Machine for sharpening drills and other tools: selection rules

Machine for sharpening drills and other tools: rules for selection and use

The requirements for the machining of various materials are quite high. Elements with incorrectly executed threads, an offset hole, an end face with chips after trimming, etc. are sent to the “marriage” category. The main reason for poor-quality processing of products is the improper condition of the cutting tool. A drill sharpening machine will help to avoid such problems.

The sharpening machine will help to process drills and other tools efficiently

The main types of grinding machines for drills and other cutting tools

The improvement of manufacturing technologies for various types of products makes it necessary to use cutting tools with perfect sharpening. Otherwise, the quality of processing decreases, the operational characteristics of the manufactured items are lost. Cutting elements made of even the most high-strength materials need periodic restoration of the working edge. For these purposes, sharpening machines are used.

All machines can be divided into two categories: domestic and professional

Depending on the scope of application , the installations are divided into:

• on professional sharpening machines;
• household mechanisms.

There is also a division of grinding machines into universal and narrowly focused. Universal units have devices that make it possible to sharpen both the blades of ordinary household knives and saws, cutters, chisels, etc. Narrowly focused are designed for processing tools of the same type.

Professional designs are mostly created by universal ones. They are distinguished by their large size and corresponding power, they are installed permanently. Such machines require significant energy consumption. The consequence of high power is noisy operation, so professional devices are placed in separate rooms. Working with them is most often carried out with the use of noise protection means.

Household grinding machines for drills are mainly mobile devices that can be installed on any horizontal surface. The units are low-power, compact, used for sharpening home tools.

As a rule, household machines are small and mobile devices

Design and standard equipment of drill sharpeners

The basic design of any grinding machine is quite simple. The device consists of the following elements:

Diagram showing the standard design of the grinding machine

Useful advice! Experts recommend purchasing grinding machines with asynchronous motors. Such devices are more resistant to power surges in the network.

All dimensions and features of the elements must be specified in the passport to the grinding machine.

Factory and homemade machines for sharpening drills

Drills are the tool that is actively used both in production and for household purposes. As for the industrial scale, it is worth noting that universal machines are almost always used for sharpening. The other option is simply unprofitable. But at home and in the case of small-scale periodic activities (in vocational schools, retraining centers, etc.), narrowly focused units for sharpening drills have found wide application.

Such machines can be divided into two types:

• devices for sharpening spiral drills;
• machines for restoring the cutting surface of feather drills.

For home use, the grinding machine can be made with your own hands

The diameters of the nozzles to be restored vary from 2 to 18 mm. The features of the tooling allow you to perform an angle of inclination for feather drills 170-180 °, for spiral–shaped options – 140-180 °.

Many people prefer to use homemade machines for sharpening drills. More precisely, not machines, but improvised devices. These can be, for example, clips “swifts” and a grinding machine. The construction works as follows:

Useful advice! Considering that when sharpening on such a device, the angle is controlled visually, it is worth having a drill sample with a full-fledged cutting surface for verification.

Machine for sharpening metal cutters, restoration of circular saws on wood

Milling nozzles can have a wide variety of shapes: cylinder, cone, hemisphere, etc. There are a lot of standard sizes of this cutting tool. That is why sharpening is quite difficult, especially for non-professionals. In order for the result to be positive, that is, the milling cutter has restored its functional abilities after processing, it is worth using a machine for sharpening metal cutters.

Sharpening of milling cutters is a rather complicated process for a beginner

The complexity of restoring the cutting surface of these nozzles is due to two features:

• long enough;
• curved geometry of the shape of the teeth.

As for the last characteristic, there are cutters with pointed and backed teeth. The first have a flat back surface, it is on it that sharpening is carried out. Backed teeth are typical for shaped cutters. The complexity of the samples they perform affects the method of sharpening: it is performed on the inner surfaces of the teeth. It is not recommended to use various devices for sharpening metal cutters.

If we are talking about ring nozzles on wood, then it is worth saying that a thin diamond bar can be used as a homemade grinding machine. It is fixed to the edge of the table, and the milling cutter is found on its surface. It is important to take into account the degree of tool wear in order to correctly select the grain size of the surface of the bar and carry out effective processing.

Disk sharpening machines: designs, methods of operation

Disk sharpening machines belong to a narrowly focused category of sharpening mechanisms. By their design , they can be made as follows:

• the motor and the grinding wheel remain static, only the processed disk moves;
• both the sharpening elements of the installation and the circular saw rotate;
• the motor mechanism and equipment are moved, the sharpened disk remains stationary.

Installations for sharpening discs are narrowly focused products

The latter type includes machines for manual sharpening of discs. The principle of operation of such devices looks like this: a circular saw is fixed, a manual electromechanism is traced along the processed surface of the teeth. The teeth of circular saws can be sharpened according to the following types of angles:

• front;
• rear;
• the bevel of the front and rear parts;
• the sharpness (size) of the front and rear corners.

All of the above characteristics depend on the features of the use of circular saws:

• for longitudinal sawing, an angle of 15-20 ° is required;
• for cross sawing, a front angle of 5-10° is required;
• the universal version of the saw blade has an angle of 15 ° (average value).

Important! The angle of sawing must be taken into account not only when selecting a circular saw for certain purposes. It is also important for the quality of the material used: the denser the structure of the processed product, the smaller the front and rear corners should be.

When sharpening discs, it is necessary to remember about the angle of sawing

Machines for sharpening planing machines: automatic and manual

Planing machines are available in almost every private workshop or in a large production facility where wood processing is carried out. The following facts speak about the need to maintain knives in the right condition:

• when planing the surface with blunt knives, it is covered with lint and may even have significant irregularities;
• the worn cutting edges crumble during operation;
• the use of worn cutting surfaces contributes to the overload of the engine, and this can lead to its premature failure.

Sharpening machines for sharpening knives differ in the method of feeding the latter. The supply of knives can be carried out:

• manually;
• automatically.

Machines with manual feeding have the following design:

• platform-base;
• abrasive element;
• carriage for fixing the processed unit.

Devices for sharpening planing machines are manual and automatic

During the operation of this device, the knife is moved using the handle. Such a device has a small size, it can be placed on any horizontal surface.

Fully automated machines are installed on a cast iron bed, they are large in size and have a fairly diverse set of options. The processing speed and the thickness of the removed layer are set automatically. Such devices can simultaneously handle several knives.

There are automatic machines for sharpening planer knives and household appliances. They are characterized by small size, and also have the ability to set the speed. However, only one tool can be processed at a time.

Features of the use of machines for sharpening band saws

A band saw is a metal strip with teeth on one edge with a closed contour. With the help of this tool, sawing of the material of the most diverse configuration is performed. Naturally, after a certain working cycle, such a saw should restore its potential. The main indicator indicating the need for sharpening is the excessive roughness of the treated surface.

If the band saw leaves roughness, then it’s time to sharpen it

First, the saw is sent to adjust the wiring, that is, to adjust the bending of the teeth in different directions. Depending on the functionality, there are various ways of arranging the cutting elements: wavy wiring, every third tooth remains intact, alternate bending of each element.

After the wiring is completed, the tool is processed on a machine for sharpening saws of this type. The main element of the machines (circles) must correspond to the material from which the band saw is made. Borazone or diamond abrasive is suitable for bimetallic options. For saws made of tool steel, a corundum grinding wheel is quite enough.

Related article:

Knife sharpener with your own hands: how to make an effective device

Why is it needed, which design is better. Diagrams and drawings. Materials used to create an abrasive surface. How to sharpen the blade correctly.

Choose the grinding wheels according to the shape and size of the saw blades. Various machine options can be equipped with the following type of abrasives:

• flat;
• poppet;
• cup;
• profile.

Useful advice! Before sharpening on the machine, the band saw blade should be turned out and left in this state for 8-10 hours. The processing process will be more efficient.

Machines for band saws can be equipped with cup, profile, flat or plate abrasives

Performing sharpening of cutters for a lathe

Turning tools consist of two main elements – the base rod, with which the tool is fixed in the machine, and the head. Metal processing is carried out by an edge formed by the union of the main (rear) and front surfaces. When working with the tool, angles are of paramount importance. There are several of them, in total they amount to 90°.

According to the specifics of the application , the cutters can be divided into the following types:

• boring;
• for carving;
• miter;
• for making grooves, chamfers;
• shaped.

Turning cutters can have removable cutting plates. Such a tool cannot be restored. The rest of the options need constant updating of the cutting surfaces. Processing is carried out on machines for sharpening incisors. Large enterprises most often have permanently installed units and entire divisions of specialists working for them.

At home, it can be a manual version of a sharpener. The incisors are brought to the rotating grinding wheel, the progress of the process is evaluated visually. In this case, it is very important to choose the right abrasive material. For a tool made of carbide materials, green carborundum circles will be needed. And cutters made of high-speed or carbon steel will recover well after sharpening with corundum circles of medium hardness. This method of sharpening, of course, is inferior to processing on electronic machines, but if certain rules are followed, it can be quite effective:

For the manual version of sharpening the cutters, it is important to choose the right abrasive

• during sharpening, the tool should be watered with water at the point of contact with the grinding wheel;
• when sharpening in a dry way, the tool cannot be lowered into water after processing – cracks will appear;
• the pressure on the abrasive wheel during processing should be the same, not strong.

After sharpening, it is necessary to fine-tune the cutters (4 mm from the edge of the cutting part): the carbide tool must be modified with a copper touchstone lubricated with a special paste, other types – a touchstone of medium abrasiveness with the use of kerosene or machine oils.

Algorithm for assembling a grinding machine with your own hands

Many people use devices for sharpening drills extremely rarely. In such situations, subject to the presence of certain elements, it is quite possible to assemble a drill sharpening machine with your own hands. For example, a device for restoring the same circular saws may consist of the following structural parts:

• an electric motor with a shaft on which a grinding nozzle can be installed;
• a table or other type of stand, the upper plane of which will be at the same level with the axis of the abrasive wheel;
• hinges and screws. The first ones will secure the stand on one side, the second (rotating) ones will change the height on the other. A certain slope is formed, which allows angular sharpening of the front and rear planes of the cutting teeth;
• retainers, by means of which the disk in need of sharpening will be fixed on the stand;
  a device with which it will be possible to move an engine or a stand with a disk during operation;
• stops that ensure the strength of the installation.

If you have the opportunity and desire, you can assemble the sharpening machine yourself

The indisputable advantage of making a machine for sharpening with your own hands is not only the price, but also the ability to take into account the technical features of the mechanism as much as possible in accordance with the intended purpose.

Drill Sharpening machines: prices and manufacturers

The company “Diold” is very popular among domestic manufacturers. The price of machines for sharpening drills and knives is quite moderate. For example, the MZS-02 model can be purchased for 2,900 rubles. The device has a powerful collector motor, high RPM. The rational arrangement of the motor and nozzles made it possible to place a cooling element – an impeller – in the housing. The disadvantages of the model include a fairly high noise level and non-standard abrasive wheels.

Sturm machines are also in demand. The company’s head office is located in Germany, production facilities are available in many European countries, as well as in China. There are many inexpensive home models among the products of this manufacturer. In particular, this is the Sturm BG6010S machine. The device has a medium-power engine that fully satisfies household needs. It is possible to set the sharpening angle. The price of the device is 2300 rubles.

Useful advice! Before you start making a homemade grinding machine, it is worth calculating the costs and evaluating the expected result. It may be much more economical to purchase an inexpensive model.

The machine of domestic production of the company “Diold” can be purchased for 2.9 thousand rubles

Among the machines for sharpening circular saws, the JMY8-70 variant can be distinguished. The tool is made in China, but it should be attributed to fairly high-quality and functional models. The case is made of durable steel. Diamond abrasive disc, the most actively used diameter is 125 mm, the rotation speed is 2850 rpm. The saw holder has an inclined position, which allows for angular sharpening.

Drill sharpening machine: user reviews and opinions

To a large extent, reviews are subjective opinions. What is considered acceptable and even very convenient for one user may turn out to be the perfect opposite for another. But the same advantages or disadvantages mentioned in several reviews indicate a certain quality.

A few opinions about the drill sharpener Sturm BG6017S:

“Assembled perfectly, no backlash anywhere. The noise is average. Simple, clear, but only for home, there are few functions. Sharpens drills with a size of 4 mm. The manufacturer does not offer consumables in stock, then you get it yourself. Worth the price.”

Ivan, Kislovodsk

“I sharpened it manually for a long time, then I bought such a machine. So what?.. I’m doing better. A mechanism for complete incompetents.”

Evgeny, Irkutsk

The TRIOD UTG-220 machine has a lot of positive feedback from users

“… the stone is non-standard, I barely found a similar one. The mechanism for the “four…”

Sergey, Kursk

Opinions about the TRIOD UTG-220 123015 milling cutter sharpening machine are more positive:

“Installed in a private workshop. Serves three milling machines. He works 12 hours a day almost without breaks, except weekends. With such a load, we change the bowl 1 time in 2 months. Absolutely satisfied. Steady, powerful, performs sharpening perfectly.”

Vlad, Zelenogorsk

“I didn’t expect such high quality from a device with a low price. The instructions are detailed, I did not turn to anyone’s help. I have been working for the second month, so far there are no problems. The speed is high, the disk is fixed securely. It’s just a little dusty.”

Alexander, Serpukhov

Sturm BG6017S users note the build quality and ease of use

Drill sharpening machine: how to choose the right one

When choosing a sharpener for drills on metal, wood and other materials, it is worth focusing on three main indicators:

• ergonomics of the device;
• build quality;
• options.

As for ergonomics, it is necessary to understand how convenient and safe it will be to use: performing processing directly, replacing grinding wheels, moving the machine, etc.

The build quality should be perfect. In the process of work, all the shortcomings of such a plan will negatively affect the quality of sharpening. Vibration (it is inevitable for machines of this purpose) in combination with backlash will significantly aggravate the deviation of the trajectory of moving parts.

The presence of some options will greatly simplify the use of the machine and allow you to perform the correct sharpening. Therefore, it is worth choosing the following models:

When buying a sharpening machine, you need to pay attention to its functionality, build quality and ergonomics

• with the presence of illumination of the working area;
• having the function of adjusting the number of revolutions;
• with the possibility of using the inclined position of the stand or the processed elements to perform angular sharpening;
• provided with a water tank used for cooling;
• with a set of abrasive wheels of different grain sizes.

Useful advice! For home use, it is worth purchasing machine tool designs, where the body is made of durable but lightweight material. This greatly simplifies the process of moving the tool.

Tool sharpening is a process that accompanies the main activity. The installation of the machine can not take much time, and the processing of cutting surfaces should be clear and accessible. A properly selected tool will allow you to fulfill the above requirements. And then the work will really be a joy.