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Grinding Wheels - 9: Safety
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| WARNING: Machine tools present a safety hazard. Improper operation can result in severe injury. These topics are for non-laboratory study only and are not to be used in conjunction with the operation of any tool or machine described herein. Never use a machine tool without the supervision of a qualified instructor. | |||||||||
| There are several safety issues that a machinist needs to be concerned with when dealing with grinding wheels. Mainly, grinding wheels can crack. Most machines have safety guards to deal with this problem, but keep in mind that a shattered wheel can injure the machinist as well as the people working nearby. Various conditions can create this problem such as excessive depth of cut, poorly balanced wheels, damaged wheels, or improper assembly on the machine. It is best to keep grinding wheels stored in an area that is dry and enclosed to avoid object or liquid contact with the wheels. It is also a good idea to conduct a ring test on a grinding wheel prior to using it. A ring test can |
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locate an invisible crack. To perform this test let the inside diameter of the wheel rest on one finger of your hand and then gently tap the wheel with the plastic handle of a screw driver or wooden handle of a hammer. If you hear a clear metallic ring, the wheel is probably in good shape. If the wheel is cracked the ring will be somewhat dull and muffled