17 inch contact wheel grinder

[Natlek]

Most likely tomorrow I'll start with work on this grinder , so . . . . .
Sparks ........ no one wants them in the face Is it possible to avoid them as much is possible with the positioning of the wheels ? Most likely I would not gain anything . However I would like to hear your opinion about this ? I will use 50 x 1500 mm belts on around 6500 SFPM . . .

 

[Tin.Man]

3 will track best. Make a small spark shield. Not difficult at all.

I cant wait to see you finish this. Had my eye on a 20" contact wheel from burr king or a 16" from contact rubber

 

[Natlek]

Well T Tin.Man , today I have time only to finish this part for contact wheel . It works perfectly , I like it Now I see problem Plan was to mount this new grinder in same bench / from opposite side / where is my beast grinder but contact wheel will be to low for grinding .Now I must make new bench/table .....

Perfect place , but ......................

 

[JTknives]

I took a peak at the 20” burr king today. It was not in depth, just a passing look over on my way from Tru-Grit to my table. I’m gonna stop in and see if I can just buy the wheel.

 

[J. Hoffman]

I took a peak at the 20” burr king today. It was not in depth, just a passing look over on my way from Tru-Grit to my table. I’m gonna stop in and see if I can just buy the wheel.

Yes you can. I was told $2000 for a spare wheel.

 

[mike-E]

Yes you can. I was told $2000 for a spare wheel.

Sounds about right for Burrking. More money for a 20" belt grinder contact wheel than 4 38" super swamper tires for truck.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

On a two wheel setup like the four sketches, they will all track the same. There is no shorter side, as both sides are identical length. The tracking was in the contact wheel mounting, IIRC. I would go with #1 or #2, as it will be the simplest placement for the motor.

 

[JTknives]

Yes you can. I was told $2000 for a spare wheel.

I stopped in and talked to them. Thy said nope we don’t sell just the wheels. Each machine is made to order. The drive system is part of the wheel as well. But I did get to fire it up and take it for a spin. If I had an extra $4,600 laying around I would really be tempted. It tops out at 6,000sfpm. I said does it now, what the HZ setting of the vfd. Well you could change that and get more lol.

 

[Natlek]

On a two wheel setup like the four sketches, they will all track the same. There is no shorter side, as both sides are identical length. The tracking was in the contact wheel mounting, IIRC. I would go with #1 or #2, as it will be the simplest placement for the motor.

Yes , tracking will not be problem at all .Plus I have available best lasers to adjust everything in really perfect line .Unfortunately Stacy E. Apelt , while 1 or 2 is simplest to do ..in same time with 1 or 2 I will have many spark right in my face . . . . . in that speed spark will make full circle but part of them will leave belt in every change of angle on belt ... best is /I think/ 4 but no way to do that , motor would be under table so no place there . Plus tracking will be problem .. . it will be difficult to reach by hand .
Another thing , because contact wheel is used in same time like tension wheel and will pull tracking wheel in direction toward contact wheel , tracking wheel will need strong spring ....... Tracking bolt will hold wheel in one direction /to stop wheel to go down / but in this case nothing stop that wheel to go UP .So if anyone think to build something like this consider this fact .Or wait me to finish first this project .
Orange arrows are sparks ....

I wait for belt , it s coming next week /SKF brend/ . . . . And I had to figure out how all this would look like So far I like it , I can t see where can go wrong ..........

Tracking wheel real position will be above the board not like on picture ..

PS . I almost forgot .....this is THE BEST tension mechanism I make , better than ratchet and can not be simpler and robust then this .

 

[Natlek]

I just realize that I have no clear picture of finished tension mechanism.....

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

How about mounting the tracking wheel above the contact wheel - the opposite of drawing #4?

 

[Natlek]

That will complicated building Stacy ....Besides , this grinder will run in both direction , I need this space clear on contact wheel for grinding . I like the way how the Japanese grind blade on big stone wheel . . .

 

[Natlek]

Funny you bring this up. I had considered a timing belt on a big wheel build. But being almost 23” in diamater made me rethink having one made. Waiting on an estimate right now on a 22.9” expanding wheel.

Let me know how well the timing belt works.

Well , tomorrow will arrive my belt . . . . I'm thinking about this all day , I fully understand why and how work serrated wheel and why serrations have angle towards the belt .On my contact wheel serration will be parallel to belts ?? My experience with serrated contact wheel is one big zero so I wonder how I would know that I have something good when I finish and try this grinder ? I'm thinking what if I mount belt with teeth under ?I have one chance to do this , when I take of wheel on lathe to required dimension , no back . If it is not good, I can not turn belt upside down to try that way ? I'll have to send it to professionals to do it properly ... What do you think JTknives ? I found this site , has all the answers . . .. .80-90 duro for hardened steel
http://www.gandpmachineryin.com/contact-wheels/4587688797
My contact wheel would look like this .......I have same belt but in half width

 

[Randy3000]

3 will track best. Make a small spark shield. Not difficult at all.

I cant wait to see you finish this. Had my eye on a 20" contact wheel from burr king or a 16" from contact rubber

I am curious why you say 3 will track the best. There is only one geometry possible in a two wheel grinder. Are they not all the same?

 

[Tin.Man]

When I made a large wheel grinder I tried them all granted mine had a tracking and drive and big wheel(14") so the 3 could throw off the results but I tried all the variations and 3 tracked the best. Other examples belt wobbled a lot side to side

 

[bondoo7]

Well , tomorrow will arrive my belt . . . . I'm thinking about this all day , I fully understand why and how work serrated wheel and why serrations have angle towards the belt .On my contact wheel serration will be parallel to belts ?? My experience with serrated contact wheel is one big zero so I wonder how I would know that I have something good when I finish and try this grinder ? I'm thinking what if I mount belt with teeth under ?I have one chance to do this , when I take of wheel on lathe to required dimension , no back . If it is not good, I can not turn belt upside down to try that way ? I'll have to send it to professionals to do it properly ... What do you think JTknives ? I found this site , has all the answers . . .. .80-90 duro for hardened steel
http://www.gandpmachineryin.com/contact-wheels/4587688797
My contact wheel would look like this .......I have same belt but in half width

well, it worth a visit here https://www.emisupply.com/catalog/articles.php?tPath=6, very informative articles with a lot of valuable info about abrasives, machines, grinding wheels and related troubleshooting. It helped me when I decided how to design my grinder and if I really need serrated wheels or not. After all, with a 60grit ceramic belt running at 30-33m/s a smooth 14'' wheel it's enough for about anything it cross my mind for stock removal in hardened steel. If I can get even a 24'' wheel it will still be a smooth one. I tried serrated wheels but for me it's just asking for trouble with not much improvement overall.

 

[Natlek]

After all, with a 60grit ceramic belt running at 30-33m/s a smooth 14'' wheel it's enough for about anything it cross my mind for stock removal in hardened steel. If I can get even a 24'' wheel it will still be a smooth one. I tried serrated wheels but for me it's just asking for trouble with not much improvement overall.

I think that I'll listen to you . . . . Thanks for link So far no belt , did not arrive at this shipment.Coming in the end of this month And how lucky I am , I can bet that I will in the meantime get a call that I can send wheel for polyurethane coating . . . . .
I m done with this thing , today I finished tracking system . I used bearing from engine water pump , covers for camshaft and old lathe cutting tool . It turned out much better than what I had imagined , look very solid and robust Tension works perfectly , tracking is excellent in both direction .... lasers help a lot to set everything in line I need to dril one more hole and make thread for tracking bolt ,but that is minute work .

Now I need to decide which motor to use ? I have 1hp , 1.5hp , 2 hp , 3 Hp motor ...all 1400 RPM . I think 1hp or 1.5hp is enough , big wheel will give good torque ?

Well gentlemen , here is my new monster My neighbors got angry because I do not want to paint this thing ... and tomorrow he will buy paint and he will paint it while I'm at work
I hope you like it

 

[Natlek]

How about mounting the tracking wheel above the contact wheel - the opposite of drawing #4?

Hm.................... I can very easy make this grinder to rotate , Stacy ? So I can get this position too ? I will have access for both side and no need to change direction of belt ? I wonder if that worth little extra work ?

 

[Natlek]

I tried with one hand to record a short video so you can see how everything work . This one is only belt 50 x 1500 I have for now , and joint on that belt is not good .... ends are not glued in direction, but belt run straight . I make this two parts from old car lifting jack for motor mounting . . . .they will be from underside of course . I use every minute I have free to prepare everything until the belt arrive
I drill two spare hole and make thread for tracking house . If I ever put thick polyurethane layer on wheel , simple I will move tracking house in next pair hole to get room for tension with bigger wheel ...

In a small wheel I have temporary installed old bearings , sound comes out of them

 

[Natlek]

Today belt finally arrived Sometimes even I have luck , too . Would you believe this ???? You would not believe how tight belts sits on wheel .. .. Belt sits on wheel just like we take all dimension before we start to work on wheel on lathe If we measured it would not turn out so well It took me half an hour to put belt in place.Half way with hand pressure and rest with hammer on wood .I have no idea how to get it out because I have little more work on wheel I try to push in little other side and will work that way too, teeth under so I can try both way . Now I can work on motor mounting . . . . BUT before that .. .. now I really need your help .I need to fill with something empty space on middle of wheel , behind belt . Any suggesstion , please ?
Filler material must be hard , of course .

When I take off belt , I will take precise measure of diameter of wheel . In case anyone what to do this with same belt as this one .....
So what do you think , guys ? So far I like it .