How Does A Concrete Polishing

Machine Work?

Understanding How Concrete Polishing Machines Operate

• Polished concrete is becoming a very popular flooring option in homes, industrial facilities and commercial locations. The smooth texture of the concrete can be treated to look like stone or to have a glossy reflective finish. The floors are not only attractive when finished properly but are also highly resistant to staining, moisture and damage from normal wear.

• They are easy to maintain and last for a very long time. The process of polishing concrete relies on skill, equipment and some chemical treatments. One of the most essential pieces of equipment is a concrete polishing machine. These pieces of heavy machinery are made from a few different components.

Understanding How Concrete Polishing Machines Operate

Polishing Heads

• Most machines that are used for polishing or grinding concrete have a motor attached to a large covered disc that is pressed against the floor. This disc contains a number of polishing heads. The heads are circular pieces that can hold the abrasive pads that are used like sandpaper to work the concrete down slowly to a very fine and smooth finish. Larger machines have a planetary drive for the heads.

Polishing Heads

• A planetary drive means that there is one large head in the center that is orbited by three or more smaller heads. The satellite heads rotate in the opposite direction of the large central head. This is a very efficient arrangement that helps to prevent lines in the concrete after a pass. Some smaller machines for use in the home have just a single large rotating head.

Abrasives

• The heads on the machine accept different pads known as abrasives. These incredibly strong circular pads of material are rotated by the polishing heads to remove the top layers of concrete. Two primary types are used during the concrete polishing process. The first are 40-grit to 150-grit coarse diamond segments ingrained in a metal base.

Abrasives

• These abrasives are strong enough to shear away layers of concrete without any problem. The second type of abrasive that is needed is made from diamond segments incorporated into resin. The resin abrasives are used to polish the concrete until it starts to take on the fine finish that is desired.

Wet And Dry

• There are two main types of concrete polishing machines. The first is a dry model. This unit simply polishes the concrete and produces a large amount of dust that can enter the air and cause problems without proper ventilation. Many dry machines have vacuums built into the base that remove the dust. The second type is a wet polisher.

Wet And Dry

• This machine constantly drops water onto the spinning heads to keep them cool and to trap the dust. Wet machines tend to work faster and more efficiently than dry machines and prevent most particulates from rising into the air. Wet machines also leave behind a thick mixture of water and concrete dust that must be removed before the floor is finished.

Advanced Features

• Many modern industrial machines for polishing concrete have advanced features that make performing large jobs easier. A popular feature is an automatic control option that allows a machine to move without assistance across a defined space.

Advanced Features

• Another advanced feature is balancing that ensure the heads are always flat against the floor to prevent grooves and pitting from an edge. Radio controls and power-saving traction systems are also popular on larger industrial units.

Further Reading…

• RS Concrete Solutions is your concrete polishing leader. Visit us at http://www.rsconcretesolutions.com today to learn more about our concrete polishing services.