I've been building this sander to use a 12 inch wide belt, and the mechanism is now together. That means that the framework is made, rollers are in place, belt tension mechanism is made, and belt steering mechanism is in place. I have a test belt on it right now- it tracks well, and the controls work like they're supposed to (tension release and steering). It's a complete assembly now, and the next step is to build the stand that it will nest into.
As I spin the roller shaft, I can hear the weave of the belt making a sound as the belt passes by the bottom edge of the platen. The way I have it set up, the belt takes a slight angle towards the roller as it comes off the platen. I did plan for this so it isn't a design mistake. I wanted the belt to be laying against the platen and not clearing it by some amount, so I opted for this. I've given myself the option of building up the bottom roller by 1/16 or so with rubber, in case there's going to be slippage, and with that degree of build-up the belt will take a straight path off the platen and onto the roller, just barely still in contact with the platen. That I'm thinking might be optimum- I don't want the belt to be clearing the platen because that will tend to round over corners of whatever I'm sanding. The effect wouldn't be large, but I don't want it at all.
So now back to the sound- it's happening because the trailing edge of the platen is fairly sharp. If I roll it off to some extent I think the noise will go away, or at least abate considerably. It's not loud or anything, and the belt rolls quite freely as it is so I don't think I'd be risking damaging the belt, but being anal deficit compulsive obsessive disordered, I feel the need to 'fix' this The platen is a granite tile, so now I'm wondering how do I go about 'rolling off' the trailing edge? Or should I be bonding some rubber to the roller instead?
If you look carefully you can find the assembly in about the middle of the picture. Lots of mess surrounding it here- just the state of my shop most of the time. One of the granite platens is in place in this pic.
View of the rear shows the mechanisms. Sticking out the left from this viewpoint, one shaft is the tension release lever (with vise grips temporarily attached), and just below that is the steering control shaft.
As I spin the roller shaft, I can hear the weave of the belt making a sound as the belt passes by the bottom edge of the platen. The way I have it set up, the belt takes a slight angle towards the roller as it comes off the platen. I did plan for this so it isn't a design mistake. I wanted the belt to be laying against the platen and not clearing it by some amount, so I opted for this. I've given myself the option of building up the bottom roller by 1/16 or so with rubber, in case there's going to be slippage, and with that degree of build-up the belt will take a straight path off the platen and onto the roller, just barely still in contact with the platen. That I'm thinking might be optimum- I don't want the belt to be clearing the platen because that will tend to round over corners of whatever I'm sanding. The effect wouldn't be large, but I don't want it at all.
So now back to the sound- it's happening because the trailing edge of the platen is fairly sharp. If I roll it off to some extent I think the noise will go away, or at least abate considerably. It's not loud or anything, and the belt rolls quite freely as it is so I don't think I'd be risking damaging the belt, but being anal deficit compulsive obsessive disordered, I feel the need to 'fix' this The platen is a granite tile, so now I'm wondering how do I go about 'rolling off' the trailing edge? Or should I be bonding some rubber to the roller instead?
If you look carefully you can find the assembly in about the middle of the picture. Lots of mess surrounding it here- just the state of my shop most of the time. One of the granite platens is in place in this pic.
View of the rear shows the mechanisms. Sticking out the left from this viewpoint, one shaft is the tension release lever (with vise grips temporarily attached), and just below that is the steering control shaft.
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