|
Technical Education
By Josh Hughes
Having the correct dust extraction is a vital part to achieving higher sanding quality. When dust isn’t removed it stays on the work piece causing the next belt to sand through a layer of dust before sanding the work piece. Recommended dust extraction is 25 m/s. An easy way to tell is to open the door of the machine 15-18” and see if the extraction will close the door. If the extraction isn’t sufficient, grounding the machine will help remove more dust. In this case more isn’t always better, as too much dust extraction can lead to the sanding belt being pulled away from the sanding head. If the belt happens to hit a metal dust extraction hood, sparks could fly and a fire could start. These machines tend to have higher belt tensions to prevent this, which leads to poor sanding quality, premature belt wear, and worn drums. If the belt is being pulled away from the head, then the sanding belt won’t travel at the speed its supposed to, sometimes causing the belt to slip on the head, leading to a burn or tear.
In conclusion, poor dust extraction is a common cause of sanding defects and poor belt life. If your belts are picking up dust and sanding dust at the same time, excessive heat is generated and burning occurs. When excessive dust is left on the work piece, the machine has a difficult time sanding consistently. So to achieve better results make sure your dust extraction is adequate for the type of work you are doing. Types of wood, conveyor speed, and grits being used are all factors in how much is needed. Extending the dust hoods to be closer to the heads is an effective method of helping improve an overloaded dust collector. Grounding the machine is essential to dust removal, and is a cheap and easy fix that solves many issues.
|
