheel works across the face as the table rotates, so the whole surface is ground in a single pass pattern instead of strip by strip. That makes it a practical way to grind large areas.
A magnetic table holds ferrous parts without clamps getting in the way, which keeps a thin or thick plate from being forced out of shape while it is ground.
Why a plate ends up needing to be ground
Plate is cut from a larger sheet with flame or plasma and the heat leaves it bowed. Welding a part adds more stress, and a plate that has served as a mount for years can be dished or scarred. Grinding both faces takes the plate back to flat and brings the two sides parallel to one another.
A common request is a thick steel plate that has to come out flat. Send the print with the flatness and parallelism the part needs, because those numbers decide how much stock is removed and how the plate is checked.
- Warp after flame cutting or plasma cutting
- Distortion from welding
- Faces damaged in service
- Plates that must seat flat against a machine base
Grinding compared with milling a face
A milled face is quick for general work and holds well on smaller parts. On a big plate the cutter leaves tool marks, and the plate can move as material is removed. Grinding is the finishing step when flatness across the whole face matters more than a fast cut. Face milling is covered on the vertical milling page.
Sending a plate for a quote
Give the length, width and thickness, the material, and the flatness and finish you need on the print. If the plate is a repair, add a photo of the face. Use the quote request or call (775) 359-5570, Monday to Friday, 7:00 am to 3:30 pm. The surface finish entry in the glossary explains how finish is specified.
Sources
- Wolf Machine & Fabrication home page (2026-10-18)
- Rotary surface grinding (Blanchard) (overview) (2026-10-18)
- ASME Y14.5-2018, Dimensioning and Tolerancing (2026-10-18)
What is ground on a Blanchard
- Steel plates that must be flat and parallel
- Base plates, wear plates and mounting plates
- Die and fixture plates
- Welded or flame-cut parts that have moved
- Faces worn or marked from service
Typical parts
- Base plates and mounting plates
- Wear plates
- Fixture and die plates
- Large flat spacers
How to send us the job
Have a print? Attach it to the quote request. No print? Photos of every face, the sizes you know and the machine the part came from are a good start, and you can bring the part in.
Questions about this service
From the shop
Work from the shop
Straight answers
Blanchard grinding questions
Still have a question? Call (775) 359-5570, Monday to Friday, 7:00 am to 3:30 pm.
What materials can be Blanchard ground?
Steel plates are the usual work, and tool steels also fit the process. Tell us the material and the shop will confirm.
What should I put on the print for a ground plate?
State the flatness and parallelism you need, the surface finish if it matters, and the thickness the plate must end up at.
Can a plate that warped after welding be saved?
Often, yes. Grinding both faces can bring it back to flat and parallel, as long as there is enough material to take off.
Send us the job
Request a quote
Tell us what you need, attach a drawing or photos of the part, and we will get back to you during shop hours. Free consultations; prompt estimates.
- From your specifications, drawings or samples. We can also assist you in designing your product or part.
- Free consultations and prompt estimates
- Stands behind the work: Our rates are very competitive and our quality is second-to-none. Wolf Machine stands behind the work we perform.
- Company accounts: all major credit cards, or we can open an account for your company
Shop hours Monday to Friday, 7:00 am to 3:30 pm. Send your request any time and we will get back to you during shop hours.
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