Master’s Thesis Project – Optimization of the Grinding Process for Metal Cutting Tools

Sandvik Coromant is part of Sandvik's Machining business area and a world-leading supplier of cutting tools and machining solutions. Every day, manufacturers in aerospace, automotive, energy and general engineering use our tools to make the parts that keep the world moving. 

This thesis will be carried out within R&D department at Sandvik Coromant R&D in Västberga, Stockholm. 

Why apply? 

• Real impact: Your results can feed straight into how future products are manufactured. 

• From CAM to real results: You design grinding strategies and experiments in CAM. Experienced technicians grind the tools, so you can focus on engineering and analysis. 

• Learn from experts: You work closely with specialists in grinding, tool design and materials in an international R&D and production environment. 

• A step into industry: Many of our engineers started with a thesis at Sandvik. This is a chance to build your network and see what a career in R&D and production look like. 

Background and scope 

Grinding operation is one key operation in our cemented carbide tools. Cycle time, wheel wear, edge quality, surface integrity and dimensional accuracy all depend on many parameters working together: grinding wheel specification, feeds and speeds, dressing strategy, coolant conditions and the grinding toolpath. 

The purpose of this thesis is to understand these relationships better and find ways to optimize the grinding process. The goals are to: 

• Identify the process parameters that most affect productivity and tool quality 

• Propose and verify optimized grinding strategies or parameter settings 

• Deliver guidelines or recommendations that can be used in development and production 

The final scope will be set together with the student(s) and supervisors. If two students are recruited, the work can be split into complementary parts, for example CAM and toolpath optimization in one part, and process parameters and experimental evaluation in the other. 

Work description 

The study is expected to include: 

• Literature study of carbide grinding process parameters and optimization methods 

• Mapping the current process, including CAM programming, grinding strategies and quality requirements 

• CAM work: analyzing and developing grinding toolpaths and parameter settings 

• Design of experiments (DoE): planning which parameters to test and how. Our technicians will run the grinding trials. 

• Analysis of results: evaluating geometry, edge quality, surface roughness, wheel wear and cycle time from the trials 

• Data analysis to find correlations and optimal settings, with optional modelling or simulation 

• Recommendations for optimized grinding strategies, and how to verify them 

• Reporting: a written thesis and a final presentation at Sandvik Coromant and at your university 

Start: January 2027 or by agreement 
Location: Sandvik Coromant R&D, Västberga, Stockholm 

Student background 

We are looking for two master's students in Mechanical Engineering, Production/Manufacturing Engineering or a related field. You are curious and structured, take ownership, and turn ideas into results, on your own and with colleagues across functions. 

Ideally you have: 

• Knowledge of CAM and CNC programming 

• An understanding of machining or grinding processes 

• A proactive way of working: you plan, follow up and keep things moving without waiting to be told 

• Experience turning data into conclusions and conclusions into action 

• Some experience with design of experiments, statistics or data analysis (e.g. Python, MATLAB or Minitab). 

• Familiarity with CAD and cutting tool geometry 

• Good English, spoken and written 

Our culture 
At Sandvik, we’re tech driven, innovative and entrepreneurial. We believe that success is a team effort so we value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where people can be themselves and reach their full potential. So, we invest in supporting each other, learning together and celebrating our differences. Visit our stories hub, LinkedIn or Facebook to get to know us further.  

Duration of the project 
The thesis project lasts 20 weeks. Sandvik pays compensation for thesis projects approved by both us and the school.  

Contact information 

For further information about this project, please contact Wei Ji, wei.ji@sandvik.com, Principal R&D Engineer, +46 (0)70 616 22 90 

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How to apply 

Send your application no later than December 18th, 2026. Click apply and include your resume and cover letter in English. Please note that we don’t accept applications by e-mail. Job ID: R0099329