Ceramic glass platen

H

Happychicken

Joined
Nov 14, 2018
Messages
180
Hey all!
I just ordered a glass platen as my platen is dishing out. The question I have is about the self some people weld to hold the glass platen in case it pops off.
I don’t have a welder but this sounds like a better safe then sorry thing to do.
Can I epoxy a shelf or lip of metal under platen? I have a hardened platen can it be drilled and tapped? Is there an easier way to attach shelf that I am not seeing?
Thanks as always mike
 
Happychicken said:
Hey all!
I just ordered a glass platen as my platen is dishing out. The question I have is about the self some people weld to hold the glass platen in case it pops off.
I don’t have a welder but this sounds like a better safe then sorry thing to do.
Can I epoxy a shelf or lip of metal under platen? I have a hardened platen can it be drilled and tapped? Is there an easier way to attach shelf that I am not seeing?
Thanks as always mike
Click to expand...
I don't believe you can actually weld glass.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong. What you may have heard, is people using JBWeld. Which is an epoxy. That is what I used on my glass platen. However if you felt it necessary a small shelf or lip could be added. I've never seen the need myself.
 
You can always drill and tap a couple holes in your platen too attach the little shelf to. No need for a welder, just a drill and a 1/4-20 tap
 
Happychicken said:
Hey all!
I just ordered a glass platen as my platen is dishing out. The question I have is about the self some people weld to hold the glass platen in case it pops off.
I don’t have a welder but this sounds like a better safe then sorry thing to do.
Can I epoxy a shelf or lip of metal under platen? I have a hardened platen can it be drilled and tapped? Is there an easier way to attach shelf that I am not seeing?
Thanks as always mike
Click to expand...
That depend how hard it is ..........................................how thick is your plate ?
 
That’s a great idea! I have cobalt bits but I think the platen is at like 61 Rockwell. And then the tap… I think making a mild steel one is a better idea
Thanks everyone!
 
Happychicken said:
That’s a great idea! I have cobalt bits but I think the platen is at like 61 Rockwell. And then the tap… I think making a mild steel one is a better idea
Thanks everyone!
Click to expand...
If you can drill holes you don t need to tap them , just press pins in holes .Pins will *hold*glass
 
Instead of bolting a shelf in place, I'd just use some socket cap head screws AS the shelf. You may have to grind the heads down a bit if they're taller than the thickness of the glass, but they'll be more than adequate to hold the bottom glass from slipping down. Pins will also work as Natlek stated.

As for adhesive, if you use JBWeld, don't use clamps to hold the glass while your epoxy is curing. Personally, I've been using double sided carpet tape for years without issue.
 
VHB tape will hold the glass platen on quite well. Some shelf pins won't hurt but are not an absolute. I have a shelf on one platen. I never had a glass platen come off yet with only the VHB tape. They mount granite face blocks weighing over 100 pounds on building fronts with this stuff.
Go on Amazon or Ebay and get a 35 foot roll of 3M 2"(50mm) VHB double sided tape. You may never use it up if all you do is attach glass platens.
 
The shelf below the glass platen doesn't take much stress and is only there to keep shards of broken pyroceram glass from launching out of your belt grinder at 5000sfm and into your groin, legs, feet, etc. It doesn't do much of anything if your double-sided carpet tape or whatever adhesive you mount it to your platen is doing it's job. I wouldn't bother eating up drill bits trying to drill and/or tap holes. I'd be perfectly happy with some JB Weld or other hard epoxy holding a safety shelf on. One thing I'd make sure of is that my shelf is slightly thinner than my pyroceram glass, so no belt friction rides on the shelf face creating friction heat if you do use epoxy, though. YMMV.

ETA: In reading my reply, I want to make clear that there is no sarcasm implied or intended, even if it reads that way a bit!
 
Last edited:
Happychicken said:
That’s a great idea! I have cobalt bits but I think the platen is at like 61 Rockwell. And then the tap… I think making a mild steel one is a better idea
Thanks everyone!
Click to expand...
I have another one :)Cut with angle grinder two groove in plate and use two tin bolts .......Or buy carbide drill bits and drill holes .
PRJZav4.png
 
put a shelf below it i had a piece of glass come off during use... made a hell of a mess the J.B weld let go i guess..
messed up a contact wheel...put a shelf of below with 2screwsto hold it with fresh J
.B weld... never too safe...
 
Well I do prefer my groin unglassed…. I realize that I can stick it on with the tape and most likely never have a problem but for peace of mind I’ll add the shelf.
Appreciate all the input all!!
Does anyone use a soft platen? Felt and leather on the platen face for blend grinding? Does it really help? Might do this as well
 
I made my own platen with shelf out if mild steel. Succeeded, but with a mini mill was not easy - took a while and i went through a number of end mills. Someone else pointed out there is no reason not to use aluminum for a platen if placing a piece of glass (aluminum being easier to machine).

I know others have had luck with only jb weld or vhb tape … but it only takes one time to create manyflying shards (equals royal mess and potential eye injury). So … i machined a ledge into my platen
 
Happychicken said:
Well I do prefer my groin unglassed…. I realize that I can stick it on with the tape and most likely never have a problem but for peace of mind I’ll add the shelf.
Appreciate all the input all!!
Does anyone use a soft platen? Felt and leather on the platen face for blend grinding? Does it really help? Might do this as well
Click to expand...
I use a hard felt platen and like it for adding a slight convex edge. It is much easier for me than using a slack belt.

My glass platen is mounted to a piece of aluminum that I milled so it has an integral shelf at the bottom. I used carpet tape to mount the platen.
 
For the shelf I used a piece of micarta, drilled 2 holes and peened 2 brass pins to hold it on the platen.
 
I use JB Weld to attach the glass to the platen and make a little shelf at the bottom edge of the glass. I shattered a platen and no pieces came off of it. The JB Weld still holds it on.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top