Knurling wheels, also known as a knurling die, are used to create a pattern or gripping surface on a cylindrical blank. They are used on steel, brass, aluminum alloys and hard plastics.Diagonal, diamond and straight are the three most common patterns generated by knurling wheels.
The operation is performed for producing indentations on a part of a workpiece. Knurling allows hands or fingers to get a better grip on the knurled object than would be provided by the originally smooth metal surface.
In manufacturing, knurling is a finishing process used to create any combination of horizontal, vertical or crossing lines on the surface of a workpiece. For example, if a manufacturing company wants to add a diamond-patterned texture to a product — or a component of a product — it may use knurling.