Tips for fine-tuning a belt sander for smooth operation and good control. I just had a 10′ plank fly back at me out of the wide belt sander. Ripples in the finish sanding can come from bad belt splices, conveyor feed system that has slack, poor bearings in the conveyor belt rollers or contact drum, or out of balance in the sanding unit as a whole.
Trying to diagnose and isolate the root causes for wide belt sander issues can be extremely difficult. In light of this difficulty, the abrasive technicians at Fintech Industrial Abrasives have compiled a list of the most common wide belt sander issues and their respective potential fixes. Constantly running workpieces through the sander in the same place on the belt can quickly wear out that portion of the belt and lead to loading and belt burning.
To prevent your belt from breaking prematurely, check the recommended belt direction. There are various causes of improper tracking, which we’ll cover in the following section on wide belt sander maintenance. Improper tension pressure: Belt tracking problems can also be caused by improper tension – if the tension isn’t high enough, there will not be sufficient pull for the belt to stay in line.
how to adjust wide belt sander Related Question:
Can you adjust tension on a belt sander?
If the belt is shifting toward the side of the sander that the knob is on, then loosen the knob by turning it about half a turn counterclockwise. If the belt is shifting away from the side of the sander that the knob is on, tighten the knob by turning it about half a turn clockwise.
Why is my belt sander leaving lines?
If the inside of your sander has a lot of dust, there is likely an issue with the machine and it often shows in the materials run through the machine. Excessive dust buildup can result in burn marks or lines on the workpiece. Dust buildup can also cause tracking issues and prematurely wear out the belt.