REEL GRINDING BASICS When you make the effort to grind, there are three objectives to make it LIKE NEW REMOVE TAPER RELIEF GRIND To the Reel Manufacturer Specifications
REEL GRINDING BASICS Making the Most of Your Investments We d suggest grinding before all the relief is gone, because grinding as a preventive maintenance practice will not only keep units performing at their best, but will lengthen the life of your investments
REEL GRINDING BASICS You Spin Grind to produce a sharp edge, but it s only 1/3 of the process OBJECTIVE #1 1) All spin grinders produce the same results from the Spin Grind process 2) Spin speed plays an important role in the quality of the grind as the hardness, diameter, and blade count will dictate an optimum spin speed for each reel type.
REEL GRINDING BASICS REEL DIAMETER & ROTATION REEL BLADE PATH GRINDING WHEEL ROTATION STONE CONTACT WITH THE REEL BLADE As the reel rotates in the spin process, the back of the blade hits the stone first and peels metal toward the front edge, creating a burr. This impact generates slight deviation from the front cutting edge to the back of the blade, and will typically range from.006 to.009, which wears very quickly. There is an optimum spin speed for every reel where the operator can aggressively grind, yet get a smooth grind. 4
REEL GRINDING BASICS While everyone spin grinds with equal results, there can be a difference in the outcome OBJECTIVE #2 REMOVE TAPER Cylinder vs Cone 1) Today s technology of gauging makes alignment easier, and the quality control step to remove taper or cone-shape faster than ever. 2) Pi tapes and other tools should be used if you re unable to align the stone to the reel shaft prior to grinding.
GRINDER TO REEL ALIGNMENT Reel Manufacturer Quality Control: Removing Taper in Reels To cylindrically grind the reel, the reel must be accurately aligned in both a HORIZONTAL and VERTICAL plane... OR, you can align the reel shaft on a horizontal plane, measure taper, and effectively compensate for taper by infeeding the larger side more accordingly 6
SPIN GRINDING Taper Removal 1) Two-Thirds of the Reel Manufacturers GRINDING OBJECTIVES can be accomplished through the spin grind process. 2) Varying blade paths on each end of the reel, twisting of the bedknife, taking rollers out of parallel, and putting undue stress on the frame of the reel can all be avoided by removing the taper. 3) In the big scheme of looking at what s providing the cut quality and doing all the work, removing taper will ultimately make the most of your $25,000 to $50,000 cutting unit investment!
REEL GRINDING BASICS The relief systems used today make the Reel Manufacturers grind easier than ever OBJECTIVE #3 RELIEF GRIND Final step to OEM Spec 1) The auto-index relief features that are built into the spin/relief grinders allows the operator to do something else while the machine does the work. 2) If there isn t relief capability designed into the grinder, there are manual methods to relief grind in the field. This is the last step in returning the reel to LIKE NEW condition
Owners, Board Members, and Superintendents Food for Thought There is a direct relationship of having dull versus sharp reels and the overall health of the turf. If you are trying to stretch your dollars on water and chemicals, and you re trying to raise the aesthetic standards at your course, cut quality makes a difference. A cleaner cut on the grass tissue reduces the water moisture needed to keep it healthy. While this makes water usage more effective, the diminished level of plant damage and stress also makes chemical applications more effective. These two benefits are not alone, in that proper grinding practices will ultimately reduce the money you spend on fuel, will reduce the labor needed to keep the equipment running, will reduce costs of parts, and can increase the overall life of your cutting equipment investment. 9
Owners, Board Members, and Superintendents Food for Thought Most courses will own between $250,000 to $500,000 of cutting equipment. Investing in the one tool that will recondition this investment is a wise one. Grinders are a long-term purchase, so when making decisions, keep in mind this is the tool you ll use for the next 10, 15, to 20 years UPGRADING TO NEWER TECHNOLOGY If using manual machines, understanding the value that a spin grinder can add to productivity will ultimately allow for more frequent grinding practices and free up the technician, allowing them to perform other tasks while the machine does the work. The auto-index relief systems that are now available on Spin/Relief grinders and in-feed automation reduce the labor involved in what was once a very time consuming process. 10
Establish a Preventive Maintenance Program That Could Include All Facets of Reel Maintenance o Spin grind to remove taper o Relief grind to OEM Specs o Backlap early on while the land area of the reel blade is minimal o Conduct touch-up spin grinds if wanted & relief every 2nd/3rd grind o Face the bedknife in conjunction with lapping or grinding. There s been the Reel Manufacturers approach to grinding and an alternative spin-only approach. With today s grinder technology, there s no reason to limit yourself to one particular practice, as quality control and speed combine for options that weren t available in the past. There are reasons courses are opting for grinders that do more than just spin grind, and Foley United s Accu-Series is the reason why. Time may not always permit reconditioning the reels to specs, but minimizing potential for issues should always be part of the plan. If you approach grinding as a re-conditioning preventive maintenance practice, a well thought out schedule will allow for an efficient grinding program that keeps you on top of the reel performance, and will keep them functioning at their best. 11