POTENTIALITY OF DIAMOND TOOLS FOR IMPROVING GRINDING PRACTICE.

The potential for the development of Soviet diamond tools and their raw materials are indicated. Attention is given to abrasive-diamond and dressing tools, and also stone machining tools. A special feature of the diamond tools produced in the Soviet Union is the high proportion of tools made from synthetic diamonds (about 93% in 1986). These tools include more than 5,000 types, and encompass almost all known types of tools. Equipment with stronger and more wear resistant synthetic diamonds, the use of heat treated bodies for the production of segmental wheels and strelking saws, and the use of new wear resistant bonds and the development of tool manufacturing methods such as hot pressing, and vacuum sintering are the main methods available for further improving the technical standard and quality of stone machining tools.