Crazy Ideas

tryppyr

tryppyr

Joined
Feb 5, 2010
Messages
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I was sitting around just now wondering if anyone had considered taking the GIB or NWG plans and scaling them down to use 1 x 30 belts. We make miniature knives, Xander makes miniature forges, so why not make a miniature grinder that's worth using? I know, it would just be a novelty... that's what makes it a crazy idea.

Have you had any crazy ideas?
 
NO, but thank for putting them in my head,:) Seriously sounds like it would be a very cool grinder, I'd like a jewelers lathe for making standoffs .
 
I have a Wolfe mini belt sander that takes 1X10" belts. It runs off my flex shaft.


Making a mini KMG style grinder for 1X30" belts sounds like a fun project. Maybe drop the arms to 1" square stock. Run it off a 1/2-3/4HP motor with a VFD.

If you go with that idea, I have a bunch of 3/4HP VFDs. The small 3Ph motors aren't hard to find.
 
This sounds fun, It would be a great tool for gaurds, and stuff, great Idea.
 
I think with a smaller grinder you can get more balance precision at a cheaper price. without tying up other grinders . I have an out of the box rockwell 1 x 42 and it works well but its adaptability is limited by its foundation. You can't really mount anything to IT. no knock on Rockwell or my grinder. Even being able to run narrower belts with cheaper buying access and less costly breakage. would be a big plus.. I have a love hate relationship with the consumables.

I hope you go for it.

Precision mini grinder isn't crazy bad . very good crazy
 
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Okay, I did a little Googling and found two freely dowloadable grinder plans. I'll ponder this a little more and then see about modifying the plans accordingly. Any advice would be gratefully accepted.
 
I'm going to wait til your done., so i hope whatever you go for is easily found off shelf, make it awesome but for dummies . . modifying and really using is the purpose. To waste time doing something you may not use is counter productive, yet can be educational and still fulfilling. i personally want one. i have, i bet the largest 2 x 72 . Not bragging. i would rather have a bader or equivalent. Its a poplar (tree) beast. What you do when you don't have steel. or i did. to be fair its really a buffing arbor. It got me started. I better try and stay on topic/ i can talk to much . looking forward to it.
 
Where my head is going with this is to make it structurally similar to a GIB. To me that means it needs to have the option of using a platen or a contact wheel.

Since I'd want to to be able to use REAL contact wheels, I think I'd need to have standard size (0.50") holes for the spindles. That in turn dictates the minimum size for the tool arms (no less than 0.75") which in turn dictates the minimum size of the tubing for the tool arms (1.0").

I want the thing to be able to take 30" belts or 42" belts, so the tool arms would be adjustable, as on the GIB.

Idlers are another thing. Though the contact wheel should be standard size, I'm not sure the same rule need apply to the idlers or the drive wheel. However, if not standard on the drive wheel... then what?

About the platen... seems to me you'd want the platen to be big enough to be usable, but small enough to leave room for the platen to stand off from the drive wheel. I'm thinking a 5" - 6" platen would be more than adequate, but the actual size will in part be dictated by the size, number and placement of the idlers as well as the drive wheel.

I'm also thinking this thing should be welded, instead of a weldless DIY job, but I suppose it could go either way.
 
I will have to look at a GIB. never thought about building a bench model. I did work in a shop with 4 baders. attachments are nice. I was always looking for the cheap oddball. i was lucky to find a few. I like the idea of a small bench model . i like involved small part projects. making them without rattling windows will be nice. I always go to the smallest grinder if it will do the job and I have the right abrasive. I like collaborative thinking. I don't usually get the advantage of it. Well here its a given, I however haven't always been here:(:D

I think standard is always good , unless you are making do. it makes repairs easier as well. I like were its going. I will have to study a bit to give a better opinion. that would really only be about attachments possibly. I am clueless. I am learning from you guys.
 
You mean like these:

http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/threads/23230-Belt-sanders-we-built?

http://www.cnccookbook.com/CCKnifeMakingGrinders.htm

http://www.shopfloortalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9758 (Built like a tank and it looks a lot like the first Craftsman 1 X 42 I bought, which, now that I think about it, is in the shed at the cabin in the UP)

"Making a mini KMG style grinder for 1X30" belts sounds like a fun project. Maybe drop the arms to 1" square stock. Run it off a 1/2-3/4HP motor with a VFD" That sounds like a really good use of a salvaged DC treadmill motor/controller unit to me. You could dial the speed down to nothing..................... I might have to do this in the welding/fabrication class I'm taking.

H'mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm I bet you could build it outta Unistrut/Superstrut and a plate base.
 
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I have been thinking about this exact same thing because I have some step pullys and a couple small motors. I hadn't thought of a 3 wheel grinder. I was thinking of running two grinders off the same motor. A slack belt on one side and platen on the other. It may not be worth the cost of the extra two wheels if the platen is easy to take on and off.
 
ok , I'm really much better at hands on. I'm a utilizer , I won't complicate it. I would do a layout on cardboard and see what the profile looks like with a 30 inch belt. Utilizing what contact wheel , drive and idler and platen attachment you are after or the belt dictates(sizes) Duh James, maybe not, lol

This is my first grinder. I made the contact wheel from 2 wheels from a hospital bed bolted together. 2 x10 OD back idler is just a dodge pillow block with a flat belt drive pulley off a tractor.
It tracks perfectly fine and even when I change belts. Also its a 1 1/4 arbor. 5hp and approx 2500 fpm I have plans for sale .LOL Just kidding Bladeforums Seriously though , it really does run smooth and quiet. The arbor turns approx 1000 rpm.

Picture 118 (Medium).jpg
 
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