Page 24 - MetalForming July 2019

FABRICATION
Right-angle grinders, with their wheels turned from the tool at a right angle, are a common tool for cutting, grinding and surface finishing.
How Tool Power Affects Abrasive Performance
BY ELLIOT SHEPHERD
The importance of matching a grinder with the right abrasive product cannot be overstated. Using the right product at the wrong speed, or vice versa, can hinder pro- ductivity and may cause unintended effects on the workpiece or abrasives.
When choosing a cutting or grinding wheel or flap disc, an operator needs to select one with an RPM rating equal
Elliot Shepherd is associate product manager at Weiler Abrasives, Cresco, PA; 570/595-7495; www.weilercorp.com.
to or higher than that of the tool in use. That is, use larger wheels with lower-RPM tools, and generally smaller wheels with higher-RPM tools.
Over-speeding an abrasive can cre- ate a significant safety hazard. Keeping the tool guard on at all times not only protects the operator, but also prevents using larger wheels or flaps discs on a tool not rated for them.
Additionally, operators must ensure that the arbor holes on the wheels pre- cisely match their mandrels. Without that, the product could spin out-of-
round, creating another safety issue. Also necessary: the need to ensure that the product sits properly, or else risk damaging the arbor and causing a wheel to break apart. In addition, incor- rect mounting may significantly short- en the life of an abrasive.
The Main Tools for the Job
Common tools for cutting, grinding and surface finishing include an electric or pneumatic right-angle grinder with which cutting wheels, flap discs and grinding wheels frequently are used.
22 MetalForming/July 2019
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