Grinder build question?

R

Ratking20

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May 2, 2017
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36
Is it worth it to build vs buy a smaller than 2x72 belt grinder?

What motors should i be looking at?

I know 2x72 is best for belt selection. But what size would be 2nd best?
 
Unless you already had a large supply of differently sized belts that were bought and paid for, I'm not sure why you would want to build a different size than 2x72?

You really won't save that much in material, if you build, say a 48" machine, and you'll get more value out of a 72" vs a 48" belt, not to mention a larger selection of grits and types.
 
Ratking20 said:
i was thinking of saving space. maybe price as well
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If building a tool arm style grinder, you're really not going to save much on materials, IMO. You could build a slightly shorter frame, or shorter tool arms, but the savings will be negligible, not to mention, an extra 2 feet of belt will grinder better, last longer, and cost less in the long run, not to mention allowing you larger contact wheels and platens.

As far as space savings, I think this is negligible as well, and the slight gain in space (which may not even be useful to the average shop), does not exceed the limitations of the smaller belt, IMO.

If you want space savings, I think the place to look for it is in a direct drive, face mounted motor, vs a belt/pulley setup.
 
IMO by the time you source all the materials for a build you will find its about equal price to build 2X72 as to build something smaller. If you purchase something like a 2X48 you will find its sorely limited on expansion capabilities however it is going to be less expensive. A couple of manufacturers are offering 2X72 frames quite reasonable all you need are drive wheel tracking wheel and motor. As for motors 1-1/2hp would be an absolute minimum. As a rule I tend to opt for more: More Cubic inches, More HP, More Torque, you may not need it every minute but when you do need it you know its there.
 
Ok you guys convinced me. I will look into building a 2x72. I want to build it myself instead of buying a frame or kit. But i might look into buying a platen tool arm to use on my build. Any reccommendations ? Just a basic one. Not the rotary one
 
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