Abrasives Leap Forward: Extending Product Life Spans and Enhancing Performance
Inventive and next generation abrasives are having a transformative effect in shops that rely on the products for any number of applications.
Posted: January 24, 2024
Breakthroughs in abrasives, belts, brushes and grinding wheels have created products that last significantly longer. These products provide metalworkers with numerous advantages such as cost savings regarding the abrasives spend, increased productivity in a labor challenged market, and improved sustainability practices.
Abrasives Provider Offers the Next Evolution of Abrasives
Tiger 2.0 zirconia alumina and aluminum oxide cutting, grinding and combo wheels from Weiler Abrasives (Cresco, PA) help cut through inefficiencies, safety issues and labor shortages that prevent companies from doing their best work. Tiger 2.0 is designed for demanding metal fabrication industries like shipbuilding, pressure vessel and heavy equipment fabrication.
In addition to a fast cutting speed, Tiger 2.0 wheels last up to 40% longer to increase efficiency in operations’ cutting and grinding applications. These grinding wheels feature anti-chipping technology, an advanced bond formulation that reduces uneven edge wear and chipping to improve safety and the user experience and extend wheel life. The wheels feature an award-winning blotter design that includes an industry-first, patent-pending Optimum Use Line. The line is a visual indicator that helps the operator use the wheel to its full life. This innovation reduces changeovers, allowing for greater productivity while also reducing waste and abrasive spend. In some cases, users experience three times more efficiency than with their previous abrasives.
Tiger 2.0 wheels are available in Type 1, Type 27 and Type 28 options. These wheels range in size from 4”-to-9” and are intended for use on portable angle grinders.
Unique Formula for Optimal Grinding
CS Unitec, Inc. (Norwalk, CT) offers a line of industrial hemp flap discs, including the PLANTEX® SUNFIRE® ceramic dual-grain disc with 5/8”-x-11 hub, which allows users to grind, blend and finish with just one disc. The disc’s 40/60 combination grit grinds like a 40, blends and finishes like a 60, saving considerable working time and extending its service life on all metals. The SUNFIRE’s patented multigrain ceramic-hybrid grit structure provides aggressive material removal as well as controlled blending and finishing. The discs are eco-friendly and 50% less energy is used during production, being made from hemp, a renewable resource.
The backing plate, composed of 70% natural hemp fiber, is stronger, more versatile and safer than traditional backing plates. SUNFIRE’s high-strength construction enables longer run times, while its flexible backing plate more easily conforms to the surface of the workpiece.
Breakthrough Engineered Shaped Ceramic Grain Technology Consistently Cuts Sharp
Saint-Gobain Abrasives (Worcester, MA), one of the world’s largest abrasives manufacturers, introduces the Norton RazorStar™ fiber discs, quick-change discs and belts, which feature an innovative engineered shaped ceramic grain, a breakthrough technology with unbeatable performance even in the toughest grinding applications. A unique combination of razor-sharp grains with a supersized grinding aid helps to significantly reduce heat generation for cooler cuts and longer life on a range of materials such as carbon steel, aluminum, stainless steel, nickel alloys and other hard-to-grind metals.
The unique patented geometry and tough micro-structure enable the grain to stay sharp as new cutting points are exposed when the grain fractures. The new abrasive products also feature a high concentration of grains that are oriented in an upright position, so they are ready to cut and aggressively perform at their sharpest point. “We are seeing an up to 50% cutting performance improvement compared with other ceramic discs on the market today, and we are very excited to offer our customers new abrasive discs that will take their grinding performance to a new level of efficiency when removing welds, grinding, beveling and doing heavy deburring,” said Jeremy Spencer, a product manager for Norton | Saint-Gobain Abrasives. The Norton RazorStar™ belts, which are designed for medium to high-pressure metal removal in challenging robotic or off-hand applications, are producing the same number of parts with fewer belts and less machining and changeover time, while consuming less energy, said John Benkoczy, senior product manager for Norton | Saint-Gobain Abrasives.
Powerful and Universal System Unit Delivers a Perfect Grinding Pattern
Suhner USA, Inc.’s (Rome, GA) ROTOmax 2.2, is a universal system unit in which the drive and the tool are run separately using a flexible shaft. The illustration of the grinding process or work cycles is made possible by saving up to six different speeds. The speeds are individually programmable and electronically controlled, ensuring a perfect grinding pattern. The ROTOmax 2.2 is characterized by its simple, intuitive handling.
Because the ROTOmax 2.2 can be used almost anywhere, it is put to work in foundries, tool production, the pharmaceutical industry, food tech processing plants, aviation technology, boiler making and in mechanical workshops. It offers applications in cutting machining, grinding, rust removal, brushing or polishing.
Brushless Compact Angle Grinders Boost Efficiency and Power
FEIN Power Tools Inc.’s (Pittsburgh, PA) new 5” and 6” compact angle grinders are built for safety, durability, and exceptional grinding performance. The new angle grinders are entirely enclosed and feature FEIN’s brushless PowerDrive motor with optimized airflow that helps boost efficiency and power delivery. In addition, the grinders have a rapid brake safety feature, which stops the motor in less than two seconds. Available in slide switch and paddle switch models, both boast an excellent weight-to-performance ratio, weighing in at 4.8 lbs. with a 1,050-watt output.
New End Brushes for Superior Finishes
For OD applications, Brush Research Manufacturing Co., Inc.’s (Los Angeles, CA) new Nampower End Brushes are available from 1/2”-to-2” in a high density, solid end brush configuration. These tools offer more cutting points for increased efficiency and performance. The aluminum, hard coat anodized cups hold advanced ceramic abrasive filaments that have lasted three-to-five times longer than the competition during testing. These end brushes are available in four grits to accomplish even the most challenging of deburring and surface finishing applications. The tool can be loaded directly into your automated machining center to get to work immediately with no special adaptors required. The brushes are the newest addition to Brush Research’s Nampower Premium Abrasive Nylon offering, which includes disc and wheel brushes in ceramic and diamond filament.
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