What Is The Difference Between An Angle Grinder And A Grinder

Angle grinder and grinder: how are they different?
What is the difference between an angle grinder and a grinder. The main functions of the angle grinder. Types and purpose of grinders.

Angle grinder and grinder: how are they different?

Construction and repair work is not complete without cutting, cleaning and grinding various surfaces: metal, wood, stone. Therefore, you cannot do without a quality angle grinder or grinder. Angle Grinder. The colloquial name for an electric tool, the main purpose of which is the abrasive processing of metal, as well as other materials. Today, such a tool is widely used for cutting metal, stone and wood, as well as for processing various building materials, including brick and concrete. Another name for the instrument. Angle grinder. The name familiar to everyone “Angle Grinder” appeared due to the fact that the first samples of an angle grinder appeared in the Soviet Union only in the 70s and they were produced in Bulgaria. The tool has a cylindrical body, attachment and side handle.

Special Features Angle Grinder

The range of grinders is quite large and, in terms of engine power, they are divided into household and professional ones. The former have low power, simplified functions, and shorter runtime. For home renovation and construction, a great option. The latter are distinguished by greater performance and power. The professional angle grinder is equipped with a spindle speed control and can work for a long time without shutdown. Households are equipped with a handle and have a power of 1.5 kW.

what is the difference between an angle grinder and a grinder

Manufacturers equip an angle grinder with various useful functions:

  • Balancing, which stabilizes vibration, preventing the disc from beating against the treated surface;
  • Control of the number of revolutions of the disk;
  • Speed control;
  • Soft start. It is convenient to work with such devices. They start at low revs and gradually gain power;
  • Automatic shutdown of brushes if an electrical failure occurs.

The angle grinder is equipped with an angle gear, brushes (cutting, roughing, brushing, dish, cup) or discs of different sizes. Suitable for working with an angle grinder are diamond cut-off wheels, which can be used to work on granite, concrete and asphalt, as well as abrasive cut-off wheels, which have proven themselves well when cutting ceramics, stone, metal, slate.

Features of the grinder

If it is necessary to sand the material in places where a regular angle grinder cannot reach, it is recommended to use a straight grinder. This is a type of electric tool designed for polishing metal, plastic or wood surfaces. There are many types of grinders on the market, most of them are equipped with a vacuum cleaner that collects shavings, sawdust and other waste.

The following types of grinders are on sale:

  • Tape. Good option for polishing large surfaces. Grinding is carried out unidirectionally using a belt located on rollers. Can be used instead of a plane;
  • Vibration or surface grinding. Has a flat sole, is equipped with a vacuum cleaner, suitable for grinding wood, plastic, metal;
  • Eccentric or orbital. The outsole resembles a circle, used for working with curved and convex surfaces;
  • Polishing, which is used to polish painted and metal surfaces;
  • Brush. During grinding it rotates on its axis.

As you can see, the angle grinder and the grinder have similar functions. Are used for polishing, grinding and cutting various building materials. But an angle grinder is best used for cutting metals, while a grinder is suitable for cleaning and polishing surfaces.

Types of grinders

Belt sander. It is a tool where the surface is sanded unidirectionally, using a sanding belt, which is located on the rollers provided for rotation. This type of tool is suitable for polishing large surfaces.

Belt sander

Vibration sander. This type of machine is also called a surface grinder. It is a flat-bottomed instrument, hence the name. The surface is sanded by reciprocating movements of the sandpaper. It is this action that is vibrational in nature. This type of machine also has vacuum cleaners for collecting construction dust.

Vibration sander

For work on ledges and in corners there is another type of vibration-type machines, this is a delta sander. The sole of this type of tool has a triangular shape, which allows you to work in hard-to-reach places.

Eccentric sander. This variety is commonly called the orbital. The name, again, was formed by the appearance of the sanding sole. It resembles an orbit or, more simply, a circle.

Eccentric sander

Angle grinder. This type of machine rotates around its axis. In addition to grinding, the angle grinder can cut metal, concrete and other materials.

Angle grinder

Polishing sander. The function of this tool is to polish metal and painted surfaces.

Polishing sander

Brush sander. The brush functions as a grinder, rotating along its axis.

Brush sander

Popular functions of angle grinder

  1. Function “Soft start”. Devices that have this function are very convenient to use, due to the fact that the device starts working at lower speeds, gradually gaining power.
  2. Balancing. This feature is present only on the highest quality models.
  3. The very shutdown of the brushes. This function is also present only on high quality devices. The brushes themselves automatically turn off in the event of a power outage.

Angle grinder in action

How to choose a sander?

Before proceeding with the purchase, you need to decide what specific device you need and what functions it should perform. The tape machine is designed to work instead of a planer. That is, the work of the tool is a rough roughing of paint and leveling the surface. For vibration, work on wood, plastic and metal is more common. Such a machine produces high-quality cleaning and polishing of the material. The orbital sander is designed to work with convex and curved surfaces. Thus, before purchasing this kind of tool, it is important to decide on what surface you will work on and what requirements the electrical appliance should meet.

Which angle grinder is better: Bosch or Makita

An angle grinder, as a cutting and grinding tool, is relevant for any repair, both home and professional. The device is universal. It all depends on which angle grinder to use in terms of power, and which attachment to install on it. They buy it not for one-time use, but for many years of service. In order not to get into a mess when choosing and not to get a cheap toy that breaks after several times of use, special attention should be paid to the manufacturer.

Today in Ukraine the most popular manufacturers of grinders are Bosch and Makita. Their tools are durable, practical to work with. Both companies are actively working to improve their technology. Thanks to the introduction of various technical innovations, the buyer receives not only a reliable angle grinder for work, but also great additional functions.

Which angle grinder is better, Bosch or Makita, is an ambiguous question, because both of these brands are winners of all kinds of ratings and trendsetters in the Ukrainian technology market. In short, for long-term loads and professional work, we recommend Bosch angle grinders, and for home use you will not find a better machine than the small and functional Japanese Makita. Buying a Makita angle grinder means getting an excellent helper for both home and professional repairs and construction projects.

Makita. About the brand and benefits

The Japanese brand Makita is known not only for quality technology, but also for constant innovation. There is no better technology in the world today than Japanese ones. The bright red Makita logo on the angle grinder indicates that it will function perfectly and will clearly provide comfortable operation. Japanese materials are known to be of high quality, factory assembly, strictly controlled. The service life is long, and the reliability has been proven by many decades of operation of Japanese devices, including angle grinders.

The assortment should be noted separately. Although we said at the beginning of the article which angle grinder is more suitable for the home, the brand’s catalog contains models for both domestic use and complex professional tasks. For household work, they are taken more for the simple reason that most angle grinders are compact in size, light in weight, and low in noise. And with a light and quiet machine, you can work for a long time and not get tired.

Among Makita grinders you can choose:

  • Powerful networked machines for cutting metal, for grinding various surfaces. They are relevant for work indoors, or close to home. The power is excellent, but there is a network cable binding to the outlet.
  • Small battery models. They are good because they are always ready to work anywhere, you just need to monitor the battery charge.

The design includes one-hand angle grinder and two-hand angle grinders.

A very generous arsenal of electronic functions is also pleasing:

  • Adjustment of the spindle rotation speed, depending on what material is being processed;
  • Smooth start (no jerk at the start);
  • Support of constant speed (the engine does not stall under load).

Japanese angle grinders are safe to use because they are equipped with:

  • Anti-jamming protection;
  • Lock button against accidental activation;
  • Spindle blocking when changing an accessory.

The more electronic “lotions” in the device, the higher its price, but it is a pleasure to work with such an angle grinder. But, to the credit of Makita, it should be noted that even the cheapest of their models are very ergonomic, with well-thought-out algorithms for protecting against injuries, and very functional.

Bosch. Angle grinder that meets European standards 100%

Bosch is a renowned German manufacturer. It is one of those companies that introduced the so-called “excellent German quality” technology to the world. The Bosch angle grinder fully meets the world idea of ​​the meticulousness and scrupulousness of the Germans. Their assembly is perfect, everything is taken into account down to the smallest wiring and screw, everything works and is designed for a long service life.

Among the developments there are expensive models that allow you to perform work with the highest comfort and very high quality. There are also budget angle grinders, with a smaller set of additional functions, for example, without a speed controller. Such a machine works at only one rotation speed. The maximum, but all its other indicators (power, durability) are at the highest level. It turns out that you can save money and buy an excellent professional device with good technical characteristics for a low price. Over, the inconvenience from the lack of a speed regulator arises only when grinding or when cutting very thin sheets of metal. And you can install it yourself.

The main advantages of Bosch grinders:

  1. Diverse price range. There is how to choose both very expensive and very cheap practical models, without electronic “bells and whistles”;
  2. High quality materials and workmanship that meets European standards;
  3. Effective security systems and protection mechanisms;
  4. The functionality and power of solid professional tools.

Makita GA9020 Angle Grinder

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Description Angle Grinder Makita GA9020

Angle grinder Makita GA9020 It is convenient to operate, features increased reliability and is powered by a high output engine for greater productivity. The labyrinth design prevents engine clogging, and the side handle can be fitted to either side of the tool for maximum ease of use. The Makita GA9020 angle grinder is suitable for welders, bricklayers, builders, as well as specialists in a variety of repair work.

Features:

  • Advanced dustproof design
  • Zig-zag armature coating and powder-coated stator insulation allow the machine to operate in extreme conditions
  • Labyrinth seal to protect ball bearings from aggressive abrasive dust
  • Powder metallurgical gears for long service life
  • Gearbox housing with large rubber pad can be installed in 4 different positions with 90º rotation
  • Side handle with vibration damping available as a spare part

Angle grinder Makita GA9020 with a motor power of 2200 W, it is specially designed for active use. A robust design with a powerful motor, two-stage switch and other additional features ensures that any task presented to the angle grinder Makita GA9020, will be done efficiently and without any problems. Angle grinder Makita GA9020 Worthy of the attention of any user who needs an angle grinder, be it an amateur or a professional user.

Angle grinder Makita GA9020 works with a power of 2200 W and makes 6600 revolutions per minute. This is more than enough for any standard angle grinder task. When used with a diamond cut-off wheel, the Makita GA9020 angle grinder can be used to cut any material, including paving slabs. Angle grinder Makita GA9020 Allows the operator to use 230 mm discs, enabling the operator to tackle even the most challenging tasks quickly and efficiently.

Additional handle of angle grinder Makita GA9020 It can be set in three different positions: left, right or front, and the main rear handle of the angle grinder has a soft cover for a more comfortable and secure grip for the user. The Makita GA9020 angle grinder has an improved cooling system, which means that this grinder can be used for a longer time, performing particularly difficult cutting and grinding tasks without fear of overheating of the tool. This angle grinder weighs 4.7 kilograms, which is a fairly light weight for a grinder of this class.

Angle grinder Makita GA9020 is an excellent choice for any professional looking for an angle grinder capable of cutting, grinding and pre-processing a variety of materials. Angle grinder Makita GA9020 will cope with cutting any material, while you do not need to worry about dust entering the tool, which occurs when performing particularly difficult work, since the engine of the angle grinder is reliably protected from dust penetration thanks to a special labyrinth design.

You may also be interested in

Makita GA9020 Angle Grinder

Description Angle Grinder Makita GA9020

Angle grinder Makita GA9020 It is convenient to operate, features increased reliability and is powered by a high output engine for greater productivity. The labyrinth design prevents engine clogging, and the side handle can be fitted to either side of the tool for maximum ease of use. The Makita GA9020 angle grinder is suitable for welders, bricklayers, builders, as well as specialists in a variety of repair work.

Features:

  • Advanced dustproof design
  • Zig-zag armature coating and powder-coated stator insulation allow the machine to operate in extreme conditions
  • Labyrinth seal to protect ball bearings from aggressive abrasive dust
  • Powder metallurgical gears for long service life
  • Gearbox housing with large rubber pad can be installed in 4 different positions with 90º rotation
  • Side handle with vibration damping available as a spare part

Angle grinder Makita GA9020 with a motor power of 2200 W, it is specially designed for active use. A robust design with a powerful motor, two-stage switch and other additional features ensures that any task presented to the angle grinder Makita GA9020, will be done efficiently and without any problems. Angle grinder Makita GA9020 Worthy of the attention of any user who needs an angle grinder, be it an amateur or a professional user.

Angle grinder Makita GA9020 works with a power of 2200 W and makes 6600 revolutions per minute. This is more than enough for any standard angle grinder task. When used with a diamond cut-off wheel, the Makita GA9020 angle grinder can be used to cut any material, including paving slabs. Angle grinder Makita GA9020 Allows the operator to use 230 mm discs, enabling the operator to tackle even the most challenging tasks quickly and efficiently.

Additional handle of angle grinder Makita GA9020 It can be set in three different positions: left, right or front, and the main rear handle of the angle grinder has a soft cover for a more comfortable and secure grip for the user. The Makita GA9020 angle grinder has an improved cooling system, which means that this grinder can be used for a longer time, performing particularly difficult cutting and grinding tasks without fear of overheating of the tool. This angle grinder weighs 4.7 kilograms, which is a fairly light weight for a grinder of this class.

Angle grinder Makita GA9020 is an excellent choice for any professional looking for an angle grinder capable of cutting, grinding and pre-processing a variety of materials. Angle grinder Makita GA9020 will cope with cutting any material, while you do not need to worry about dust entering the tool, which occurs when performing particularly difficult work, since the engine of the angle grinder is reliably protected from dust penetration thanks to a special labyrinth design.

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What is the difference between an angle grinder and a grinder

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Terms

An anchor is a rotating element of an electric motor containing windings.
The collector is the place at the anchor, to which all the windings are brought out. It looks like a row of plates isolated from each other.
The stator is the stationary part of the electric motor that contains the windings.
Brushes are carbon parallelepipeds that supply current to the collector.
Reducer. A mechanical device for transmitting rotation with changes in power and rotation speed.

The most popular tool in everyday life after a drill is an angle grinder or, as it is more often called, an angle grinder. The angle grinder is used for cutting metals, wood, concrete, grinding various surfaces, cutting openings, doors, niches. If there is an angle grinder, then it can always be used and it is especially offensive when it ceases to function normally, jerks, twitching, burning smell appear.

The angle grinder is all arranged in the same way: an elongated body in which the motor and gearbox are located, a handle and a protective cover are screwed on the side.

There is a sticker with initial data on the body of the angle grinder. Here you can find both the personal number of the angle grinder and the supply voltage. 230 V. This refers to the maximum permissible mains voltage. The frequency of the current in the network is 50 Hz. Consumption current. 5 A. Power consumed from the network. 1100 W, it is obtained as a product between voltage (220 V) and current (5 A) multipliers. The rotational speed of the disk installed on the angle grinder is 2800-11000 rpm. The armature itself rotates at a higher speed than the disc. Specifically on this angle grinder, step regulation of the rotation speed is possible. The disc mounted on the angle grinder has an outer diameter of 125 mm, the disc fastening nut has an M14 thread.

A household tool designed for a phase voltage of 220 V has an armature winding and a stator winding. The transfer of energy from the mains to the armature is carried out using graphite brushes. The mains voltage is applied to a switch, which is mechanically connected to the power button of the angle grinder. The stator winding consists of two halves that are not electrically connected. The armature winding consists of many windings, but at any given time, the brushes connect only two armature windings.

When the angle grinder is turned on, the current is supplied to the input of half of the stator winding, the output of the stator winding is connected to the brush holder into which the brush is inserted with a spring. The brush transfers current to half of the armature winding, on the other hand, the other brush receives current and through the brush holder transfers current to the other half of the stator winding. The current went in and out of the angle grinder. If the entire electrical circuit is in good condition, then the armature will start rotating.

Reverse, i.E. A change in the direction of rotation of the disk can be carried out by interchanging the wires going to the brushes from the stator windings. Just unplug the wires on the brushes and swap them.

At the end of the body of the angle grinder there is a red wheel for stepwise control of the armature rotation speed and a screw for removing the casing.

In this type of angle grinder, the brushes themselves are located inside the case and there is no access to them, but the developers have simplified the replacement of the brushes when removing the casing. After unscrewing the screw, the plastic plate is removed and the outer casing is shifted towards the cord, exposing all the insides, including the brush holders.

The speed control mechanism is electronic. The whole circuit is filled with epoxy resin and only the speed control wheel and radiator are taken out. What’s hidden inside. The trade secret of the company. When the unit fails. The speed stops being regulated, but remains at the maximum level. In any case, you should not despair, but in series with an angle grinder, you can turn on the most common dimmer. Dimmer. It can be used to adjust the speed of any AC collector motor, the main thing is that the engine power does not exceed the dimmer power.

On both sides of the body there are steel brush holders with springs in the form of a curled steel strip. The spring is needed to keep the brush pressed against the armature collector even with strong vibrations and heating of the armature itself.

The spring presses the brush and as the brush is erased, the spring sinks lower and lower into the steel brush holder. Brushes wear off and shrink. When their length becomes insufficient, the angle grinder stops working. In expensive models, there is a spring inside the brush that pushes the brush away from the armature collector. In cheap models, the brushes are not equipped with a built-in spring.

When choosing new brushes, it is better to contact the service centers of your specific manufacturer of the angle grinder. The fact is that just as a graphic artist chooses twenty different simple pencils with different softness, so the manufacturers of grinders specially develop brushes for a certain type of collector. If you use other brushes, for example from a generator for a VAZ, then the anchor will most likely burn out soon, but for the first time such brushes will work as a solution to the problem.

The power button of the angle grinder is a plastic box with a mechanical lever transmission. The box is bulky enough to assume that it commutes high turn-on currents and that the button goes not only into this equipment.

The head of the angle grinder has a reducer that increases the rotational speed of the disc to 11,000 rpm. The stem of the reducer on which the disc is put on contains a sheared washer, which sits firmly on the shaft and has a support pad with a rubber ring for seating the disc.

Nearby there is a foot with cuts, which fixes the protective cover. For added safety, the protective flap can be moved and then locked. The foot is pressed down to the angle grinder and the flap is moved to the desired level, after which the foot is released and it fixes the flap.

Nuts for fastening the disc are self-tightening SDS and conventional with wrench holes.

The gearbox is supported by four screws. If you unscrew them and open the cover carefully with a screwdriver, you will see the parts of the gearbox. The gear on the armature shaft has a left-hand thread and is threaded to the armature shaft.

The gearbox uses rolling bearings, i.E. Ordinary bushings abundantly lubricated with grease. The teeth on the 1100 W model are straight, apparently this is quite enough for locksmith work, but in the 1500 W models, gears with curved teeth are used.

In order to remove the armature, gently remove the brushes, remove the gearbox and pull the armature out of the housing using the gear. At the other end of the armature, closest to the cord, a rolling bearing is put on, which is recessed into the plastic of the body. Pull firmly and carefully to remove the anchor.

The anchor is a steel rod on which a steel cage made of plates is pressed. Coils of insulated copper wire are laid in the grooves of the cage. All ends of the windings are brought out to the rear end of the armature, called the collector. At the front end of the armature is a gear for transmitting rotation.

To gain in the force that needs to be applied to the disc for operation, a gear transmission is used. For a 2 kW angle grinder, the armature gear has 10 teeth and the wheel gear has 41 teeth. It turns out that at a wheel speed of 8000 rpm, the armature rotates 8000X41 / 10 = 32800 rpm. If we take into account that the number of collector contact plates is 36, then 32800X36 / 60 = 19680 Hz. This is approximately the frequency that interferes with the network and to eliminate which ferrite rings are needed.

The disc gear is located on the shaft. In production, the gear was heated and the shaft was cooled. After that, the gear was put on the shaft. The resulting connection is cheap, simple and practically does not make it possible to remove the gear without damaging the gear case. Heating the assembled part will cause expansion of both the shaft and the gear. The only way to remove the gear is a puller. In this case, the grips of the puller legs must be thin and strong enough to enter the small gap between the body and the gear.

The shaft gear is threaded. Probably, the manufacturers calculated that the armature gear flies more often than the gear gear. On this model, the gears are helical to increase the power output.

The gear has a RIGHT thread. To spin the gear, you need to wrap it with a rag so as not to break the teeth when unscrewing it, clamp it with a gas wrench and turn it COUNTER-CLOCKWISE.

After removing the gear, it becomes clear that the thread is not made throughout the entire height of the gear, but only in its small section. The unthreaded section allows you to put on the gear evenly, without distortions.

Malfunction

Cause

Elimination

Manifold sparking, odor, body heat, popping sound

Disassemble, get the anchor, clean the collector

Angle grinder does not start

Disassemble and replace both brushes

Disassemble, replace the button

Defective power cable

Splicing the breakdown site and isolating

Mechanical sound when rotating the disc

Disassemble, replace the gear, lubricate with cyatin (grease, lithol)

The disc is constantly gaining momentum and the angle grinder goes into gear

Turning closure of stator windings angle grinder

Disassemble, replace windings (if possible)