Building a belt grinder. 1st of many questions.

Toolferone · Apr 8, 2015

I don't weld so I am building a grinder out of 2 side plates bolted together with 1.5" spacers on the bolts between the plates. The arms are 1.5" solid aluminum. The question is how snug of a fit do I want the arm to slide in? Is the threaded locking handle in the side of the grinder frame good enough to get rid of any play in the fit? I have never slide a tool arm into a grinder, so I have no frame of reference.

Bob Ohlemann · Apr 8, 2015

The tightening knob will only take play out of one direction so keep tolerances fairly tight. I would say .020-.030" is a good clearance. There is a guy on Instagram, Turpin Knives I think, that recently built his own grinder and it is way cool. He says he's working on a set of technical drawings so others can build it.

Bob

Rancho5 · Apr 9, 2015

I just checked out his Instagram. Very cool stuff. I like how the entire grinder pivots at the base.

P.Brewster · Apr 9, 2015

I went with a 0.005" vertical clearance and 0.020" horizontal clearance. To get the 0.005" I simply spaced the components with shim washers.

Toolferone · Apr 9, 2015

P.Brewster said:
I went with a 0.005" vertical clearance and 0.020" horizontal clearance. To get the 0.005" I simply spaced the components with shim washers.

Wow, that's pretty tight.

I have already drilled all my holes in the side plates, next is to cut all the tube spacers.

Toolferone · Apr 9, 2015

Here is the mess I hope will become my grinder.

mike-E · Apr 9, 2015

i leave .010 on both directions. your aluminum might be oversize .015 or more, so fit your pockets to the stock you have. if you still can, make it tilt horizontal. take the bottom row of bolts out of your upright and shorten it. this will allow your bottom pocket more adjustment for a tool rest arm. you will need as much in/out for it as possible when you go from a platen to a small wheel. you will want a small wheel in the future.

Toolferone · Apr 9, 2015

The uprights are mounted on the outside and will not interfere with the travel of the arms. The whole assembly will be mounted on a pole stand with the motor mounted to the pole. I will be using step pulleys for a while, so tilting wont work right now.