Glebar FW-9D

Specs verified 2026-10-05 · glebar.com Updated 2026-10-05

Image: glebar.com, Glebar

Key Specifications

diameter accuracy

0.001 in (25 microns)

grinding diameter capacity

Min 0.25 in (6.35 mm) – Max 1.5 in (38 mm)

work wheel diameter

9 in (229 mm)

roundness

0.001 in (25 microns)

work wheel power

15 hp (11 kW)

work wheel speed

2,400 rpm

How much does the Glebar FW-9D cost?

Price estimate

Uncertain

We do not have a price for the Glebar FW-9D that we can stand behind, so we show no number. Configuration, options and installation move the final price a long way: a quote is the reliable figure.

Overview

The Glebar FW-9D is a ferris wheel style OD grinder: parts are loaded on precision arbors and plunge ground so that the outside form is true to the centre of the part. Glebar says the machine was first designed for rubber capstans and has since moved on to precision bushings and ceramic components such as spark plugs. Part diameter runs from 0.25 in (6.35 mm) to 1.5 in (38 mm), and grinding length is at most 5 in (127 mm).

Grinding from the centre is the point. A centerless grinder references the outside of the part, so it cannot correct a form that is eccentric to the bore. Here the arbor defines the axis. The arrangement also lets parts be staged on arbors while a grind cycle is running, loaded by hand or by robot, and the load cycle move profile is adjustable. A precision stepper motor positions the head.

The wheel is 9 x 5 in (229 x 127 mm) and the spindle is rated 15 hp (11 kW) at 2,400 rpm, which is a lot of power behind a wheel that short. The regulating wheel has a 2 hp (1.45 kW) drive with a 10-400 rpm range. Stated diameter accuracy and roundness are both 0.001 in (25 microns). Glebar adds that in-line inspection can be used to adjust size automatically and improve on that.

At 47 x 39 x 50 in (120 x 99 x 127 cm) and 2,000 lb (908 kg) it is one of the smaller machines Glebar builds. The PG-9CRG covers longer work, with a grinding length of 12.625 in (32 cm) and a footprint of 141 x 48 x 94 in (358 x 122 x 239 cm). Supply is 480 VAC, 3PH, 60 Hz at 40 A, with 3 CFM of air at 80-90 PSI.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
Diameter Accuracy	0.001 in (25 microns)
Grinding Diameter Capacity	Min 0.25 in (6.35 mm) – Max 1.5 in (38 mm)
Work Wheel Diameter	9 in (229 mm)
Roundness	0.001 in (25 microns)
Work Wheel Power	15 hp (11 kW)
Work Wheel Speed	2,400 rpm
Regulating Wheel Power	2 hp (1.45 kW)
Regulating Wheel Speed	10-400 rpm
Machine Weight	2,000 lb (908 kg)
Grinding Length	Max 5 in (127 mm)
Wheel Size	9 x 5 in (229 x 127 mm)
Power Requirement	480 VAC, 3PH, 60 Hz, 40 A
Air Requirement	80-90 PSI, 3 CFM
Machine Dimensions	47 x 39 x 50 in (120 x 99 x 127 cm)

Specifications sourced from glebar.com — verified 2026-10-05

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

Grinds the outside form relative to the centre of the part, which solves the concentricity problem of centerless grinding
Parts can be staged on precision arbors during the grind cycle, by hand or by robot
15 hp (11 kW) spindle on a 9 x 5 in (229 x 127 mm) wheel
Small footprint of 47 x 39 x 50 in (120 x 99 x 127 cm) at 2,000 lb (908 kg)
In-line inspection can be deployed to adjust size automatically
Interface software can take in controls for robots and bowl feeders

Limitations

Part diameter is limited to 0.25 in (6.35 mm) through 1.5 in (38 mm)
Maximum grinding length is 5 in (127 mm); the PG-9CRG reaches 12.625 in (32 cm)
Stated diameter accuracy and roundness of 0.001 in (25 microns) are coarse beside the 0.0002 in (5 µm) roundness of the PG-9DHD
Head positioning is by stepper motor, where the PG-9CRG lists a fully programmable slide

Best For

Ceramic insulators and spark plug bodies Rubber capstans and feed rollers Precision bushings ground concentric to the bore Short parts up to 5 in (127 mm) loaded on arbors by robot Oxygen sensor ceramics and similar automotive parts

Frequently Asked Questions

01 What is a ferris wheel grinder like the Glebar FW-9D?

It is a plunge grinder in which parts sit on precision arbors and the outside shape is ground relative to the centre of the part. Glebar says this allows the machine to have parts staged during a grind cycle. Glebar lists the FW-9D as a Ferris Wheel / OD grinder on its site.

02 What size parts does the FW-9D take?

Grinding diameter from 0.25 in (6.35 mm) to 1.5 in (38 mm) and a maximum grinding length of 5 in (127 mm). The wheel is 9 x 5 in (229 x 127 mm), and Glebar notes that the machine shapes components up to 5 in.

03 What accuracy does the FW-9D achieve?

Glebar states diameter accuracy of 0.001 in (25 microns) and roundness of 0.001 in (25 microns). It also notes that in-line inspection can be deployed to adjust size automatically, further improving accuracy and repeatability.

04 How is the FW-9D loaded?

Parts go onto the precision arbors either manually or by robot. The machine allows parts to be staged during a grind cycle, the load cycle move profile is adjustable, and the interface software can be written to include the controls for robots and bowl feeders.

05 When should I look at the PG-9CRG instead of the FW-9D?

When the part is longer than 5 in (127 mm). The PG-9CRG grinds a length of 12.625 in (32 cm) and holds the part in collets on a programmable slide, but it occupies 141 x 48 x 94 in (358 x 122 x 239 cm), far more floor than the FW-9D.