I ordered some replacement pyroceram glass for my 2x72 KMG, and also ordered glass for my 4x36. I've been wanting to improve my 4x36 for a long time.
The glass gives me a flat, low friction surface, and can be replaced when it wears out. The glass raises the platen surface above the wheels, so I added rubber tires to the wheels so the belt feeds the platen without a ledge to jump. This also increases my belt tension and gives me a rubber contact wheel to use. I needed to grind more clearance on the steel platen to let the new fatter wheel drop in. I changed the tension release to pull the spring loaded shaft deeper so I could slide a new belt on. Also changed the tracking bolt from the bent twisted pot metal bolt to a hardened stainless steel bolt welded to an iron pipe cap.
Gluing rubber to wheels with weatherstrip cement. I glue one end, let it dry, then tightly wrap the rubber all the way around. It is cut long, and I trim and glue the end later. I cut at a angle like abrasive belt joints.
Rubber on wheels. Rubber on the drive wheel might be bad, it's an experiment.
Pyroceram glass platen.
The old tension mechanism.
The new tension mechanism. Took 3 tries to get it right.
Done (for now). Better tension on the belt, tracking works. Now I just hope the motor doesn't burn out.
Happy to answer any questions.
The glass gives me a flat, low friction surface, and can be replaced when it wears out. The glass raises the platen surface above the wheels, so I added rubber tires to the wheels so the belt feeds the platen without a ledge to jump. This also increases my belt tension and gives me a rubber contact wheel to use. I needed to grind more clearance on the steel platen to let the new fatter wheel drop in. I changed the tension release to pull the spring loaded shaft deeper so I could slide a new belt on. Also changed the tracking bolt from the bent twisted pot metal bolt to a hardened stainless steel bolt welded to an iron pipe cap.
Gluing rubber to wheels with weatherstrip cement. I glue one end, let it dry, then tightly wrap the rubber all the way around. It is cut long, and I trim and glue the end later. I cut at a angle like abrasive belt joints.
Rubber on wheels. Rubber on the drive wheel might be bad, it's an experiment.
Pyroceram glass platen.
The old tension mechanism.
The new tension mechanism. Took 3 tries to get it right.
Done (for now). Better tension on the belt, tracking works. Now I just hope the motor doesn't burn out.
Happy to answer any questions.
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