Making your own wood sanding machine. Do-it-yourself grinder or grinder How to make a belt sander

Nowadays, there are no surfaces that are not smooth. Smoothness is achieved through various grinding devices. Professional equipment costs big money and not everyone will be able to purchase it, moreover, such machines have a fairly high weight and dimensions.

Fortunately, the skillful hands of our country have adapted to producing analogues of equipment for such a modest budget. Grinding machine also did not stand aside and was subjected to modernization of manual craftsmanship. It is with this homemade machine that we will continue to get acquainted.

There is a huge amount of sanding equipment that can make any wood surface very smooth. It consists of a frame on which a special frame with an electric motor is located (for homemade products, motors are used washing machines ok) and mechanism. The mechanism itself, in turn, includes shafts, pulleys and an abrasive belt.

Application area

They are used in all industries where wood is processed. Often, any rough products have an uneven and rough surface. Such blanks cannot simply be painted and put up for sale or installed anywhere. Therefore, for further processing of wood, all its surfaces can be sanded.

Grinding machines are also used for processing sagging and chamfering, and rounding corners. In addition, the grinding tool gives any surface a smooth leveling and calibration.

Types of wood sanding machine

Depending on the surface being treated, there are the following types grinding machines:

Belt sanding tool

This equipment uses an abrasive belt that is tensioned by two shafts. These shafts are driven by an asynchronous electric motor. During wood processing, the abrasive belt does not sag, but rests against the working plane, which has a low coefficient of friction. The tape can be positioned both horizontally and vertically. The advantage of this equipment is the processing of long workpieces.

Universal grinding unit

IN in this case The machine has two working grinding surfaces. One is a tape surface, and the other is circular (disc). This universal machine created for the convenience of working on it. By the way, this configuration will significantly save your budget. This device uses only one motor. Based on this, when working on two working surfaces, the load on the motor will not increase much.

Drum grinding tool

In this case, the abrasive belt is wound on two rollers in a spiral manner. Under the rollers there is a tabletop with a smooth surface. The gap between the tabletop and the rollers is adjustable according to required distance. Using such a machine, you can calibrate the surface of a wood piece.

Disc grinding tool

The working area of ​​this equipment is an abrasive wheel. A circle with Velcro is attached to the axis of the electric motor, onto which the abrasive is attached. After starting the motor, the abrasive wheel rotates around its axis, thereby carrying out grinding. This variety The machine has the ability to regulate the processing speed, and the number of axis revolutions will not decrease.

On each of four types machines can perform certain operations. Now that we have an idea of ​​what grinding equipment looks like, it's time to disassemble the design of the machine.

In addition to the above machines, there are also portable ones. grinding machines . And that’s not all, in order not to spend money on machines, people came up with grinders from a drill, from Bulgarian. The fact is that attachments are attached to these tools and the same grinding is carried out.

Advice: If you decide to purchase a factory grinding machine, then decide in advance on the work and loads that your device will undergo, and only then make the purchase. The same applies to homemade tools.

Calculation of power for the motor

Important! Before creating any homemade creation that performs grinding functions, it is extremely important to correctly calculate the power electric drive. After all, if the motor power is weak or, on the contrary, strong, then you will not be able to do any work.

Power calculation is carried out using a special formula, which belongs to the category of complex mathematical calculations.

The formula is as follows

P=q*S*(K+k)*U/1000*n

Where each designation means the following

1. q – Means the pressure of the processed wood part on the plane of the abrasive blade (N/ square centimeter).
2. k – friction index of the reverse side of the abrasive along work surface.
3. n – Coefficient useful action the entire system.
4. K - Indicator of the working plane of the abrasive relative to the workpiece. The priority is the density of the wood and its grain size. The limits of this indicator range from 0.2 to 0.6.
5. S – The area of ​​the workpiece that comes into contact with the abrasive, measured in square centimeters.
6. U – Abrasive rotation speed, measured in meters per second.

When you calculate using the formula required power electric drive of your future unit, you can safely start assembling the machine as a whole.

It's time to get acquainted with the design of a homemade machine. Blueprints all four types of equipment can be found in free access for viewing and downloading, as well as downloading all kinds of photo scheme. As an example for visual study, consider a belt sanding tool.

Machine design and diagrams

Any assembly homemade equipment begins with the design of the frame or foundation of the future machine equipment. This can be done using metal material, or from wood material. The standard dimensions of the frame are 500 mm x 180 mm, and the thickness should be 2 cm.

After making the base, you can proceed to the next steps. An asynchronous motor can be installed in several places so that its operation is complete. Prepare a plane on the frame itself or make a platform for the motor, which will be attached to the end of the frame. The other side of the frame is designed to accommodate the shaft, with a pulley for the belt and rollers for the abrasive belt. The tape itself is installed with a slight slope. This is done so that the abrasive comes into smooth and accurate contact with the workpiece plane being processed.

Tip: Before installing the abrasive strip on the rollers, you need to wrap a thin strip of rubber around them. This will reduce the strip slipping during operation.

As we can see from the diagram and drawing, the design of the grinding equipment is quite simple. All varieties of these machines are assembled according to the same scheme.

Tip: When assembling your future grinding unit, you must comply with all required dimensions, and also the calculation of all parameters must be done extremely seriously.

When the design is familiar to us, we can move on to the assembly process.

Grinding machine assembly process

To assemble the grinding tool, you will need the following elements:

1. Wood board.
2. Wooden blocks or metal profile pipe.
3. Ball bearings.
4. Electric motor.
5. Rubber belt.
6. Rubber belt.
7. Metal pulley.
8. Self-tapping screws, fasteners.
9. Abrasive element.
10. Working tools (drill, grinder, screwdriver, jigsaw, etc.).
11. Welding machine (if the frame structure consists entirely of metal).

After we have decided on the materials and working tools, we can begin assembling all the parts and elements into one mechanism. To do this, the frame is assembled. It can be metal (consist of a metal profile pipe) or wood (consist of wooden blocks and solid wood).

When the bed is ready

You can begin installing the motor. The motor power should be no less than 2.5 kW and no more than 3 kW, with an engine speed of 1200 to 1500 rpm. A belt pulley is installed on the motor shaft. The motor is installed on one side of the frame. Motors are often used from washing machines used in everyday life.

On the other side

There is a shaft with bearings, on one side of which a pulley is attached, and on the other side a roller, on which an abrasive belt will later be placed. The shaft pulley and motor must be located in a flat horizontal plane. The belt tension mechanism should be located in the same area.

Next from wood

Either a stand is constructed from plywood or metal, on which the remaining rollers will be placed and the sanding tape will be put on. There must also be a tension mechanism. In addition, there must be a working bar against which the abrasive belt will rub.

A start button is installed on the frame, usually at the end. Electrical circuit the machine must be grounded.

After that

Once everything is done, you can make the first start and configure the equipment properly. When the settings are made, the first workpiece is run and the result of the work is checked. If everything was successful, it means that you did everything right.

For visual clarity and a complete understanding of the entire assembly process, you can download video instructions.

General reviews and summary

As a rule, on the Internet about this type of equipment only positive reviews. Indeed, when in everyday life it is necessary to give this or that wooden thing smooth surface, then the presence of grinding tools is indispensable.

Video reviews

Video review of a homemade grinding machine:

Video review on choosing grinding equipment:

Video review of the belt sanding machine:

Video review of eccentric sanders:

Modern grinding machines are equipped powerful engines and are capable of performing a variety of tasks. In particular, they have the ability to process wooden items of various shapes. Many modifications are used for cleaning rounded surfaces. Models with horizontal guides are often used to work with pointed ends.

For processing metal objects Requires powerful devices with tight belts. It is quite difficult to make a machine with your own hands. However, it should be borne in mind that there are various modifications that are not complex devices.

Models for woodworking

You can make simple woodworking with your own hands even without using an electric motor. In this case, it is more appropriate to consider drum modifications. First of all, a frame is installed for the stability of the structure. Next, the guides are fixed on it. They are necessary to secure the workpiece. A shaft with a flywheel should be attached to the drum. Due to this, it will be possible to rotate the structure. In this situation, the drum should be selected with a small diameter.

Devices for working on metal

In order to make a metal grinding machine with your own hands, it is more advisable to select an electric motor with a power of at least 5 kW and a frequency of 55 Hz. It is important to take all measurements before starting work. In this case, much depends on the size of the metal workpieces that will be processed. After installing the frame, the guides are immediately fixed. In this situation, the beam is installed on the frame.

To adjust the position of the block, a lever with a return spring is used. The drive shaft of the model must have a diameter of at least 5.5 cm. The sandpaper should be selected wide. Flywheels are used to adjust the guides. If we consider belt modifications, then the machine will additionally require rollers. They must be attached above the frame.

Drum modifications

You can make a drum grinding machine with your own hands, manual or electronic. If we consider the second option, then we should first make a frame from steel sheets. Next, the frame on which the guides will be placed is laid. The next step is to work on the electric motor. It must be located at the bottom of the frame.

The belt position mechanism itself can be located in the side of the machine. Due to this, it will significantly expand Workspace tool. In this case, the casing can be used of the plywood type. To make the machine more stable, you will need to install legs. Carrier plate in the modification it should be with a shield. After fixing it, all that remains is to install the flywheel that regulates the position of the guides.

Spindle machine models

You can assemble a spindle grinding machine with your own hands only using electric motors. Quite often, experts recommend choosing 5 kW models. The main element of the machine is considered to be the spindle mechanism. It must be installed on the frame. The guides themselves are fixed in a horizontal position.

After fixing the block, the longitudinal plate should be fixed. The workpieces will be placed on it. Screws are used to secure the stand. The rollers in the structure should be located on both sides of the spindle mechanism. The load-bearing slab in the structure must withstand heavy loads. To increase torque, pulleys are used. In this case, the position of the guides is adjusted using flywheels.

Model with cam rest

You can make a tape one with a cam rest with your own hands quite quickly. Manual modifications are very rare. In this case, the engine should be selected with a power of 5 kW and a frequency of at least 55 Hz. The grinding type drum should be installed on the working platform. It is fixed on the frame. To adjust the position of the guides, flywheels are used as standard.

In this case, the tape is selected small size. To protect the electric motor, many experts recommend using a casing. In order to fix the workpiece, a powerful support is required. The steady rest itself plays the role of a feeding device. It should be fixed next to the drive shaft. The control units on the devices are installed differently. In this case, many experts advise choosing high-quality CNC controls that are able to regulate engine speed.

Devices with horizontal guides

Assembling a grinding machine with horizontal guides with your own hands is very difficult task. In this case, a wide bed will be required. The block must withstand heavy loads. Legs are used directly to fix the working platform. The model's guides must be located above the lower frame. The belt position mechanism is fixed near the electric motor. Gearboxes are also often used in these devices. In order to install the side plates, you will need a welding machine.

Models with vertical guides

You can make your own grinding machine with vertical guides using welding inverter. In this case, the tape must be fixed on the drum. The electric motor itself for the configuration is selected with a power of about 7 kW and a frequency of 55 Hz. The beam of the model must be rigidly fixed at the base of the machine.

The pulley for it is selected with a head. A small plate will be required to support the workpiece. A place should be provided next to the guides for a roller mechanism. All this will allow you to easily change the position of the workpiece on the workbench.

Machines with longitudinal steady rest

A grinding machine with a longitudinal steady rest can be mounted with your own hands in different ways. Electric motors are most often selected with low power. In this case, the flywheels are fixed at the base of the frame. Bearings are used to adjust the pulley. The plate will be required for a machine with a steel stop. The model's load-bearing plate is of small thickness. The gearbox is most often used rack type. To adjust the position of the guides you will need a lever. The steady rest is installed directly on the edge of the support beam. You can use screws to secure it.

Modification with rolling bearings

Using rolling supports, you can also make your own grinding machine. The advantage of these configurations is their versatility. In this case, workpieces can be processed at different angles. Assembling the machine should begin by installing the bed. For the working platform are used steel sheets. It is more advisable to solder the guides in a horizontal position.

Flywheels for them are installed last. The drive shaft in the structure must be located under the frame. The belt position mechanism is installed near the electric motor. For safe use guards are applied to the machine. After fixing the flywheels, all that remains is to secure the casing to protect the mechanism from dust.

Devices with sliding supports

Making a machine with sliding supports is quite simple. In this case, the guides can be installed in a horizontal position. The working platform of these configurations is generally made of small width. The actual supports of the machines must be located on the edge of the upper beam. However, the first step is to make a frame for the tool. For this purpose they are selected metal profiles. You can also use pipes quite successfully. The top beam is attached to the frame.

Electric motors are used with a power of about 7 kW and a frequency of 50 Hz. Angles are used to adjust the position of the pulley. The model's guides must be fixed to the plate. Bearings are used for free rotation of the supports ball type. The belt position mechanism is fixed near the electric motor. If we consider the classic model, the drive shaft is installed under the guides. In this way, maximum spindle rotation is achieved. Guards are used to protect the operator during operation. You can also install a tool rest on the edge of the working platform.

5 kW model

At 5 kW, how to make a grinding machine with your own hands? Such devices are most often made with a spindle mechanism. The upper beam of the models can be located on the frame. Pulleys are most often used of the guide type. The belt positioning mechanism must be installed next to the electric motor. The modifications differ in the type of upper blocks.

During the grinding process, the surface of wood or metal is brought to the desired degree of smoothness. The use of special mechanisms allows you to complete the work faster and better. And by making a grinding machine yourself, you can save significant money.

Types of grinding machines

Grinding is the final stage of processing the workpiece before application. protective coating. The process is carried out using grinding tools and emery materials. All machines according to the type of surface processed, the shape of parts and design are divided into:

• surface grinding;
• cylindrical grinding;
• internal grinding;
• specialized.

The equipment is designed to perform:

• peeling and cutting blanks;
• finishing gears, planes, torsion surfaces to final size;
• sharpening knives, drills, cutters.

Most often, craftsmen try to make drum and drum machines on their own. belt type on wood.

Features of Drum Sanding Machine

The working body of a drum machine is grinding disc in the shape of a drum. As a rule, it is used to process long and flat wooden parts, including panels, slats, and boards.

• base;
• engine;
• grinding cylinder;
• a device for changing the speed of movement of the feed cylinder;
• working surface;
• feed cylinder;
• protective box;
• dust extraction;
• device for adjusting the height of the working body.

The design of the machine is not complicated, so you can make it yourself in a home workshop.

Selection of parts

The electric motor can be taken from a broken one washing machine, belts, pulleys and electrical elements. The optimal power of the electric motor is 250 - 300 W at 1.5 - 3 thousand revolutions, single-phase (to make it easier to connect) and asynchronous, it is more productive.

The drum is made from cylinder-shaped bars, wooden rings, a cardboard tube or a piece of plastic sewer pipe. Last option the simplest one, so let’s talk about it in more detail. The drum is placed on an axis made of a metal rod up to 20 cm long.

1. We cut off a section from the PVC water pipe equal to the future length of the drum; it should be slightly shorter than the axis-rod.
2. We cut out a pair of end caps from a board or plywood, equal to the cross-section of the pipe, and make holes for the axle in the centers.
3. We fix the plugs with screws at the ends of the pipe (we recess the heads).
4. We install the axis-rod and fix it with glue.
5. We glue sheet rubber onto the surface of the pipe, which will improve the fit of the workpiece. The abrasive material can be attached to the drum with a stapler, in a spiral.

The body of a homemade machine is made of thick plywood or wood boards. You can also make a work surface from plywood. The body consists of a pair of side posts, a cross member and a base that provides rigidity. The working surface must be strong enough so as not to sag during sanding. Movable part The table is mounted on hinges on the back side, and with an adjusting screw on the front side. Depending on the screw thread pitch, the grinding thickness can be adjusted.

Assembly

We attach the electric motor to the housing from below. A hole for the axle is provided in advance in the housing. The drum is installed in the upper part of the frame. The axle is placed at both ends on bearings in cages, fixed with screws to the side supports.

We install the pulleys on the axles and stretch the belt drive. We will install electrical wiring and a switch. We place the adjusting screws: one on the bottom and a couple on the sides.

Drawings and models of homemade machines

Making a belt sanding machine with your own hands

Device band press This is: a work table is installed on the tabletop in various positions. The table moves using rollers along guides cylindrical, mounted on calipers. A sanding belt is placed on the pulleys located above the table, which is tightened with screws. The part is pressed using an iron against the abrasive, which moves in the transverse direction. The movement of the belt is ensured by an electric motor via a belt drive.

You can make such a device yourself. The main elements of the machine: engine, base and rollers. The electric motor will again fit from a washing machine (power up to 300 W, 1.5 thousand rpm). The base is cut out of metal and welded; it must be strong enough and not wobble. Dimensions worktop approximately 16 x 18 cm. 3 holes are drilled at the end of one of the sides for attaching the platform with electric motors using bolts.

It is advisable to maximize the working area, this will increase the possibilities of using the machine. It is more convenient to grind parts when the length of the table is greater than or equal to the length of the workpiece.

At a speed of movement of the abrasive belt of about 20 m/sec, the diameter of the cylinders should be about 20 cm. With the correct calculation, you can do without a gearbox.

The leading cylinder is rigidly fixed to the engine pulley, the second is a tension cylinder. It rotates freely on bearings on a fixed axis. On the side of the movable cylinder, the working surface should be slightly beveled to achieve a soft touch to the abrasive surface. This is very important when working with glued joints.

Cylinders can be made from chipboard. Are being sawed out square tiles 24 x 24 cm of which the package is assembled on the axis and ground to a diameter of 20 cm. When turning the drum, it is important to take into account: in the middle its diameter should be 2.5 - 3 mm larger than at the edges.

This shape allows the abrasive belt to be positioned right in the middle. It is most convenient to use a 20 cm wide belt. In addition to sanding wood parts, this machine can be used to sharpen any cutters, as well as process curved parts.

The video demonstrates how to make a grinding machine with your own hands:

To fully process the product with your own hands, power tools are required. But it happens that a tool alone is not enough, and you have to resort to the help of more serious electrical equipment. For example, in order to fully process the surface of large products, equipment such as a belt sanding machine is used.

This type of machine is very expensive if it is produced in a specialized factory. For this reason, most craftsmen make their own belt sanding machine.

What does a belt sander consist of?

The most used material for the production of parts is wood. Various equipment is used to process wood products. In order to lead wooden product as accurately as possible, use a homemade belt sanding machine, in which the abrasive belt is at the forefront.

Mechanisms of a metal grinding machine:

1. Horizontal and vertical arrangement abrasive tape. It is pulled onto both drums, which perform rotational movements.
2. Two rotating drums: master and slave. It is possible to regulate the speed of the rotating element.
3. The mechanism is installed on a table surface, which can be wooden or metal. On a metal base it is possible to sharpen more complex parts.
4. The power of the electric motor on the basis of which the unit operates must be at least 2.8 kW, while ensuring a belt speed of at least 20 meters per second.
5. As a rule, a special hood is installed to remove dust and dirt during operation.

There is a pattern between the length of the machine and the length of the part that is processed on it: the larger the part, the longer the processing mechanism should be.

Purpose

Most often, this unit is used to carry out last stage for working with the product. Belt metal sanders work on both wood and metal structures. The wood processing device is capable of perfectly leveling roughness on the surface being processed, shaving off all unnecessary burrs, performing internal grinding of products, and making the product extremely even and smooth.

Metal belt grinding machines successfully process metals of any category: flat, round non-ferrous metals, as well as quadrangular-shaped workpieces, including simple alloyed metals. Such machines can short time process any complex products: round timber, large diameter pipes.

Belt grinding machines are also intended for:

• Final sanding of the part before applying a layer of paint or varnish.
• Heat treatment of irregularities on the product.
• Difficult processing of the surface of the bar.

How to make a desktop work surface with your own hands?

The best option is to choose a thick canvas for high-quality coating. The larger the size of the desktop, the more complex the product can be manufactured. The functionality of the working bed directly depends on the ease of processing metal or wooden surface on her.

Mechanisms for manufacturing a volumetric bed:

1. Make the necessary markings.
2. Drill three sockets for bolts.
3. Using three bolts, secure the surface for work.

How to choose and install the correct motor for a belt grinder grinder?

Most often, a regular engine from a washing machine can act as a machine motor. But if it is difficult to find and install one, then you can purchase any motor that makes at least 1500 rpm. If the motor is fixed to the frame, you need to ensure that it is installed as firmly as possible.

As a rule, two drums are installed on the machine: a leading one and a driven one. The best material for manufacturing is chipboard.

Drum making process:

• You should obtain a blank made from a sheet of chipboard with a volume of at least 200 by 200 mm.
• Grind the workpiece so that its diameter is at least 200 mm.
• Install this processed workpiece on the torque shaft of the machine motor. Its purpose is to set the tape in motion.
• Install the second torque (driven) on the axle and secure it with single bearings. In this case, a small slope must be made on the side of the drum part. This allows the tape to lightly touch the surface of the workpiece.

Particular attention should be paid to the manufacture of the drum - it should be several centimeters larger than the driven element. This ensures stable operation of the engine and protects it from overheating and the possibility of rupture of the tensioned belt.

How to make a belt sander yourself

To produce belts for grinding machines, several high-quality strips are most often taken from sandpaper. They must be cut into several long pieces (at least 200 mm long) and joined with glue. The best raw material for glued fabric is tarpaulin.

All work related to gluing must be accompanied by a highly effective lubricating layer, which will make the element strong and as durable as possible. Many leading experts advise covering both rollers with high-quality rubber. Bicycle and moped cameras are best suited for this role.

The optimal thickness of rubber gluing is at least 30 mm. After all necessary procedures After assembling the unit, you can safely move on to processing wood or metal products.

The process of assembling the machine to make it as high quality as possible

Thus, a modern grinding machine can be made with your own hands, but taking into account the fact that the bars must be made of birch or pine. The most significant elements for high-quality processing The products are glued together with PVA glue, and installation of the unit is not complete without screws of different sizes.

In this case, gluing can be two simple pieces of chipboard boards, which are connected by hinges. It is best to fasten with M6 bolts.

The bottom of the machine is supported on block blocks, which are first adjusted to the dimensions of the machine, then small pieces of rubber are attached to maintain the balance of the unit during operation. From the front part, the grinding unit is attached with European screws for the manufacture of furniture to the mill and for processing the product.

Features of the design idea of ​​a homemade unit

A belt grinding machine can be designed in different ways from a design point of view: the table can be movable or stationary, and the belt can be loose or tightly stretched. Equipment with several wide belts is in a special position. In such a situation, the desktop is made in the shape of a caterpillar. And also in some models the presence of a tabletop surface is not provided at all.

Most often, such a mechanism is used for sharpening or recessing:

1. Knives.
2. Screwdriver.
3. Chisel.
4. Toporov.
5. Secateurs.
6. Other piercing and cutting objects.

Rules for safe and efficient work

Not a single tabletop grinding unit is provided without a special device for dust extraction during the working process. Any professional or home-made machine works smoothly only if necessary measures security.

When turned on, the machine begins to produce at least 1,500 revolutions per minute, and at this speed there is a high probability of small particles getting inside the unit, which then enter the human body through the breathing apparatus.

Video: homemade belt sanding machine.

Harmful effects

A disc-belt grinding machine has a very negative impact on a person’s hearing system, and with prolonged use, you can become deaf or blind if you work without special glasses. It is unacceptable to approach a working unit with wet hands and in an uncovered work coat.

As practice shows, the consequences can be more than sad for the worker, including a high probability of damage to a wooden or metal product. After using the grinding material for a long time, it should be replaced with a new one to avoid causing tool defects.

Belt is used in cases where it is necessary to perform finishing work on parts, that is, as equipment for finishing technological operations. Most often, such machines are used in furniture industry, they are used to process parts made of wood various breeds. But a belt grinding machine can also be used to process metal parts, for which a belt with an appropriate abrasive material is used.

Application areas of the machine

The main tasks performed by the belt grinding machine are: final leveling surface being processed, bringing the level of surface roughness to the required level, bringing the treated surfaces to the level of smoothness before coating them with varnish and other finishing materials. The belt machine is also used to eliminate minor defects of the processed surface: depressions, elevations and burrs, processing finishing coating: removing sagging primer and varnish, burr, sanding internal surfaces, processing of curves on the surface of the part.

A factory-produced option, the drawings of which can be used to create a similar homemade device.

The band saw can be used to process parts made from various materials: wood, simple and non-ferrous metals. What’s convenient is that you can process parts that have different shape: quadrangular, round and flat. Using such equipment, it is possible to process round and tubular parts with a large cross-sectional diameter.

Design features of the machine

The working tool of any belt is a belt on the surface of which abrasive powder is applied. It is made in the form of a ring and is placed between two rotating drums, one of which is the leading one and the second is the driven one.

Rotation to the drive shaft of the tape machine is transmitted from an electric motor, which is connected to it via a belt drive. The speed of movement of the belt mechanism can be adjusted, thereby changing the processing modes of parts. The belt of a surface grinding machine can be positioned horizontally or vertically, as well as at a certain angle, which is allowed by some models of equipment in this category.

When choosing a belt sanding machine model for processing a particular part, it is important to consider the length of the surface that needs to be sanded. It is much more convenient to process parts on such machines whose surface length is shorter than the length of the abrasive belt and work table. If such conditions are met, the quality of processing will be much higher.

The belt grinding machine can have different designs: with a movable and fixed work table, with a free belt. A separate category includes wide-belt equipment, the peculiarity of which is that their work table, which is also a feeding element, is made in the shape of a caterpillar. In those equipment models that have a work table in their design, the abrasive belt is located in a horizontal plane, and in equipment with a free belt that does not have a work table, it can have a different spatial position.

Compulsory structural element any belt sander, including tabletop ones, is exhaust device, which is necessary to remove dust generated in large quantities during the processing process. Both a professional and any homemade grinding machine used in a home workshop or garage are powered by an electric motor.

Principle of operation

The main operating parameters of a belt sanding machine include the feed speed and the force with which the belt is pressed against the workpiece. Parameters such as the degree of grain size of the abrasive belt should be selected depending on the material from which the workpiece is made, as well as the degree of roughness that the surface of the machined product should have.

The characteristics of the material being processed, in particular its hardness, primarily influence the grit size of the abrasive belt to be selected. Processing modes that are directly related to each other are feed speed and tape clamping force. So, if grinding is carried out at high speed, but with insignificant pressing force of the abrasive belt, then some areas of the surface of the part may turn out to be unprocessed. If, on the contrary, you increase the clamping force and reduce the feed speed, you may encounter the fact that burns and blackening of the material may appear in certain areas of the surface being processed.

Another variation of the machine - view from the working surface of the belt

The results of grinding are also influenced by how well the abrasive tape is glued together. To obtain high quality To avoid problems with your belt machine, do not use abrasive belts that are not glued correctly or have torn edges. When putting the tape on equipment shafts, it should be positioned so that the overlapping end of the seam does not ride up against the surface of the workpiece, but slides along it. Learn more about gluing tape in the video below.

Any, including a manual grinding machine, must provide the ability to adjust the belt tension, which is ensured by moving a movable shaft that is not driven. Belt tension is very important parameter, when choosing which you should be guided by the “golden mean” rule. If the sanding machine belt is pulled too tightly, this can lead to its rupture during operation, and if its tension is too weak, it will cause slipping and, as a result, excessive heating. The main characteristic for determining the degree of tension of the tape is its deflection, which is measured by lightly pressing on its surface in a tense state.

A manual belt grinding machine can be serviced by one operator, who moves the work table with the workpiece and rotates it so as to bring all areas of its surface under the abrasive belt.

How to make a belt sander

Many home craftsmen and professionals are wondering how to make a grinding machine with their own hands. The reason for this question is quite simple: high price serial grinding equipment, which not everyone can pay for if not used regularly. In order to make such equipment, you will need several main components: an electric motor, rollers and a reliable frame. Naturally, drawings of such a device or a photo of it would not be superfluous. Also at the end of the article you can watch videos on assembling a tape machine on your own.

The motor for belt grinding equipment is not difficult to find; it can be removed from an old washing machine. You will have to make the frame yourself; for this you can use a sheet of metal with dimensions 500x180x20 mm. One side of the frame should be cut very evenly, since it will be necessary to attach the platform on which the electric motor will be mounted to it. The platform for the electric motor should also be made of a sheet of metal with dimensions 180x160x10 mm. Such a platform must be secured to the frame very securely using several bolts.

Another version of the bed

The efficiency of a belt sanding machine directly depends on the characteristics of the electric motor that is installed on it. If you are planning to make a grinding machine with your own hands, then an electric motor with a power of 2.5–3 kW, developing about 1500 rpm, is quite suitable for you. In order for the sanding belt to move at a speed of 20 m/s when using such a motor, the drums must have a diameter of about 200 mm. What’s convenient is that if you choose an engine with these characteristics, you won’t need to make a gearbox for your grinding machine.

The drive shaft is connected directly to the electric motor shaft, and the second - driven - must rotate freely on an axis, which is installed in bearing units. In order for the abrasive belt to touch the surface of the workpiece more smoothly, the section of the frame on which the driven shaft is installed should be slightly beveled.

You can make shafts for a belt grinding machine with minimal financial costs from chipboards. Simply cut square blanks of 200x200 mm in size from such a plate, drill central holes in them and place them on the axle with a package with a total thickness of 240 mm. After this, all you have to do is grind the resulting package and make it into a round shaft with a diameter of about 200 mm.

Drawings and detailed analysis some parts of a machine made of wood.

Wood belt sander (click to enlarge)

Table tilt adjustment mechanism Plate block Belt tensioner Machine assembly

In order for the tape to be located strictly in the middle of the shaft, the diameter of its central part should be 2–3 mm larger than at the edges. And to prevent the tape from slipping on the drum, it is necessary to wrap a layer of thin rubber on it, for which you can use old tire from a bicycle wheel, having previously cut it along its entire length.