Belt Grinder Safety

Spalted said:
The gap between the tool rest and platen/contact wheel should be less than the thickness of the piece you are grinding.


:eek::(
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I'd maybe take this a step further and say that it should be just shy of touching the belt, no matter what.

Also a good habit to get into making sure everything is tight before you start grinding. Loose work rests and moving belts are a bad combo.
 
I forgot to add

#10 - Clothing Safety - Wear sturdy clothes, preferably cotton.
No loose sleeves or cuffs.
Long hair should be tied back or covered.
Wear a sturdy apron, preferably leather.
No jewelry on the hands or wrists.
No long dangly pendants or necklaces.
 
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One should go to CCOHS.Ca and see what is required for belt sanders/grinders by the Canadian version of OHSA. A quick check showed rules about lighting, ventilation, PPE, clothing and jewelry, and lockout/tagout during setups and tool changes. I think tool change and belt change could be seen as same thing. I would also have a dedicated tool kit just for the grinder and an enlarged drawing showing what tool to use for each nut, bolt and screw. An adjustable wrench does not count. Besides grinding/sanding, you are also teaching proper tool use and care.
 
The words I remember the most from high school machine shop was "Don't leave the T-handle in the lathe chuck!"

That, and from auto shop "Who rigged the capacitor up to the tool crib door? .... MARCHAND!!!"
 
Kevin McGhee said:
Thanks for the reply. Can you elaborate on some of these things? We teach that a tool rest gap on a bench grinder should not exceed 1/8" is this a common gap in belt grinders? How exactly does one avoid breaking belts?
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I think anywhere you have adjustable gaps like tool rests, you should have a go/no-go feeler gauge to show you proper setting. for an 1/8" gap, lead edge 7/64"(paint green) followed by 9/64"(paint red). if 7/64" won't pass, too close. if 9/64" passes, not close enough.
I would also try and find a way where operator cannot leave area with machine running. Two foot switches would work, but would restrict movement and could increase fatigue.
 
I think gap settings and such are shop practices more than safety procedures. Machine adjustments obviously affect the safe operation, but that is for a later lesson in the class. The safety course should be before any machine use instructions are started, and cover all the basic safety features without any need to cover the machine settings.
 
A delineated operators area (lines on the floor maybe) restricted to the operator and the instructor.
 
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