Interesting grinder design I haven't seen before

ashwinearl

ashwinearl

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Nov 9, 2006
Messages
558
results of the requisite random searching for 2x72 grinder.

http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=287015
clearviewtools020.jpg


looks like it's made from 80/20 slotted aluminum. I saw that they sell some random items at ebay
 
That's cool, thanks for sharing it with us. I started designing something similar way back when I worked in automation. We used alot of Bosch extruded aluminum in our one-off system and there were lots of drops to work with. If anyone wants to build a machine like this I would suggest using Bosch extrusion as it is straighter than other brands of extrusion and their t-slot fasteners are the easiest/best out there.
 
Very nice, materials may cost some more, but the ease of making a no weld grinder/sander may be well be worth it,

And you can cut the stuff in a good carbide power miter saw or even with you skil saw w/ carbide
 
I can see where the wider material would provide better stiffness in the belt tension direction, but I can't help but wonder if the thinner section would be more suceptible to twisting, leading to tracking problems under load. Seems both directions are similarly important - hence the normally square cross section we see. Might not happen at all in practice - but in visualization, I question the concept.

Rob!
 
I bought one of these grinders on Ebay and from TedG several years ago and it has been an excellent grinder and I make a lot of knives. I also have KMGs, TWG, Pena and have built several. This is a good grinder, tracks well... The only thing I do not like about it is changing tool arms...say....from a 10" to a 5" wheel. It is a bit hard to line up and slide arm into housing. Sometimes you hit it right off and other times it takes me 20-30 seconds to get it right. All in all it is a very good grinder at a very good price point.
 
I bought this Grinder a few weeks ago. I added a 1hp variable speed DC baldor motor with a Boston gear DC controller. The grinder tracks great and runs perfectly in forward or reverse.Belts change easily and quickly. The 20-80. Aluminum is a pleasure to work with, and I added the grizzly 10" wheel to complete the setup. I would recommend this machine to anyone.
Being in Canada,I was having a hard time buying a decent machine for under $2000.00. The UPS and border costs added about $200.00 but was well worth it in the end.
 
While it looks like a real good grinder, I don't like the use of the Aluminum slot deal for toolbar change out. I have 2 grinders and a lot of tool bars with different wheels and platens, it is easy to pick up some square stock and make another tool bar and make another setup and quick to change them out. Plus aluminum wears and galls much easier than steel and I notice you need to tighten 2 clamps on that grinder's tool bar setup. Having multiple tools and easy change out matters to me and you never know what you might want in the future. I have a standard platen, slack belt, one of Nathans radius flat platens, one of his 36" radius platens, a small wheel, 8" and 10" wheels. Yes, you can change out tools on the tool bars, but, it saves time to just change the complete tool bar. I would have a lot of money tyed up in aluminum tool bars if I would have went that way. Only draw back I see though.
 
Does anyone know if this 80/20 stuff will work with normal T-Slot clamps. I need a clamping table for my drill press, and was thinking of making it from this stuff so I could just use normal T-slot hold-downs.
 
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