Selecting Treated Cloth and Fabric for Buffing Wheels

Treated Fabric Types For Buffing Wheels

Orange, blue and yellow treated fabric are used in polishing wheels for different levels of aggressiveness and finish quality. The colour indicates the resin treatment level and the resulting wheel stiffness.

Treated fabric has resin applied to the fibres to reduce fraying during forming and to maintain shape under pressure. The resin also affects how the wheel cuts into the workpiece and how long it lasts before wearing down.

Sisal cloth is used for heavy-duty polishing, especially in metal finishing and cookware tableware lines. It is more abrasive than treated fabric and holds up under high pressure and heat.

Poplin cotton fabric is used in airway buffing wheels where a softer, more flexible surface is needed. It is less aggressive than sisal and ideal for fine finishing on delicate surfaces.

Why Fabric Must Be Cut On The Bias

Cutting fabric on the bias ensures that the fibres stretch and fold evenly around the metal centre during forming. Straight cut material does not fold uniformly and results in uneven ply spacing.

Uneven ply spacing causes soft spots in the wheel, which lead to inconsistent polishing and early wear. The bias cut allows the plies to conform to the wheel shape without creasing or bunching.

The CRA-500 bias fabric cutting slitting and rolling machine is designed to cut the cloth at a 45-degree angle to the grain, then wind it into a roll ready for the forming machine.

Preparing The Fabric Roll

The CRA-500 machine cuts the fabric on the bias and winds it into a roll that feeds directly into the forming machine. It handles widths from 100 mm to 1200 mm and can process up to 100 meters per hour.

The roll must be wound tightly and evenly to prevent slack during forming. Loose rolls cause misalignment and ply gaps in the finished wheel.

For sisal cloth, the same machine can be adjusted to handle the thicker, stiffer material. The blade angle and tension are set to prevent tearing during the cut.

Cutting Sisal Cloth In Stacks

For high volume production, sisal cloth is cut in stacks using the XLJP3-350 four column hydraulic press. It can cut up to 10 layers at once, with a maximum stack height of 50 mm.

The hydraulic press applies even pressure across the entire cutting surface, ensuring clean, straight cuts. The blade is adjustable for different thicknesses and fibre density.

After cutting, the stack is separated and rolled for use in forming machines. This method reduces material waste and speeds up the prep process.