Welcome to VSM

Abrasives Technical
Training Manual. This
manual has been carefully
developed and designed
with you, the distributor in
mind, to provide you with
a useful and informative
information source on
VSM coated abrasives.

For over 130 years, VSM

has established itself as a
leader in the coated
abrasives industry.
Focusing on customer’s
needs and making those
needs top priority.

VSM Abrasives Corporation

1012 E. Wabash Street • O’Fallon, MO 63366
800-737-0176 • Fax: 636-272-7434
vsm@vsmabrasives.com • www.vsmabrasives.com
The Key to Quality

VSM is dedicated to providing customers with superior products and solutions for
their coated abrasive needs. Quality products are not just produced but are
created by understanding the entire production process and how the coated
abrasive product performs in an application.

VSM forms a versatile product line drawn from a proven formula that assures
dependable performance. This proven formula includes a variety of minerals,
backing and bonding systems.

Minerals perform the basic job of grinding, cutting, finishing, and polishing. VSM
manufactures abrasives using four man-made minerals:

Aluminum oxide, Silicon carbide, Zirconia alumina and Ceramic alumina.

Backings are the platforms that carry and support the mineral grains.
VSM uses four types of backings: Paper, Cloth, Vulcanized Fiber and
Combination.

The paper backings are further divided into weights designated A, B, C, D, E and
F. Cloth backings are designated by their flexibility, identified as E, F, J, T, X and
Y. Mechanical flexing the coated abrasives creates this range of flexibility.

Types of flexes employed by VSM (in order of stiffest

to most flexible) include: Single Flex, Double Flex,
and Full Flex. This flexing procedure creates a Single Flex
controlled cracking in the bond system that ensures
consistent flex characteristics and enhances stock
removal through better grain regeneration.
Double Flex
The flex of a coated abrasive product is inversely
related to the life of the product.
As a rule, use the stiffest product possible for an
application. Full Flex

VSM Abrasives Corporation

1012 E. Wabash Street • O’Fallon, MO 63366
800-737-0176 • Fax: 636-272-7434
vsm@vsmabrasives.com • www.vsmabrasives.com
There are two layers of resins, which create the bonding system for coated
abrasives. The first layer of resin is called the make coat, which anchors the
grains to the backing. The second layer of resin is the size coat, applied over
the grains, which further anchors and stabilizes the grains. VSM manufactures
coated abrasives exclusively with resin over resin bonding systems. With state-
of-the art production facilities, VSM is formulate the raw materials utilized for
resins into a winning combination of long-life and flexibility for the entire line of
products.

Mineral

Size Coat

Make Coat

Backing

Abrasive minerals can be applied to backing in several ways. The gravity

coating process, the abrasive grains are dropped from an overhead hopper
onto the adhesive coated backing.

In the electrostatic coating process, the adhesive coated backing and the
abrasive grains pass through an electrically charged field. This electrically
charged field propels the abrasives grains upward toward the backing traveling
upside down above the grains. These grains are imbedded in the adhesive with
the sharpest edge of the abrasive grains exposed, ensuring uniform cutting
characteristics.

With these coating processes, the grain coverage can be modified to produce
either open coat or closed coat products. Traditionally, any product with grain
coverage of approximately 60% was considered open coat. A closed coat
product would have 100% grain coverage of the backing. Today, coating
densities vary from 30% to 100% coverage of the backing.

Closed coat Open coat

VSM Abrasives Corporation

1012 E. Wabash Street • O’Fallon, MO 63366
800-737-0176 • Fax: 636-272-7434
vsm@vsmabrasives.com • www.vsmabrasives.com
Grading Systems

A grade number identifies the size of the coated abrasives’ mineral. There are
several systems used to assign a grade number. Some of the most common
include:
‰ FEPA, Federation of European Producers of Abrasives;
‰ ANSI, American National Standards Institute
(Formerly, CAMI, Coated Abrasives Manufacturers Institute)
‰ JIS, Japanese Standard.

The chart below shows the conversion between some of the most common
grading systems.
FEPA P CAMI JIS AVG. GRAIN
(European Std.) (U.S. Std.) (Japanese Std.) DIAMETER (μ)
16
P16 16 1292
20
P20 20 973
24
P24 24 743
30 30
P30 626
36 36
P36 523
40
P40 40 412
50
P50 50 328
60 60
P60 262

P80 80 80 196

P100 100 100 157

P120 120 120 122

P150 150 150 98

P180 180 180 76

P220 220 220 66

P240 240 58
280
P280 240 52
320
P320 46
360
P360 280 40

P400 400 35

P500 320 500 30

P600 600 26

P800 400 22
800
P1000 500 18

P1200 600 1000 15

VSM Abrasives Corporation

1012 E. Wabash Street • O’Fallon, MO 63366
800-737-0176 • Fax: 636-272-7434
vsm@vsmabrasives.com • www.vsmabrasives.com
 Backing:

Grain: F: Fiber Backing Flexibility:

K: Cloth
C: Silicon carbide P: Paper Paper Cloth
K: Aluminum oxide A = 70 g/m2 E = Extremely Flexible
L: COMPACTGRAIN- B = 100 g/m2 F = Very Flexible
Aluminum oxide C = 120 g/m2 J = Flexible
M: COMPACTGRAIN- D = 160 g/m2 T = Moderate
Silicon carbide E = 250 g/m2 X = Sturdy
S: Ceramic F = 300 g/m2 Y = Very Sturdy
Z: Zirconia Alumina
K = Velcro

VSM Abrasives Corporation

1012 E. Wabash Street • O’Fallon, MO 63366
800-737-0176 • Fax: 636-272-7434
vsm@vsmabrasives.com • www.vsmabrasives.com
 PRODUCT CONTENTS
RUBBER &
Product METAL WOOD SEALER GLASS STONE…
CK721F ‰ ‰
CK721J ‰ ‰
CK721X ‰ ‰ ‰ ‰
CK722Y - ANTISTATIC ‰ ‰ ‰
CK742J - COMPACTGRAIN ‰
CK748X - COMPACTGRAIN ‰
CK918X - COMPACTGRAIN ‰
CK917X ‰
CP131A ‰ ‰
CP501 ‰ ‰
CP918A ‰ ‰
CP918C ‰
KF708 ‰
KF736 - COMPACTGRAIN ‰
KK078X - COMPACTGRAIN ‰
KK114F ‰ ‰
KK504F ‰
KK504X ‰
KK505J ‰
KK511F ‰ ‰
KK511J ‰ ‰
KK542F - ANTISTATIC ‰
KK524J - ANTISTATIC ‰
KK524X - ANTISTATIC ‰
KK524Y - ANTISTATIC ‰
KK532F ‰ ‰ ‰
KK551X ‰
KK711C ‰
KK711E ‰
KK711T ‰
KK711X ‰
KK711Y ‰
KK712J - COMPACTGRAIN ‰
KK712X - COMPACTGRAIN ‰
KK715X ‰
KK716 ‰
KK717 ‰
KK718X - COMPACTGRAIN ‰
KK731X - COMPACTGRAIN ‰
KK732X ‰
KK778X - COMPACTGRAIN ‰
 PRODUCT CONTENTS
RUBBER &
Product METAL WOOD SEALER GLASS STONE…
KK812X ‰
KK815Y ‰
KK834X - COMPACTGRAIN ‰
KK841F ‰
KK853X ‰
KP408E ‰ ‰
KP508E ‰
KP510E ‰
KP520 - ANTISTATIC ‰
KP532E ‰ ‰
KP709 ‰ ‰
KP911 ‰ ‰
LK719X - COMPACTGRAIN ‰
MK748X - COMPACTGRAIN ‰
MP-10 ‰ ‰
MPG ‰ ‰
SF750 ‰
SF840 ‰
SK750X ‰
SK770Z ‰
SK840F ‰
SK840J ‰
SK840X ‰
SK840Y ‰
SK847 ‰
UK22 ‰
ZF713 ‰
ZF714 ‰
ZK713T ‰ ‰
ZK713X ‰
ZK744X ‰
ZK765X ‰
ZK813T ‰
ZK844J ‰
Basic Contact Elements

The three basic contact methods employed when using coated abrasive belt include:
slack of belt, platen and contact wheel.

A slack of belt operation is when an abrasive belt runs over a

drive wheel and idler, and the work piece is applied to the open,
unsupported area. This type of method is used to deburr or Slack-of-Belt
polish at light to medium pressures.

Platen applications have a fixed steel plate supporting the

abrasive belt where the work piece makes contact. This type of
contact element is used for dimensioning and truing flat workPlaten
pieces.

The most commonly used contact elements are contact wheels.

The contact wheel supports the abrasive belt where the workContact Wheel
piece makes contact. The work piece may be presented to the
belt on the face of the wheel or occasionally is worked over the
edges of the wheel.

Contact Wheels

The force applied is the primary factor involved in the grinding efficiency and finish of an
abrasive belt on a contact wheel. The type of material the contact wheel is made from
can vary this force. A contact wheel may be made of steel, rubber or canvas. Rubber
is the most commonly used type of contact wheel.
Durometer
The force applied to a SOFT HARD
work piece can further be 30 60 90
varied by the durometer, Force
10lbs. 10lbs. 10lbs.
a measure of the rubbers’
hardness. A larger
number will indicate harder
rubber and increase the
grinding force.

Force 5” 3” 1”
Area 2psi 3.3psi 10psi
Aggressiveness
LOW HIGH

VSM Abrasives Corporation

1012 E. Wabash Street • O’Fallon, MO 63366
800-737-0176 • Fax: 636-272-7434
vsm@vsmabrasives.com • www.vsmabrasives.com
The addition of serrations to a contact wheel will also increase the grinding forces. A
serrated wheel has a consistent pattern cut at an angle across the face.

This serration
angle can be
manipulated to
increase the
grinding forces by
creating a greater
angle across the
face.
Smooth Serrated

Smooth 45o 90o

Aggressiveness
Low High

The raised area is called the land and the sunken area is called the groove. The land
to groove ratio is an expression of the length of the land compared to the length of the
groove. Narrowing the land and/or widening the groove will increase the grinding
forces.
Land to Groove Ratio =
1/2”/1/4”: 1/4”/1/4” =
2:1

½” Land

¼” Groove

VSM Abrasives Corporation

1012 E. Wabash Street • O’Fallon, MO 63366
800-737-0176 • Fax: 636-272-7434
vsm@vsmabrasives.com • www.vsmabrasives.com
Belt Speeds

If you know the contact wheel diameter in inches and the revolutions per minute of the
machine shaft, the following equation will allow you to arrive at the surface feet per
minute of the belt.

Legend: π = 3.1416
RPM = Revolutions per minute
SFPM = Surface feet per minute
D = Diameter (in)

Equation: π x D x RPM = SFPM

12

The European equivalent of SFPM is meters per second (M/S). To convert SFPM to
M/S, divide by 196.8 or use this formula:

Legend: π = 3.1416
RPM = Revolutions per minute
D = Diameter (mm)

Equation: π x D X RPM = M/S

1000 60

To convert M/S to SFPM, multiply M/S by 196.8.

Guidelines for speed recommendations (SFPM) based on work piece material

Aluminum 4500 - 5000 Nickel/Chrome 2500 - 3000

Brass/Bronze 5000 - 6000 Plastics 2000 - 2500
Copper 4000 - 5000 Plywood 5000 - 7000
Fiberglass 5000 - 7000 Rockide 1500 - 2000
Glass 2500 - 3500 Hard Rubber 6000-10000
Grey Cast Iron 4000 - 5000 Mild/Carbon Steel 4000 - 5000
Inconel 3000 - 4000 Stainless Steel 4000 - 5000
Lumber Sanding 6500 -10000 Titanium 2000 - 2500
MDF/PB 6000 - 7000 Tool Steel 4000 – 5000

VSM Abrasives Corporation

1012 E. Wabash Street • O’Fallon, MO 63366
800-737-0176 • Fax: 636-272-7434
vsm@vsmabrasives.com • www.vsmabrasives.com
Surface Finish

Varible Factor Rough Surface Smooth Surface

Higher Surface Finish Reading Lower Surface Finish Reading
Grit Size Coarse Fine

Belt Condition New Used

Adhesive Bond Resin Glue

Coating Method Open Coated Close Coated

Product Flex Single Flex Double Flex Full Flex

Contact Wheel -
Serrations Serrated Smooth

Contact Wheel -
Serration Angle Smaller (0) 45 Greater (90)

Contact Wheel -
Material Steel Rubber Canvas

Contact Wheel -
Diameter Smaller Larger

Belt Speed
(SFPM) Slower Faster

Grinding Aid Dry Water Oil Soluble Oil Grease

Abrasive Mineral Zirconia Ceramic Aluminum oxide Silicon carbide

Work Piece
Hardness Softer Harder

VSM Abrasives Corporation

1012 E. Wabash Street • O’Fallon, MO 63366
800-737-0176 • Fax: 636-272-7434
vsm@vsmabrasives.com • www.vsmabrasives.com
Grinding Efficiency

Varible Factor More Aggressive Less Aggressive

Better Cut Rate Lower Cut Rate
Grit Size Coarse Fine

Belt Condition New Used

Adhesive Bond Resin Glue

Coating Method Open Coated Close Coated

Product Flex Single Flex Double Flex Full Flex

Contact Wheel -
Serrations Serrated Smooth

Contact Wheel -
Serration Angle Smaller (0) 45 Greater (90)

Contact Wheel -
Material Steel Rubber Canvas

Contact Wheel -
Diameter Smaller Larger

Belt Speed
(SFPM) Slower Faster

Grinding Aid Dry Water Oil Soluble Oil Grease

Abrasive Mineral Zirconia Ceramic Aluminum oxide Silicon carbide

Work Piece
Hardness Softer Harder

Belt Length Longer Shorter

Work Piece Feed

Speed Slower Faster

Pressure Higher Lower

VSM Abrasives Corporation

1012 E. Wabash Street • O’Fallon, MO 63366
800-737-0176 • Fax: 636-272-7434
vsm@vsmabrasives.com • www.vsmabrasives.com