SURFACE CONDITIONING:
A REVIEW OF WHEELS AND DISCS (Part Three)
Our showcase concludes with more displays of advanced discs and wheels that could make your surface conditioning operations more competitive.
Posted: April 8, 2010
GRIND AND FINISH ALUMINUM, STAINLESS, INCONEL, TITANIUM
Weiler Corporation (Cresco, PA) has expanded its Saber Tooth line of ?Bright Red? top-coated ceramic abrasive products. In addition to the popular Saber Tooth standard angled-style flap disc, Weiler now offers ceramic grain high-density flap discs, blending discs, resin fiber discs and belts. And all Saber Tooth products can now be used on aluminum as well as stainless steel, Inconel, titanium and other hard-to-grind metals.
Weiler?s Saber Tooth flap discs grind and finish in one step, resulting in fewer changeovers and increased productivity ? the ideal choice when weld blending, grinding, deburring, deflashing, surface finishing or edge chamfering on hard-to-grind metals. Both the standard angled-style phenolic back and the high-density flat-style phenolic back Saber Tooth flap discs are available in 4½ in and 7 in sizes. In addition, Weiler provides the only ceramic trimmable backed disc in the marketplace. The 4½ in trimmable Saber Tooth?s innovative design enables the operator to reduce the diameter of the backing to extend disc life. The trimmable backing also provides high flexibility, enabling access to hard-to-reach areas. The performance-engineered non-marking trimmable backing will not damage the work piece, resulting in less rework and scrap.
The new Saber Tooth blending discs are available in 2 in and 3 in diameters, with metal hub or plastic buttons in grit sizes of 36, 60 and 80. These cloth-backed coated abrasive discs are ideal for a wide range of light fabrication, repair and maintenance applications. The Saber Tooth resin fiber discs are designed for all-purpose weld blending, grinding, surface preparation and finishing. The resin fiber discs are available in 4½ in, 5 in and 7 in sizes with grit sizes from 24 to 80. Saber Tooth belts are available in many sizes and grits. www.weilerabrasives.com
NEW CATALOG HAS OVER 1,600 DISCS AND WHEELS
CGW-Camel Grinding Wheels' (Niles, IL) new metal fabrication catalog features a new surface conditioning products section and highlights over 200 new items including the patented Z-Thru flap disc and the .075 Cut/Grind combo wheel. The new catalog highlights more than 1,600 products including: USA-made flap discs, semi-flex discs, resin fiber discs, quick change discs, flap wheels, hook and loop surface conditioning discs, Quickie Cut? cut-off wheels, depressed center wheels and stationary saw wheels. www.cgwheels.com
SMOOTH, CONTROLLED GRINDING ON STAINLESS, ALUMINUM, AND EXOTICS
A line of cotton fiber quick change discs that outlast resin coated discs for fabricators working with stainless steel, aluminum, and exotic metals is available from Rex-Cut Products, Inc. (Fall River, MA). Rex-Cut® Cotton Fiber Quick Change Discs feature several layers of non-woven cotton fiber that are impregnated with abrasive grains and then pressed and bonded into flexible discs that are offered with Type-R and -S fasteners. Providing smooth, controlled grinding action, they are suitable for edge-breaking, deburring, light grinding, blending and finishing in one step.
Available in 1 in, 1½ in, 2 in, and 3 in sizes with aluminum oxide abrasives in various grits and bonds, Rex-Cut® Cotton Fiber Quick Change Discs combine the aggressive properties of resin fiber- and-coated abrasive discs and the blending and finishing properties of surface-conditioning discs. They also run cooler and last up to 25 times longer than these products, claims the firm. www.rexcut.com
GRIND CURVED ALUMINUM SHAPES AND SURFACES
CS Unitec's (Norwalk, CT) Tiger Shark-Plantex elastic discs are specially designed for grinding aluminum. Often used in metal fabrication shops, machine shops for tool making and by ornamental fabricators, these discs are flexible for grinding curved surfaces and shapes. Reduced grinding temperature, high material removal, and no glazing with aluminum particles make the Tiger Shark abrasive disc ideal for aluminum grinding applications.
The Tiger Shark flap discs feature a ceramic abrasive, aluminum oxide, embedded in a cotton fabric. This offers high grinding capacity and low tool costs for steel, aluminum and other nonferrous metals. The backing plate is made from Plantex earth-friendly hemp compound and adjusts well to the shape of the work piece. This heat-absorbent high-tech compound also reduces the temperature during grinding decreasing the melting of the aluminum. The disc automatically reduces in diameter (self-trimming) during grinding, allowing full usage of the abrasive fabric. Tiger Shark discs are available in diameters of 4 in, 4½ in, 5 in and 7 in and in grits of 40, 60, 80 and 120. These flap discs are ideal for speeds of 5000 rpm to 8000 rpm and can run at a maximum of 13,300 rpm. www.csunitec.com
CERAMIC FLAP DISCS FOR STAINLESS, MILD STEEL AND EXOTICS
A new line of ceramic flap discs that provide aggressive and controlled stock removal is being added to their Sigma Green line of fast grinding specialty products by Rex-Cut Products, Inc. Rex-Cut® Sigma Ceramic Flap Discs feature ceramic abrasive grains bonded to a proprietary treated material that is layered and stacked in a way that provides aggressive and controlled stock removal with minimal pressure. Self-sharpening and durable, these standard density Type 29 discs are ideally suited for use on stainless steel, mild steel and exotic metals.
Available in 4½ in, 5 in and 7 in diameters x 7/8 sizes and offered in 36 and 60 grit versions, with or without hubs, Rex-Cut Sigma Ceramic Flap Discs run cool, produce a better surface finish and last longer than alumina oxide abrasives, claims the firm. They are also available with 5/8-11 adapters. www.rexcut.com
WHEELS FOR WELD GRINDING, RAIL CAR MANUFACTURING AND SHIPBUILDING
CGW-Camel Grinding Wheels has introduced a premium line of ¼ in thick aluminum oxide depressed center wheels branded under its Ultra series of wheels. Made in a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant on fully automated machinery, the new Ultra aluminum oxide depressed center wheels are produced from a premium grain and N-grade bond for consistent product quality. The new Ultra wheels have the fastest stock removal rate of all CGW?s aluminum oxide depressed center wheels.
Ultra ¼ in aluminum oxide depressed center wheels are available in a Type 27 shape and in 4½ in, 5 in, 6 in, 7 in and 9 in diameters with 7/8 in or 5/8-11 arbor holes. Typical applications for the Ultra aluminum oxide depressed wheels include weld grinding, rail car manufacturing and shipbuilding. ?The combination of premium raw materials and improved manufacturing processes make the Ultra wheels a must-have for right angle grinding,? says Joe O Mera, president of CGW-Camel Grinding Wheels. www.cgwheels.com
GRINDING DISCS FOR HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENTS
CS Unitec's Eco Brazing (EB) diamond grinding discs reduce sparking to one percent of that produced by resinoid wheels, making these discs a better choice for use in hazardous environments, such as nuclear plants and oil and gas industries. Reduced sparking decreases the fire hazard from sparks and also increases the visibility of the work piece, allowing more accurate grinding.
The EB diamond grinding discs are ideal for grinding steel, stainless steel and other materials. The diamond grit protrudes higher off the EB diamond disc than traditional diamond wheels, providing greater durability and longer service life. Available in grits from 30 to 80 and disc diameter sizes of 4 in, 4½ in, 5 in and 7 in, the disc's light weight allows for high-rotation grinding on portable angle grinders. Additionally, its high-yield steel backing plate is elastic. The EB diamond wheel wears approximately one percent as much as a resinoid wheel, increasing the tool life and significantly reducing the amount of abrasive dust emitted. www.csunitec.com
Subscribe to learn the latest in manufacturing.
