Displaying items by tag: finishing

February 5, 2020 - Saint-Gobain Abrasives, Worcester, Massachusetts, announced the introduction of its new, innovative Norton FAB (Fixed Abrasive Buff) buffing wheels that virtually eliminate the need to use buffing compounds. Norton FAB wheels feature a patent pending design which incorporates abrasive grains into the buffing wheel and consistently results in excellent single digit Ra values ranging from 1 to 5 Ra. The new Norton FAB wheels are tear resistant, waterproof and durable, providing significantly longer life than traditional cotton buffs.

"In addition to virtually eliminating the need for messy buffing compounds, new Norton FAB wheels increase productivity by generating more parts per buff with fewer buffing wheel changes," said Anne Bonner, Sr. Product Manager, Norton | Saint-Gobain Abrasives. "Also, their superior finishing performance can remove costly, extra pre-buff processing steps."

Due to significantly decreasing the need for buffing compound, Norton FAB wheels offer a more efficient, cleaner and safer way of buffing. There is less cumbersome, time consuming clean-up in buffing operations and post-clean-up processes. Without the requirements to purchase, apply, clean-up, and dispose of large amounts of compound, costs are minimized. Also, less buffing compound improves worksite safety and reduces the environmental impact of compound disposal.

Norton FAB wheels have a premium silicon carbide abrasive which is uniformly dispersed and applied to both sides of the cloth, resulting in more consistent buffing performance. Norton FAB wheels can be easily incorporated into new or existing robotic buffing applications.

Key applications for new Norton FAB wheels include automatic or semi-automatic buffing, cut buffing and mush buffing in a wide range of markets such as automotive, hardware, oil and gas and more. The new wheels are effective on hard alloys as well as soft metals such as aluminum and brass. Norton FAB Wheels are available in outer diameters from 5 in. to 22 in., in 12 or 16 ply (number of cloth layers of buff), 2 or 4 pack (waviness of the buff face) and various ID hole designs.

July 10, 2019 - Lawson Products Inc., Chicago, announced the new Blue-Kote™ Soft Material Application Flap Disc, which grinds aluminum and all non-ferrous metals at high speed with minimal clogging or loading, while keeping the work surface temperature low for quality finishing.

The Type 27 abrasive disc is also used with composite materials such as carbon fiber and plastics. The 4.5-inch diameter disc is available in 40 and 60 grit.

Produced exclusively for Lawson Products, the new Blue-Kote Soft Material Application Flap Disc is manufactured from tough aluminum oxide grain layered in a specially engineered net structure. The unique design provides high-performance cut rate and aggressive stock removal with surface blending action for excellent finish consistency. The soft, long-lasting disc that simultaneously grinds and finishes saves process time, eliminates the need for product changeover, and reduces total cost.    

Because aluminum has a much lower melting temperature than other metals, keeping aluminum cool while grinding and finishing is a big challenge for welders and fabricators. The Blue-Kote disc cloth’s net structure resists clogging on soft materials, and its sanded surface stays cooler and avoids burning the work surface.

Blue-Kote Soft Material Application Flap Disc at a glance:

• Specially engineered disc incorporates aluminum oxide grain for excellent grinding combined with smooth, scratch-free finishing and cleaning
• Non-loading
• Grinds cooler than standard discs
• Lasts up to 3X longer than conventional abrasives
• Fewer disc changes required means greater job efficiency and cost savings
• Can be used in pre- and post-weld operations
• Applications and industries include automotive and body shops, agriculture, aviation, construction, energy, food & beverage, metal fabrication, shipbuilding, technology, and mass transportation
• The latest addition to Lawson’s extensive catalog of cutting tools and abrasives solutions

The Lawson Products Blue-Kote Soft Material Application Flap Discs are available now. Lawson Products and Kent Automotive representatives can help users select the abrasive product best suited to their applications.

July 8, 2019 - PFERD, Milwaukee, has announced the introduction of the POLINOX® fiber-backing disc. The disc, which is designed for long service life and working on large surfaces with variable speed angle grinders, has non-woven abrasive flaps with fiberglass backing for face-down finishing work. The non-woven abrasive disc is well suited for manufacturing a wide range of products, such as hand pads, drums, discs, belts, mounted points and grinding wheels, Its abrasive properties are tailored to a variety of metal machining and grinding applications. It uses aluminum oxide A abrasive.

POLINOX fiber-backing discs feature the same construction as PFERD’s PNZ and PNL flap wheels and finishing drums. Interleaved discs (PNZ type) come in two different grits while radial discs (PNL type) come in three different grit sizes. The PNZ type will create a coarser surface finish and remove more material than the PNL type. Both discs are available in two diameters, 4-1/2-in. and 5 7/8-in. arbors. The material on the fiberglass backer is approximately ¾-in. thick and will create a non- linear surface finish. These discs are ideal for step-by-step fine grinding, and prep-to-paint applications where cosmetics are not an issue.

June 11, 2019 - Saint-Gobain Abrasives has introduced new Norton Merit Pink R928, a better tier of Flap Wheels and Specialty Abrasives, including cartridge/spiral rolls and square/cross pads that feature a superior ceramic grain for greater efficiency when beveling, blending, cleaning/detailing, deburring and finishing stainless steel and other hard-to-grind materials. A variety of Norton Merit Pink mounted points feature Norton 86A aluminum oxide abrasives, providing an excellent combination of friability and form holding. Click Here for More Information.

For hard-to-reach applications, a poly cotton backing on the Norton Merit Pink R928 Flap Wheels and Specialty Abrasives adds more durability compared to traditional cotton back products. Due to a coating on the grain/ bond that reduces friction for a greater grain holding ability, the R928 line cuts cooler and faster on hard-to-grind materials.

“A clear trend in industry today is the growing use of smaller abrasives. Our new Norton Merit Pink Flap Wheels and Specialties answer this need, as well as provide excellent finishes and increased productivity,” said Mr. Patrick Carroll, Norton | Saint-Gobain Abrasives Senior Product Manager. "When used with our new Handheld Pneumatic Die Grinder, customers have a lightweight, ergonomic grinding solution with more control." The new line is ideally suited for manufacturers across a broad range of industries such as metal fabrication, welding, energy, oil & gas, foundry and castings, MRO and aerospace.

Norton and Merit brands are joining forces to deliver a simpler, comprehensive one-stop shop product portfolio for all specialty abrasives for offhand and portable power tools, within a single "Norton Merit" brand. The Norton Merit Pink line is the first introduction under the new unique branding.

Mini Flap Wheels

Mini Flap Wheels are an ideal choice for a wide variety of blending, deburring and finishing applications. The new Flap Wheels feature an improved resin bond system that extends wheel life and provides less down-time for changeovers. Threaded versions are designed for polishing and finishing intricate surfaces, and are offered in 1 in., 2 in. and 3 in. diameters, mounted on a 1/4 in.-20 thread that enables quick wheel on and off, with no tools required. Shank-mounted Flap Wheels are extremely durable and long-lasting for demanding, heavy stock removal applications, and are offered in 1 in., 2 in. and 3 in. diameters, mounted on a 1/4 in. steel shank.

Cartridge Rolls and Tapered Spiral Rolls

For hard-to-reach inside surfaces and inside corners, Cartridge Rolls and Tapered Spiral Rolls are excellent for flash removal, polishing, or removing machine markets and edge breaking. Cartridge Rolls are offered in 1/4 in., 3/8 in. and 1/2 in. diameters and have a 1 1/2 in. length and 1/8 in. height. Spiral Rolls are available in 3/8 in. and 1/2 in. diameters and have a 1 1/2 in. length and 1/8 in. height.

Square Pads and Cross Pads

Square pads are smoother and easier to control, while grinding almost as fast as hard wheels. Their corners wear down consistently exposes fresh abrasive, and the pad becomes round for less aggressive stock removal. New Norton Merit Pink Square Pads are exceptionally well suited for the quick blending of channels, fillets, corner and spotting flat surfaces. Sizes include 2 in. by 2 in. by 1/2 in., 3 in. by 3 in. by 1/4 in. and 3 in. by 3 in. by 1/2 in.

Cross Pads are shaped to enable seeing through to the contact area for conforming to variable internal diameters. Norton Merit Pink Cross Pads are used for close-tolerance polishing of small radii and channels, deburring, and finishing bell-mouth configurations. Sizes offered include 1 1/2 in. by 1 1/2 in. by 1 1/2 in., 2 in. by 2 in. by 3/4 in. and 3 in. by 3 in. by 1 in.

Mounted Points

Offered in many sizes in several different shapes, Norton Merit Pink 86A Vitrified Bond Mounted Points are used in a broad range of operations on a variety of machines. Mounted points are small grinding wheels permanently fastened to its own spindle. Diameters range from 1/4 in. to 1 in., and are offered in a multitude of configurations and heights.

Metals used in pharmaceutical equipment must meet rigorous standards

November 27, 2018 – Trim-Kut® designed to grind and finish a wide variety of materials. The patented process of fusing premium abrasive grains to a durable polymer backing results in a highly versatile grinding tool that requires no backing pad. Trim-Kut® is readily trimmable to either renew the cutting surface or reduce the diameter. Available in all minerals and 3 in., 4 ½ in. and 5 in. diameters.

Gemtex Abrasives
Toronto
800/387-5100

3D abrasive materials help less-practiced users achieve a professional finish

September 14, 2018 - Walter Surface Technologies, Windsor, Connecticut, has introduced a new, innovative, and powerful abrasive for aluminum blending and finishing, the Enduro-Flex ALU™ flap disc.

The Enduro-Flex ALU™ flap disc was developed to overcome the challenges that come with working with heat-sensitive metals such as aluminum and other non-ferrous alloys. Aluminum’s high strength-to-weight ratio has long made it a smart choice due to the alloy’s lightweight properties, corrosion-resistance and other practical benefits. Yet, when it comes to blending and finishing, there’s a different story for metalworkers on the shop floor.

Enduro-Flex ALU™ flap discs are specially formulated to maximize performance and drive productivity. Iron-free, sulfur-free and chlorine-free, Enduro-Flex ALU™’s superior zirconia alumina grain blend optimizes blending and finishing performance on virtually any aluminum surface. Backed by the highest removal rate in the industry and superior performance on non-ferrous alloys and heat-sensitive metals, Enduro-Flex ALU™ will deliver a consistent finish without discoloration every time.

Enduro-Flex ALU™’s special coating prevents load-up and glazing – key features that extend disc life and help cut shop-floor costs. Metalworkers will also appreciate Walter’s proprietary Eco-Trim™ trimmable backing, which can triple disc life for even greater savings.

“The science and deep industry knowledge behind Enduro-Flex ALU™ flap discs is exceptional, and has all of the key features as the industry-leading Enduro-Flex™ flap disc,” explains Jonathan Douville, Senior Product Manager - Surfox, Finishing & Tooling. “Outstanding removal rates, longevity and resistance to glaze build-up make Enduro-Flex ALU™ the optimal choice for enhanced quality, safety and productivity when working with aluminum.”

Industry-optimized, Enduro-Flex ALU™ flap discs offer versatility and outstanding performance in automotive, aerospace, naval and other sector-specific applications.

“Enduro-Flex ALU™ is simply a high-performance, long-lasting and productivity-enhancing flap disc,” says Douville. “It’s the ultimate blending and finishing tool that helps our customers work better.”

Enduro-Flex ALU™ discs are available in 4 1/2”, 5”, 6” and 7” diameter sizes with grit values of 40, 60 and 80. RPM ratings range from 8,600 to 13,300. Spend more time getting the job done and less time making trips to the tool crib with Enduro-Flex ALU™ – the longest lasting flap disc in the industry that removes more material than any competitive flap disc.

Walter Surface Technologies
Windsor, Connecticut
860/298-1100

Flexible hones effectively deburr complex parts that have cross-drilled holes and difficult-to-access features

August 20, 2018 - Houghton International has developed an advanced cleaner designed to replace solvents in precision cleaning applications. Houghto-Rinse RTD™ is a water-based, non-flammable, ready-to-use cleaner that delivers outstanding process performance and surface appearance in a wide range of surface finishing applications. 

Houghto-Rinse RTD is a direct replacement for highly volatile solvents in applications where flammability, health, safety and environmental factors are concerns. It is designed to remove surface residues such as spray paint, marker pen, ink, glue, grease and production soil prior to final inspection, assembly or packaging. It is safe for use on all surfaces including aluminum, steel, magnesium, plastics, painted surfaces, and fiberglass. Its cleaning effectiveness and non-residue properties make it particularly valuable for critical cleaning applications where surface appearance is important. 

“Extensive field testing has demonstrated that Houghto-Rinse RTD delivers outstanding cleaning performance on a broad range of applications,” said Tony Pavesich, Houghton Surface Finishing Industry Leader. “It dries quickly, leaves no residue, and is ready-to-use, so it improves product quality and process efficiency.” The product is also economical, low-odor, and contains rust prevention properties, which may be important when used to clean steel components in critical applications.

Houghton International
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
800-666-4684