GRINDING IS ANYTHING BUT A PERFECT ENVIRONMENT. ONE IS ALWAYS FACED WITH MANY CONFLICTING COMPROMISES. A TYPICAL EXAMPLE IS THE REQUIREMENT TO REMOVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF STOCK AND ACHIEVE TIGHT SIZE TOLERANCES AND EXCELLENT SURFACE FINISHES. THIS PAPER DISCUSSES SOME OF THE CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE USE OF HIGH WHEEL SPEEDS FOR GRINDING. THESE COMPROMISES ARE DIFFICULT ENOUGH FOR GRINDING WITH CONVENTIONAL ABRASIVES; HOWEVER, FOR DIAMOND AND CBN TOOLS, HOW THESE COMPROMISES ARE MADE CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ECONOMICAL APPLICATION AND ONE WHICH IS NOT. THIS PAPER HIGHLIGHTS SEVERAL FIELD APPLICATIONS FOR DIAMOND AND CBN WITH DISCUSSION ON HOW THEY WERE IMPROVED. A BROAD RANGE OF APPLICATIONS ARE DISCUSSED. THIS PAPER DISCUSSES THE USE OF SPC AS A TOOL FOR ASSISTING THE APPLICATION ENGINEER FOR OPTIMIZING THE GRINDING PROCESS.