Get More Done Thanks to Advanced Grain Retention Technologies
New formulas maximize grain retention that results in longer life and labor saving abrasive products, without sacrificing speed or quality. The post Get More Done Thanks to Advanced Grain Retention Technologies appeared first on Fabricating & Metalworking.
Abrasives suppliers are reformulating their abrasive formulas to provide fabricators with the latest grains and bond technologies that increase cut rates and produce smear-free finishes.
Fast Metal Removal and Finishing in One Step
Saint-Gobain Abrasives (Worcester, MA), one of the world’s largest abrasives manufacturers, offers Norton Vortex® Rapid Blend Coarse Grit Wheels and Discs for a finishing process solution that takes down and blends welds in a single operation, providing a 30%-to-50% improvement in productivity. The coarse grit wheels and discs are an extension of the Vortex Rapid Blend medium grit offering.
A proprietary engineered Vortex aluminum oxide aggregate grain stays sharper longer, resulting in an increased cut rate while producing a fine finish. Also, the coarse grit offering features Clean Bond® a special resin chemistry that resists shedding when used on sharp edges, making it ideal for deburring with no smearing. For versatile multi-dimensional deburring and finishing that minimizes wheel changes, Vortex Rapid Blend coarse grit has a unified 3D construction allowing operators to use them on the top, bottom or side. The strong unified construction is formed by compressing multiple layers of non-woven web material and bonding together, making the abrasives extremely durable as well as waterproof, washable, conformable and non-loading.
The abrasive products are ideal for aluminum, mild steel, carbon, Inconel, titanium and stainless steel materials found in axle and thread deburring, finishing and blending applications in industries such as oil and gas, metal fabrication, aerospace, automotive and welding/MRO.
Vortex Rapid Blend coarse grit wheels and discs are available in densities from high to low, depending on the application.
Self-sharpening Ceramic Discs with Exceptional Removal Rates
WALTER Surface Technologies (Windsor, CT) offers the new XTRACUT
XX sanding disc, engineered to deliver unmatched stock removal across all alloys while maintaining consistent results throughout its lifespan. The disc offers superior sanding experience with longer disc life, and fewer product replacements. Its triangular-shaped ceramic grains maximize pressure at each contact point, enhancing cutting efficiency. This allows users to reduce operation time without applying excessive pressure for better comfort.
The exclusive top size cooling agent works in harmony with ceramic grains to maintain peak cutting power and extend disc life. The cooling agent helps minimize heat buildup, preventing overheating and discoloration for a smoother, higher-quality surface finish — especially when working with harder alloys such as stainless steel or high carbon steel. The V-STRONG Backing Technology features eight vulcanized fiber layers — 14% more laminated layers than the leading competitor — to reinforce the disc and help it withstand the toughest conditions.
Cutting-edge Abrasives Help Operators Produce Their Best Work
Weiler Abrasives (Cresco, PA) a leading producer of abrasives and power brushes for surface conditioning, announces two upgrades in its high-performing lineup of Tiger 2.0 cutting, grinding and combination wheels. Designed to address the challenges of demanding metal fabrication industries like shipbuilding, pressure vessel and heavy equipment fabrication, the new Tiger Ceramic 2.0 and Tiger INOX 2.0 wheels help cut through inefficiencies, safety issues and labor shortages that prevent companies from doing their best work.
“We went back to the lab and reimagined what was needed to make the best product,” said Tony Hufford, category manager of metal fabrication, Weiler Abrasives. “This was about more than adding fancy abrasive grains — this was about rethinking the entire formulation.”
Tiger Ceramic 2.0 cutting, grinding and combo wheels offer a unique design that leverages innovative new ceramic grain technology that cuts extremely cool and removes material effortlessly while providing exceptional control for an improved operator experience. Wheel life has been improved by increasing grain retention and ensuring precise product wear. Extensive testing shows the new ceramic wheels deliver industry-leading product life with no reduction in cut speed — with the cutting wheels offering two times the life compared to the latest ceramic wheels on the market and the grinding/combo wheels providing up to 30% more product life. As a result, operations can get more work done.
The INOX 2.0 wheels are designed for high performance when cutting and grinding high-value stainless steel parts. Premium aluminum oxide grains provide a smooth cut rate and consistent performance. Both Tiger Ceramic and Tiger INOX wheels are contaminant-free, so they are safe to use on high-value stainless steel parts.
The Tiger 2.0 upgrade includes a patent pending Optimum Use Line to help get the most out of the wheel, reducing changeovers, increasing productivity, while also reducing waste and abrasive spend. The advanced 2.0 bond formulation on the grinding wheels reduces uneven edge wear and chipping, improving operator experience and extending wheel life.
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