Large-Format Titanium & Specialty Alloy Grinding
Large-Format Grinding Services
MSI Corporation specializes in large-format titanium plate grinding, including gauge reduction, scale, oxide and alpha case removal, controlled stock removal, and surface conditioning. Specialty-metal slabs, ingots, and rounds are supported with dedicated heavy-duty equipment.
Grinding Capabilities
- Seven 100 HP rail-mounted gantry belt grinders
- Titanium plate up to 50' long × 9' wide × 12" thick
- Continuous coolant on every gantry
- Standard ±0.050" thickness / 125 µin Ra; tighter tolerance to ±0.020" / 70 µin Ra, quoted per project
- 300 HP Midwest abrasive wheel grinder for heavy stock removal on non-titanium slabs, ingots, and rounds
- 75-ton crane-supported material handling
Large-format titanium plate with a uniform surface finish produced by MSI gantry belt grinding.
Grinding Equipment
Rail-Mounted Gantry Belt Grinders
Seven 100 HP rail-mounted gantry belt grinders are used primarily for titanium plate gauge reduction, scale removal, controlled stock removal, and surface conditioning. Each runs a 12" wide × 180" long abrasive belt.
Every gantry grinder runs with continuous coolant to control heat at the plate surface — critical for titanium and other heat-sensitive alloys. Operators independently control belt pressure, coolant flow, belt speed, and traverse speed, so each pass can be tuned for aggressive stock removal or a finer finish.
Close-up of gantry belt grinding during controlled stock removal.
| Gantry specification | Capacity |
|---|---|
| Equipment | 7 rail-mounted belt grinders |
| Motor | 100 HP each |
| Maximum plate envelope | 50' L × 9' W × 12" thick |
| Abrasive belt | 12" W × 180" L |
| Coolant | Continuous, adjustable flow |
| Process controls | Belt pressure, coolant flow, belt speed, traverse speed |
Midwest Heavy-Duty Abrasive Wheel Grinder
The 300 HP Midwest abrasive wheel grinder is built for one job: removing large amounts of material fast. It takes heavy stock off non-titanium specialty-metal slabs, ingots, and rounds, leaving the coarse roughed surface the Midwest process is known for. When a finished surface is required, material moves to our gantry belt grinders for finishing — including Midwest-ground material customers send us to finish. Plate and slab capacity is up to 30' long, 54" wide, and 12" thick.
Midwest abrasive wheel grinder performing heavy stock removal on a specialty-metal slab.
| Midwest specification | Capacity |
|---|---|
| Equipment | 1 Midwest abrasive wheel grinder |
| Motor | 300 HP |
| Maximum plate / slab envelope | 30' L × 54" W × 12" thick |
| Material forms | Slab, ingot, round, plate |
| Materials | Non-titanium specialty metals |
| Primary use | Heavy stock removal (roughing) |
| Surface | Rough; finished on gantry grinders when required |
Processes & Quality Control
Titanium Plate Gauge Reduction & Thickness Control
MSI performs controlled gauge reduction to meet customer-specified plate thickness. Incoming material is measured before grinding, and finished thickness is checked against order requirements. Inspection plans vary by project.
Many projects simply need scale removed and surfaces cleaned up; others require a precise final thickness or finish. We grind to whatever your order calls for, with standard and tight tolerance options priced accordingly.
Titanium plate ground to customer thickness requirements, with inspection measurements marked.
| Option (gantry grinders) | Thickness tolerance | Surface finish | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | ±0.050" | 125 µin Ra | Standard |
| Tight tolerance | to ±0.020" | 70 µin Ra, repeatable | Quoted per project |
Scale, Oxide & Alpha Case Removal
Hot-rolled plate arrives with mill scale and oxide layers, and titanium may also carry alpha case from hot working. Grinding removes these surface layers, conditions the surface, and prepares plate for downstream operations. Where scale or alpha case is especially thick or hard — common on heavy slabs — material can be planer milled first and then finish ground, all within our facility.
Inspection & Quality Control
MSI inspects incoming and outgoing workpieces for conformance to customer requirements. Dimensional checks support thickness control and consistent results. Learn more on our Testing & Inspection page.
Inspecting incoming plate through a spot cleared in the mill scale, prior to grinding.
Grinding Operations Gallery
Materials We Grind
Titanium is the core of MSI's grinding work. Our gantry belt grinders are set up primarily for titanium plate and slab, with other specialty metals run on the gantries and the Midwest grinder.
- Titanium alloys — commercially pure grades, Ti-6Al-4V, and other aerospace-grade alloys in plate and slab, ground on our gantry belt grinders
- Stainless steel — all grades, plate and heavy slab
- High-nickel superalloys — Inconel, Hastelloy, and related materials
- Other specialty alloys — slabs, ingots, and rounds, including heavy stock removal on the Midwest grinder
Industries Served
- Aerospace and defense
- Power generation
- Oil and gas
- Medical device manufacturing
- Specialty metals distribution and processing
- Heavy industrial manufacturing
Why Choose MSI for Grinding?
- 01
Large-Format Capacity
Seven gantry belt grinders take titanium plate up to 50' long and 9' wide, and 75-ton cranes handle the slabs and plate most grinding shops can't. If your material is oversized, we're built for it.
- 02
A Controlled, Tunable Process
Continuous coolant and independent control of belt pressure, coolant flow, belt speed, and traverse speed let us match each pass to the job. Standard and tight tolerance options mean you pay for the tolerance and finish you actually need.
- 03
Mill, Grind, Cut — Under One Roof
Heavy scale and alpha case can be planer milled first, then finish ground. Finished plate goes straight to our saws to crop ends, trim sides, or cut test pieces — no shipping between vendors. Heat treating and NDT inspection are in the same facility too.
- 04
Measured and Documented
Thickness is measured before and after grinding, and in-house inspection backs every job with the documentation your quality system requires. MSI has processed titanium and specialty alloys since 1972.
Request a Grinding Quote. Send us your material, dimensions, target thickness, and surface finish requirements, and our team will respond with a competitive quote.
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