Making Chips Count

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Who would have thought that an abrasive grinding wheel can be used in the production of chips? This is particularly pertaining to chips made from corn. The history behind milling corn to maize goes back many centuries, where ordinary stones where used. One being stationary and the other stone on top being rotated by hand to grind or mill the corn into maize. As demand for maize products grew more and more, millhouses became very popular and the milling stones utilized grew in size, the principal stayed the same by having one stationary stone (bed stone) and the other one rotated (runner stone) driven by livestock, windmills or electrical motors.

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Producing chips from corn uses the same principle to grind or mill the corn to a finer powder. The famous tortilla style chips start with cooking the corn kernels in water with the addition of limestone to soften the husk from the corn. The cooked corn is then fed into a perforated rotating spinning drum to loosen the husk which is then washed away by using high water pressure, exposing the softer inside. Ready to be fed to the milling process, a screw is used, where it will be fed in between grinding stones to be milled. The millstones are used in pairs one being stationary called the “bed stone” and the other rotates called the “runner stone”, the rotating stone does the actual grinding or milling of the corn. These stones have a special design to it, and is made from fused aluminum oxide with grit sizes ranging from 46 – 120 depending on the required texture, in a vitrified bond. The special design relates to the concave inner part, which has deep grooves called the furrow coming up onto flat areas called lands, out to the outer edges where the actual grinding will take place with smaller grooves called feathering or cracking. The two stones are set to a specific thickness depending on the consistency required. As the corn is fed through the bed stone the inner grooves feed the corn to the outer side of the wheel with the smaller grooves, and as the runner wheel spins, the corn is then ground into Corn Massa (Spanish for dough). Now it is ready to go further down the production line to form the end product.

These types of stones are also used to grind, chocolate, coffee, cork, mustard, paint, snuff and sugar cane etc.

Grinding Techniques, a Tyrolit company and proudly South African manufacturer is a key supplier of ANDOR grinding wheels to the milling industry. We offer local manufactured products as well as imported Tyrolit wheels. Size, specification and configurations can be customized according to customer specific requirements.

Dedicated support personnel are ready and available to provide you with all the support and advise required to make your chips count!

For more information contact us: 011 271 6400 | info@grindtech.com | www.grindtech.com.

Grinding Techniques, Your Coated Partner for Brilliant Metal Surfaces

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Industrial applications require a high degree of specialization. Grinding Techniques offers you Pearl grinding abrasive products from Starcke – the exact tool for your grinding needs.

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With these products a perfect surface and optimal product life can be assured. You can rely on Starcke Coated Abrasives as it carries the “Made in Germany” quality mark.

The Pearl grinding product range obtains its uniqueness from the mineral (grain) used to perform the cutting action. Granulated abrasive grains are pearl shaped that ensure consistent surface quality and removal rates. This abrasive technology is also known as agglomerate abrasives. Agglomerate abrasives is a combination of several identically sized abrasive grains that are shaped into a larger granulate using a resin before being spread onto a backing. Synthesized like this these abrasive granules form a firm bond that are attached to a material backing.

There are a few main advantages one can benefit from using the Pearl coated abrasive products. Very consistent surface finish is ensured; abrasive minerals go through a self-sharpening process throughout its life cycle, thus having continuous and uniform sharp edges exposed. Stock removal rates are higher than with conventional abrasive grains and longer longevity in the product life ensures perfect results whilst saving costs and time.

The Pearl range is well suited for the repair of coils and plates in a rolling mill. Pearl products also display their high performance in applications involving the use of water, emulsion and oil. With its high bond hardness, Pearl abrasives have the ideal application characteristics for edge grinding of flat rolled steel materials. Due to its uniform surface grinding characteristics they are perfect to produce a polished or matt surface finish.

Our Pearl offering is also suited for centerless grinding of tubes, bars and cylinders with a bonding system that is optimally suited for wet and dry grinding machine applications. With its regenerative concept, consisting of granulated abrasive grains and bonding system, the Pearl product offering guarantees a consistently uniform wire surface finish. This ensures perfect removal of mill scales from the wire and a uniform feed of the wire material throughout the product’s useful life, significantly reducing wear of the drawing plate.

Contact one of our Product Specialists at Grinding Techniques for a Pearl grinding solution to benefit from a product with longevity whilst maintaining a consistent stock removal and a consistent scratch depth and workpiece surface.

For more information contact us: 011 271 6400 | info@grindtech.com | www.grindtech.com.

Must have abrasives for your toolbox

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Any DIY enthusiast will inevitably need to cut, grind or sand something. A selection of abrasives is a must have in your toolbox for any DIY project. The market offers an extensive variety of abrasive products to suit various applications ranging from sanding to cutting and grinding at home.

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A broad range of cutting-and-grinding discs suited to many applications are available in different sizes and specifications. As discs are manufactured for both ferrous and non-ferrous materials, care should be taken when choosing the correct disc for an intended application and the information displayed on the disc label should be taken into account.
Apart from conventional cutting-and-grinding discs, some manufacturers carry a special purpose cutting-and-grinding disc range suited for specialised applications like radius cutting or cut-and-grind applications.

Most cutting-and-grinding discs are available in different sizes to fit both the 115-and-230mm standard diameter angle grinders. When choosing a quality disc, look out for a brand that offers fast and smooth cuts with high stock removal, durability and longevity.

Discs, rolls and paper all form part of coated abrasives and are used in numerous different applications. Whether you are sanding by hand to smooth down a surface or using a powerful belt sander or right-angle grinder to remove large amounts of material or shape a piece of wood within seconds, there are various products available to get the job done quick and effortlessly.
When choosing the correct sanding paper, you need to evaluate the intended application first. Cabinet paper more commonly known as “Wood Sanding or Garnet Sheets” is known as a cost-effective product that provides a fast cutting action and uniform quality finish on woodworking applications, and is ideal for sanding wood surfaces treated with primer, sealer, lacquer, paint and other liquid coatings and finishes. Waterproof paper sheets more commonly known as “Wet or Dry or Water Paper Sheets on the other hand, offer a bit more longevity, faster cut rate and a consistent finish with popular applications like light duty metal sanding, defect removal from paint surfaces, sanding of composites and fiberglass, as well as filler sanding, sanding between sealers and coats of paint or varnish.

Floor sanding rolls or 300mm X 1m rolls, is an economical product with great versatility for a variety of general-purpose applications and offer a heavy-duty backing that ensures fast cutting action – ideal for hand sanding, paint and rust removal. Handy rolls more commonly known as “Economy or Emery rolls” come with a flexible cloth backed material best suited for scouring, deburring, breaking edges and the removal of rust and scale from metals. All available in various grit sizes and 25, 40 and 50mm widths to make the choice for your application easier.
Abrasive discs are another product considered as an essential abrasive for your toolbox. Velcro backed sanding discs or sheets are used with power sanders and allow for a 40% to 50% faster cut rate with a more consistent and uniform scratch pattern than other conventional abrasives. Typical applications would include sanding wood and paint removal. Fiber discs, also used on power sanders are used for high stock removal and require a suitable back up pad.

Flap discs are bolted directly onto a right-angle grinder offering both high stock removal and sanding applications. With flap discs available in different grit sizes and specifications, they have become a popular alternative to conventional resin Fiber discs.

Whatever abrasive product you choose for your toolbox, you are sure to find a vast selection of options at your nearest retailer.

Article courtesy of Grinding Techniques: 011 271 6400 | info@grindtech.com | www.grindtech.com.