Flap Wheels Achieve Close Tolerances on Curved, Contoured Areas

Saint-Gobain Abrasives’ Norton Blaze R920 ceramic alumina flap wheels are designed to deliver a smooth, consistent finish with a fast, cool, uniform rate of cut in difficult production applications. The wheels are said to be ideal for aggressive grinding and precision finishing, blending, deburring and cleaning operations on such difficult-to-grind materials as super alloys, stainless steels and cobalt.

The sharp, ceramic abrasive grains and advanced grinding-aid lubricant provide faster, cooler, burn-free operation, the company says. A flexible yet strong heavy cotton backing wears evenly to deliver chatter-free cutting; longer life for fewer change-overs; and application flexibility, all while eliminating aggressive sanding action. A full resin bond system promotes high grain retention, increasing product life.

Available in both spindle-mount and arbor-hole designs, the flap wheels enable close tolerances when finishing curved, contoured and hard-to-reach areas, the company says. Capability to wear and expose new grains at a controlled rate is said to make the spindle-mounted wheels well-suited for uneven surfaces. As such, they can be a cost-effective replacement for brushes, rubber points and felt bobs, the company says. Shanks that run through the center of the wheel also improve balance with spindle-mounted wheels and reduce chatter and operator fatigue.

The arbor-hole flap wheels are used on benchtop and fixed-base pedestal tools. These wheels are said to be more forgiving than other abrasive products, reducing the possibility of flattening, gouging and surface deformation for fewer rejected parts.

Norton Blaze R920 flap wheels are available in 1", 2", 3", with ¼" steel shank sizes, and 6" × 1" × 1" in the arbor-hole design. Additional sizes and grits are available custom made for user requirements.