Problem Type: Equipment
Workspace:
Asset: Belt Sander - Large 36" Powermatic
Summary: Recalibration
Additional Info: Needs recalibration. If facing the in-feed side. The left is still a bit higher than the right. This requires running pieces twice and dealing with imprecise levels on the sides.
Report generated from a filing. This report has also been sent to Asmbly staff, leadership, and space leads with any contact info that was provided. Provide additional photos or resources here to help. When the problem is resolved, ensure it is marked.
Well, the table has never been “perfect.” You have to consider the age of the equipment. Coupled that the feed rollers are covered with some kind of resin in some areas. To make that kind of adjustment is tedious and could be lengthy. It may very well need parts that are hard to get. Last time Jeff McAdams and myself checked it, the misalignment was not noticeable. The miss-adjustment is not something that happens with normal operation. Someone has to actually move the table up or down. Having said that, I’ll check it out next time I’m in. Now reality is that is a maker space, used by all skill levels. If you expect jeweler precision on the equipment, I’m sorry to disappoint you. Unless you take the time to do it yourself, more than likely all the machines are off thousands of an inch. Other variables (I’m not saying is you) could be technique, taking too much in one pass can give an uneven surface. Did you have a parallel surface to start out? Could be not the table but the tension on the belt is uneven. Could be the machine is not oscillating. Sometimes is best to adapt to the machine and make it work for you. Often it does take additional time and maybe even waste of materials. Do thank you for reporting it and not red tagging the equipment.
I’ve noticed some unevenness on it as well. A little over a year ago, I spent some time checking it and I made an adjustment then. At that point it was pretty close, or at least close enough that the misalignment wasn’t really noticeable in normal use and it still wasn’t noticeable when Jose and I performed maintenance on it last
I agree with everything Jose said. Dialing in that machine is not a quick “turn one knob and it’s fixed” kind of job. It takes time, patience, test passes, measuring, more adjustments, and checking whether the issue is actually the table, pressure bars, tension, or something else.
I’ll take a look at it as well next time I’m in. Since you’re seeing it and brought it up, it would probably be worth helping with the process if you’re available. It’s a good way to understand what’s actually going on with the machine, and it may take more than one person and more than a few test pieces to get it meaningfully better.