Gerald,
Many many hours later - the machine works very hard and every day. Still no sign of the wheels giving up. I cut many multi layer 3D moulds from foam. The foam tends to stick to everything due to static. The jobs are mostly 12 hours plus.

Ja Marius, even if this machine is kept simple, it still is a workhorse. Thanks for keeping us posted on the wheel life.

Does the sticking foam build up so far that it stops the machine? (in other words, are you forced to keep cleaning off the buildup a couple of times per day?)

Gerald,
No not at all. I clean it maybe once a week. It makes small patches of build-up on the tracks. If it is not cleaned the tendency is for the muck to build up on spots where there is dirt already. So it grows. I must say that the deposit is never very thick - it seems to be flattened by the wheel and have very little effect. If a brush is fitted both side of the wheel there will be no problem whatsoever. I have not had time to fit them yet.


Further discussion on plastic wheels moved to:
V-Wheels machined from PET plastic (Ertalyte)

good news!

that foam looks like PU foam.

racks are not suffering... good.
wheels, just a bit...good.

:rolleyes:

thanks,
francis

Francis,
Yes it is PU foam, We don't have many choices when it comes to foam over here.