Articles
Sanding belt
Sanding belts are made from abrasive paper backed with cloth, paper, or non-woven materials. A belt is a strip of sandpaper closed in a ring with the abrasive layer facing outward. The belt's geometric dimensions are determined by its width and length. Sanding belts are very widely used due to their versatility and ease of use. Furthermore, the belt itself is an inexpensive tool. Belts are used both in factories and small workshops. They are used in the manufacture of various metal products (knives and blades, cutlery, pipe sanding, etc.), cleaning welds, and in woodworking (sanding solid wood, MDF boards, plywood, etc.), as well as stone and plastics.The size of the sanding belt is determined by the characteristics of the equipment used. It's important to remember that only one size of belt is suitable for each machine model.
Depending on the material being processed, a particular type of abrasive grain, coating, base, type of gluing unit, and other factors are selected for the production of the tape.
Abrasive grain material
Aluminum oxide (corundum) is the most inexpensive and versatile option. It is the most widely used and suitable for both manual and machine processing. It is available in a full range of abrasive grains, from coarse to fine. It is primarily used for removing paint and varnish, rust, woodworking, and for light metalworking and surface smoothing.Silicon carbide has proven itself to be the best choice for processing wood, sanding MDF and plywood, plastic, glass, non-ferrous metals, and sanding paint and varnish coatings.
Zirconium corundum is a mixture of zirconium oxide and corundum. Zirconium oxide grains have higher strength than aluminum oxide, making them ideal for machining high-strength, high-alloy, and stainless steels.
Ceramic aluminum oxide is a relatively new type of abrasive. Available in medium, coarse, and very coarse grits, it offers the highest performance in metalworking. Because it is synthetically produced, it has a more uniform grain size. Its self-sharpening effect ensures consistently sharp grains, reducing cutting temperatures and significantly extending the life of the abrasive, allowing it to be utilized to its full potential.
Filling
Based on the density of the abrasive, sanding papers are classified as open, semi-open, or closed. Open coatings are characterized by larger gaps between the abrasive grains. This is designed to reduce clogging of the sanding belt and is used for sanding softwoods and paints. Closed coatings are better suited for sanding metals and glass, and are also used for sanding MDF boards and hardwoods. They provide maximum processing performance but are prone to sludge buildup.Base material and seam types
When selecting a backing material, moisture resistance is a primary consideration. When metalworking on a stationary machine, coolant is often used for cooling, so the belt backing must be water-resistant. The backing material can be paper of varying thicknesses, cotton fabric, or polyester. The type of splice (seam type) is selected depending on the backing, the grinding load, and the equipment used. The quality of the splice affects the quality of grinding and the durability of the sanding belt. The seam must be strong enough to withstand the loads encountered during grinding. Furthermore, the splice should not differ significantly in thickness from the base material of the belt, as this will result in defects on the workpiece. To prevent the belt from becoming too thick at the joint, when using a bonding film (foil), the ends of the belt are backstitched on the backing or abrasive side, depending on the type of joint.Tape graininess
For high-quality processing of parts, it is recommended to use 3-4 types of belts of different grain sizes:- For preliminary stripping and shaping of the workpiece, a coarse stripping belt with a grain size of P24-P40 is used.
- For rough finishing, use a medium-grained belt.
- Fine-grained tape is used for finishing and finishing of products.