High machining precision and machining efficiency can be obtained in grinding WC-Co coating by cup wheel. The conventional model of the grinding force is not suitable for the grinding of the cup wheel due to the difference in grinding style between the cup wheel and the conventional external wheel. So the grit grinding process of the cup wheel is studied, and a new concept of the effective grinding width of the cup wheel is presented. Then the grinding force in grinding WC-Co coating materials by cup wheel is analyzed and a theoretical formula is deduced. Finally, experimental results of the grinding force verify the correctness and the precision of the theoretical formula.