Choosing a machine can be complicated. From floor space issues to getting everyone up to speed and able to use it successfully. Then there are the details such as how much is it? And when can I have it on the floor. There are an untold number of people selling finishing machines and it can be tough to sort through them. You want a machine that will do the job and not be out of service every time you turn around. This is where you can help yourself by weeding through the different avenues available to you.

My grandfather used to look at newer cars and say that they were too complicated. He was looking at the car as it would be in a few years when it would need repair. He was not afraid of the new technology but rather what problems it would bring later. Other than, the robot overlords taking over the world part, the rest of his argument made sense. Just because you can get a new anything with all kinds of add-ons and upgrades does not mean you should. If you get that new machine can your current staff operate and service it? If you need to bring in an outside factory tech for every little thing that goes wrong, the cost will certainly pile up over time. Keeping points like this in mind are important, as they are part of the big picture and the machine's True cost. It may not be an upfront cost but you are going to pay for it one way or the other.

In an effort to to provide more and better information on the Loewer machines I will be putting together more video content. The hope is to provide a repository of information to help you with a machine you have or one you are looking to purchase. These will range from a basic walk around to single topics in more depth. I will do my best to get content produced and uploaded on a consistent basis and add to it topics presented as areas of interest. So if you have ideas for content you think would be helpful please feel free to share your suggestions. The videos will be on our website as well as Youtube to make it easier to find where you may be looking for it. So feel free to post comments or to let me know what you would like to see covered.

As is always the case looking for ways to save money often leads to looking at many different paths. It can be the time invested in a process to vendor supplies and services. One area to look at that often hides savings is finishing.

Why do belt sanders use more energy than disc sanders? Read on to learn more. 

We’ve staked our claim to fame on our incredibly low operating costs, and in all of our cost of operation worksheets we discuss how much more expensive wide belt grinding machines are to run when compared to a Loewer DiscMaster.  It’s worth understanding how the machinery works and why conventional machinery uses so much more electricity.

There are three primary factors that contribute to energy consumption; Mechanical friction from moving parts like chains, rollers, wheels, bearings and belts; friction between the abrasive belt and the part surface; and heat generated through the manipulation of the belt (which can be significant in some instances).  Larger machines with more bearing surfaces and heavier parts create more mechanical friction.

Once again, we’re going to turn things over to AM Machinery Sales President Tony McCue, who recently took time out of his schedule to talk about developments in deburring equipment technology.

As Tony notes at the start of the video clip below, there have been numerous changes in in deburring/finishing technology for the sheet metal industry.

Much of the clip is spent on deburring and finishing, and the Loewer DiscMaster machine. The discs in this machine have the same basic concept as the contact drum in other machines, but are designed to ride up over a part for better abrasive coverage.

In this week’s blog post, we’re going to turn things over to AM Machinery Sales President Tony McCue, who recently took the time to make this video on small part deburring.