[HELP] Which type of belt grinder to buy?

[the penguin]

Belt life is directly related to multiple issue, matter being sanded, belt material, belt grit, belt speed and a few others, thing.

Good quality belts are very important, I use most of the time is a 50 grit, zirconium oxide, fabric back, made by Carborundum. One of my suppliers, sells that belt to a steel company, who make barrels for the M-16, they use the belt during the foundry operation. The supplier buys them by the truck load, so I get a real good price.

I use the different size radius wheels all the time, allows you to get into the tight spots to get a good edge finish.

[Dr Stan]

(05-04-2016, 01:52 AM)mfletch Wrote: make your own its a good project

Was this documented in a thread so others could replicate the machine?

[Roadracer_Al]

That RadiusMaster sure is a nice looking machine.

MFletch, that is very compact design, I like it.

The thing that's holding up my machine are the accessories. Because I do a lot of fabrication work with tube, I want to make a tube-coping tune-up jig. It would be very convenient to rough-cut a fish-mouth on an intersecting tube on the bandsaw (because it's fast) then make it perfect on the belt grinder.

I've also got an idea for a drill sharpening jig.

[the penguin]

(05-05-2016, 12:37 PM)Roadracer_Al Wrote: That RadiusMaster sure is a nice looking machine.

MFletch, that is  very compact design, I like it.

The thing that's holding up my machine are the accessories.  Because I do a lot of fabrication work with tube, I want to make a tube-coping tune-up jig.  It would be very convenient to rough-cut a fish-mouth on an intersecting tube on the bandsaw (because it's fast) then make it perfect on the belt grinder.

I've also got an idea for a drill sharpening jig.

The RadiusMaster was the most complete package I saw (in the 2 x 48 size), at the time , some of the others had a few more attachments or features but were seriously lacking in others areas. When I saw the demo at the LWS, I actually bought the show demo (new that day), I was very impressed. I've never been sorry I bought it.

They had a couple of 2 x 72 units for sale at the same time by other vendors, none seem to offer the features the RadiusMaster did, in such a small package. All of the 2 x 72 sanders/grinders, were bench models and the 2 x 48 was a pedestal model, which could be moved in the corner out of the way. As I had no open bench space, that ruled out the 2 x 72 units on display, that with no one stocking that size belt in town, the 2 x 48 became the logical choice.

At the time, I didn't have the space, the time or the desire to build a belt sander/grinder, no used units were available, so I bought the RadiusMaster.

[pepi]

Not to high jack the tread, have a 6 x 48 that I am attempting to speed up.  The motor and belt drive pulleys are both 3".  Replaced the motor pulley with a 6" pulley. That was  done this evening, need new belt to test.

I am not real sure the motor is going to have what it takes to do the work, HP wise, not a concerned at this point. My mission is to get the belt moving faster, then go to a motor with better torque.  
What is the best guess for the belt speed, thinking double is dreaming. Is there a math formula for that calculation?

Greg

[Dr Stan]

Just use the SFPM formula.  (Motor RPM x 6" x 3.1416)/12 = SFPM  then use the answer to calculate the 3" diameter pulley speed.  You'll then need to determine the ratio between the circumference of the 3" dia pulley and the total length of the belt.  You can use this to calculate the SFPM of the belt.

BTW, take a look at the Surplus Center for a replacement motor.

[Dr Stan]

(05-06-2016, 12:38 PM)Dr Stan Wrote: Just use the SFPM formula.  (Motor RPM x 6" x 3.1416)/12 = SFPM  then use the answer to calculate the 3" diameter pulley speed.  You'll then need to determine the ratio between the circumference of the 3" dia pulley and the total length of the belt.  You can use this to calculate the SFPM of the belt.

Been rethinking my answer. The SFPM of the 3" pulley should be the same for the belt.