In short, never over-speed a grinding wheel. The speed of the grinder must be compared to the speed marked on the wheel or package to make sure the machine''s speed is at or below the maximum operating speed of the wheel. Surpassing this rating risks not just wheel breakage but airpowereddasander also the safety of shop personnel. About the author: Roger Cloutier is a senior product safety engineer for the Norton Abrasives brand of Saint-Gobain Abrasives airpowereddasander and airpowereddasander in Worcester, Massachusetts.

The hazard of running man over-speed condition comes airpowereddasander from centrifugal force. A result of rotary motion, centrifugal force airpowereddasander is what causes a weight on the end of a string to pull the string airpowereddasander taught when the weight is swung in a circle. This same force causes the mass of the grinding wheel to be pulled outward from the center of rotation as the wheel is spinning.

One potential source of serious injury in grinding comes from an oversight that is easy to make: operating the wheel in an over-speed condition. While a wheel that is run far enough in excess airpowereddasander of its rated maximum speed may shatter within minutes of operation, danger may also result from a wheel run just slightly faster than its rated speed. This less severe over-speed condition can cause the wheel to be damaged, and the damage may result in breakage after further use. For example, operating a reinforced, 9-inch diameter, Type 27 wheel rated for a maximum speed of 6,600 rpm on a 7-inch angle grinder with a speed of 7,700 rpm can cause the wheel to crack. This cracking can lead to breakage later. Any of these actions sets up a disastrous scenario that could lead to an accident involving serious injury or death.

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