How to make a cutting machine from a grinder yourself

One of the most popular power tools in the household is an angle grinder (angle grinder), popularly called an angle grinder. Despite the fact that its main purpose is grinding, it is more often used as a tool for cutting various materials. This is primarily due to the abundance of types of disks that can be installed on it.

The main disadvantage of an angle grinder when performing such work is the low cutting accuracy, because while holding an angle grinder in your hands, it is extremely difficult to maintain the exact angle and direction of the cut. It is rarely possible to trim any material strictly at a given angle. Especially if you have to prepare parts of the same type of any design, and even with specified cutting angles. This disadvantage can be minimized by using a special stand for the angle grinder.

There are such factory-made devices for various models of angle grinders, some of them are quite universal. But the relatively high cost makes them out of reach for most home craftsmen. Meanwhile, most of these craftsmen are able to make a stand for their angle grinder with their own hands, without spending a lot of money or time on it.

Why make a machine from an angle grinder

A cutting machine is a useful and necessary thing, not only in industrial conditions, but also in the household. With this useful tool you can make precise cuts of parts and workpieces. This is achieved by securely fixing the cutting disc, into the spindle of which you can install not only abrasive wheels for cutting metal. A stationary machine can be used for cutting tiles, bricks, marble, granite and other similar materials, using special diamond-coated wheels in the design of the tool. If necessary, such a machine can be used for sawing beams, boards and other wood workpieces.

Many people who have repeatedly faced the need to make an accurate cut of a workpiece want to know how to make their own cutting machine from an angle grinder and available materials. Holding the grinder in your hands, you can also make a precise cut, but it is more difficult to do this, since you have to hold the tool exclusively with both hands. Using a homemade cutting machine, you can not only perform, but also simplify the following work:

Cut sheet material, such as galvanizing, used for chimney insulation and other purposes
Cut ceramic tiles and tiles - keep in mind that the cut can only be made straight
Cut materials at different angles
Cut a metal profile, pipe, wooden beams, boards, etc.

The manufacture of a machine from a grinder requires an appropriate approach. After all, the tool itself is very dangerous, so the slightest miscalculation can lead to the master being seriously injured. The consequences of working with an angle grinder if safety regulations are not observed are known, so first, before building a homemade product, it is worth noting the following:

Only with the correct manufacture of a stationary cutting machine can you be confident in its reliability and safety
If you plan to do it, then you need to calculate every step so that no disaster happens during operation.
Using a machine is in some ways safer than using a tool while holding it in your hands. However, you need to be aware that an angle grinder is a mobile tool, and making a homemade one is already a violation of safety regulations
For manufacturing, it is necessary to use materials of appropriate reliability, corresponding to the power and size of the main power tool.

Having dealt with the need to manufacture the machine, you can get down to business.

This is interesting!
If you can’t decide whether it’s better to buy a new machine or make it yourself, then the second option is more preferable, since the cost of a factory device will cost at least 10,000 rubles. If you make it yourself, you won’t need any expenses, since the grinder is already on the household, and the components can be found in the garage.

The simplest device for an angle grinder stand

Actually, this device cannot be called a stand, but the work with it can be done almost the same as that provided by the most technologically advanced stand. The principle of its operation is clear from the short video:

But if instead of a strip you use a corresponding corner with a sawn-off part of one of the shelves, as one of the authors of a similar design did, then there will be no need to drill a blind hole in the head of the angle grinder.

In this case, the tool will be fastened with two screws into the threaded holes for the handle existing on the head of the angle grinder. But the principle of operation of the sole will not change - only its rigidity will increase.

The method of using an angle grinder as a kind of circular saw using the same sole, shown in another video by the same author, will also not change:

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Making a homemade machine from a grinder features

It’s not difficult to make your own machine from a grinder yourself. Moreover, there is a wide variety of manufacturing options, which depends on the available materials and imagination. There are two types of stationary cutting machines made from grinders:

Simple - it received this name for one reason, which is not only the ease of manufacture, but also the minimalism of the device itself. The tool is attached to the workbench using additional materials, and it can be used
Complex - it is rational to manufacture such machines if you plan to use it often for different actions. In most cases, a simple device is enough for a home garage, the manufacture of which requires little time, effort and consumables.

In order to make a cutting machine from a grinder with your own hands, you will need consumables, which are metal plates, as well as profiles and fasteners - bolts, nuts and washers. The only specialized tools you will need are an electric drill and a welding machine. Let's look at how to make the simplest version of a cutting machine from an angle grinder in more detail below.

DIY stand for an angle grinder: drawings

There are a lot of drawings for the rack. Before you get down to business, you should mentally imagine what kind of structure you need: its dimensions, material. After that, look for the necessary drawings.

The fact is that the dimensions of the structure and individual components will entirely depend on what you have at hand.

For a large angle grinder (for example, UShM-230), you may need a do-it-yourself grinder stand of a larger size than indicated in the drawing. This will entail replacing bearings and so on.

Let's consider options for a stand for an angle grinder with your own hands, depending on the materials at hand.

DIY stand for an angle grinder: components

DIY stand for an angle grinder: drawing

DIY stand for an angle grinder made of a rectangular profile

The rectangular profile allows you to construct a durable frame. Another important fact is that the pendulum arm, made of such material, almost does not bend under load.

But the bed frame is only half the battle. On top of the frame you need to put a “tabletop” - a plate on which the material being processed will be placed under the grinder.

If the frame is made of metal, the best material for the desktop will be sheet metal. However, a thick sheet of plywood or chipboard is also quite suitable. Just don’t forget that directly under the grinder’s disk in the countertop you need to provide a fairly wide slot to ensure the through passage of the disk through the material being cut.

A do-it-yourself vertical stand for an angle grinder is a very loaded unit of a pendulum saw. Using a metal profile will create a strong and rigid structure.

When using metal as the base element of a stand for an angle grinder, preference should be given to welded joints. Of course, metal profile products can also be connected with bolts.

But such connections do not provide the necessary rigidity.

Carriage made of pipes and shock absorbers

If you have water pipes, a pair of car shock absorbers and a metal corner or profile in your supplies, then you can make a wonderful cross-cutting (aka “cutting off”) machine for an angle grinder with a transverse horizontal feed of the carriage.

The pendulum assembly is still required to bring the tool into the cutting plane. But the carriage, movable along the pendulum arm, allows you to significantly expand the range of material sizes. Now you can quickly and accurately cut not only pipes, profiles, but even timber.

The horizontal stroke of the carriage allows us to accurately cut sheet materials of such width that we can design the carriage overhang.

To ensure a smooth, yet precise movement of the carriage, complex rail assemblies with spring-loaded bearings are usually designed.

But you can use car shock absorbers. They have a very durable and precise design. If you remove the gas and liquid, you get excellent guides.

The rear shock absorbers of VAZ cars have a rod stroke of almost 200 millimeters. This will allow, for example, when mounting an angle grinder-230 on a carriage, to organize a cutting line up to 400 mm long.

But even if you have a compact grinder with a disk with a diameter of only 150 mm, you can still cut sheets up to 200 mm wide. This more than covers most everyday tasks.

When designing a “guides - carriage” assembly based on automobile shock absorbers, it is necessary to take into account that the shock absorber bodies themselves are quite thin and wrinkle easily.

Such “guides” should be attached to the upper arm of the pendulum with semicircular clamping brackets. This is where water pipes come in handy.

DIY stand for an angle grinder with wooden elements

If it is not possible to make the basic elements of a stand for a pendulum saw from metal, do not despair. Many structural elements can be made from wood. First of all, this is a bed, a pendulum lever and an angle grinder holder.

A do-it-yourself stand for an angle grinder can be made from any suitable lumber.

Very good are frames assembled from blocks of hard and heavy wood with a significant cross-section. They are both durable and quite heavy. This ensures the stability of the entire structure.

A do-it-yourself stand for an angle grinder, assembled from oak timber with a cross-section of 100x100 mm, is certainly impressive. But it's too expensive. Thick larch or even birch bars are quite suitable for the base of the work table.

But to make a pendulum lever, you need to use noble types of wood, traditionally used in furniture production. Oak will do just fine.

When designing a stand for an angle grinder made of wood, do not forget about the overall rigidity of the structure. The significant dimensions of the frame will ensure the strength and rigidity of the structure when manufactured from low-quality materials.

The pendulum arm has a long, elongated design. If you make it from wood, then the geometry may be disrupted by changes in temperature and humidity.

It is better to use the so-called furniture panel, consisting of several wooden elements glued together.

Plywood parts

An interesting solution to the problem of the rigidity of a stand for an angle grinder with your own hands could be the use of plywood in a wooden structure. The multidirectionality of the veneer layers in this material gives a certain stability to the dimensions of plywood products. The product consists of many thin layers connected with strong adhesive, which provide high strength.

Plywood is great for making frames and work tables. It is durable and will be constant in geometry to the plane of the product. But the plane itself may experience deformation. Therefore, plywood products should be mounted on rigid frames.

A good example of a design is the assembly of elements from many layers of plywood with intermediate gluing and bolting.

It turns out to be a very durable, rigid stand for an angle grinder with your own hands.

You need to pull the angle grinder in the direction opposite to the direction of the sparks, otherwise the tool will be undermined with a high probability of jamming. This in turn can lead to injury.

Option 1 - a simple way to make a cutting machine from an angle grinder

A simple way to make a homemade product involves making a base on which fixed connectors for a movable plate are attached. So, in more detail about how to make a machine from an angle grinder:

Take a steel plate measuring 15x15 cm and at least 2 mm thick. Such a large size is needed in order to secure it to the workbench with bolted connectors. If the workbench (table) is iron, then the base can be welded to it, so in this case you can use a shorter plate 10x10 cm
Weld two rectangular plates perpendicularly to the base, located at a distance of 5-8 cm from each other. The thickness of the plates should also be at least 2 mm. Their length depends on the size of the power tool, but usually small or medium grinders are used for stationary machines, so the length of the plates is 8-10 cm
At the base of the plates, make a straight hole into which the connecting bolt is installed. The hole diameter is 6-8 mm, which is not so important
At the next stage, you will need to make a movable base to which the grinder will be attached. To do this, you will need to take a steel plate at least 20-30 cm long, which depends on the size of the power tool. The width of this frame should be slightly less than the distance between the protrusions of the rectangular plates welded to the base
On the back side of the movable plate, you need to weld a round oblong sleeve into which the connecting bolt will be placed
It is necessary to secure the tool to the resulting movable plate using clamps, ties and other methods. The number of fasteners should be more than 2, and preferably at least three for greater safety
Having secured the resulting structure to the workbench, you can test its operation

For ease of operation, you can weld a handle to the movable bar, and also install an auto-return spring, which will return the tool to its original position, that is, move it up. The photo below shows a ready-made installation for cutting from an angle grinder. As you can see from the example, its manufacture will require a minimum of effort and materials, and the result is a stationary device for cutting various materials.

This is interesting!
Finally, you will need to cut a strip of the appropriate size in the workbench, into which the rotating circle in the tool chuck will “go” when cutting materials.
When constructing the device, do not forget that safe operation depends on how to secure the angle grinder. It should be securely fixed in 2-3 points, which will prevent it from moving during work, as well as “flying off” from the movable frame. When installing the tool on a movable bed, it is necessary that the position of the grinder be strictly at a right angle, that is, the circle must be located strictly in a vertical position.

The resulting device is suitable for processing various materials from wood to durable stone. When working with a tool, do not forget to use safety glasses, gloves, and protective clothing. Instead of a workbench, you can use a wooden or steel frame on which to realize your idea.

This is interesting!
Similar simple frames for grinders are manufactured in the factory, so if you have an extra 2-3 thousand rubles, you can purchase a ready-made base and use it right today. However, there are no difficulties in making it yourself, so you need to decide on your own in each individual case which is better.

Converting an angle grinder into a machine step by step: 10 assembly stages, electrical diagram for drawings

To create a machine yourself, you need to choose a design that matches your existing skills and capabilities. The easiest way is to assemble a machine from blanks created according to drawings in a specialized metalworking workshop. Otherwise, you will have to master welding technologies and purchase the necessary equipment.

Below is a step-by-step self-assembly algorithm with useful comments:

After approval of the project parameters, the necessary materials, workpieces, tools and replacement attachments are purchased. The shopping list is determined based on the prepared set of design documentation. Compliance with current standards is not required in this case. However, all important details must be included, as in the examples above.
Blanks for the power frame are cut. The table is made from sheet steel with a thickness of at least 5 mm.
A transverse shaft is welded to the pendulum arm. When creating this unit, the perpendicularity of the parts is carefully controlled.
A grip in the shape of the letter “P” is suitable for attaching an angle grinder. A hole for bolts is made in its side parts. With these fasteners, the hand tool is rigidly attached to the machine bed. Choose a fairly strong part of the grinder body.
Additional fixation is provided using a metal clamp. All of the above mounts are made rigid to improve accuracy.
The swivel bearings are pressed in. Instead of standard factory-made units, steel pipes with thick walls of suitable internal diameter are used.
The assembled units are fixed on the axis of two sides.
The pendulum is attached to the platform by welding. To avoid damaging the bearings, it is recommended to limit the temperature rise. To cool, use a cloth soaked in water.
Weld a block with a mount for an angle grinder. Reinstall the angle grinder, protective devices, and return spring.
They check the quality of the assembly, the reliability of the fastenings, and the functionality of the pendulum. Connect the machine, check the functionality first at idle and then in operating mode. The groove in the table is cut with a disk of appropriate width.

Picture No. 8. Connecting a magnetic starter with shutdown buttons and a protective thermal relay.
Look at Picture No. 8. Here is an electrical diagram for the drawings that improves the protection of equipment from overheating. It is also useful for quick emergency shutdown. One or more buttons for breaking the corresponding circuit are installed in a convenient place in the machine body. Foot operated switches are also used.

Option 2 - how to quickly and easily make a pendulum saw

If you have a welding machine and consumables, you can make a stationary machine from an angle grinder in a matter of hours. Moreover, you don’t need to buy anything for this, since the necessary tubes, fittings and profiles can be found in a garage or a pile of scrap metal. To build a simple cutting machine using an angle grinder as the main tool, you will need to use the following parts:

Metal profiles measuring 150-200 mm
Sleeve 10-15 cm long
Hairpin 20 cm long and 8-10 mm in diameter
Washers
Metal corner
A sheet of metal 2-3 mm thick, which will act as a base

So, to make a simple homemade product you will need to perform the following steps:

Cut the stud to the required length, then place the sleeve inside (it should move freely along the stud), and tighten the nuts onto the ends of the protruding stud. Tighten two nuts on both sides, since the second will act as a lock nut
The nuts should not be screwed in completely; they should not come into contact with the sleeve
The resulting structure should be welded to a steel sheet. In this case, it is important to grab the nuts, and the sleeve must remain mobile, that is, move freely
At the next stage, it is necessary to make mounts for the grinder. To do this, you will need metal profiles, as well as washers that will act as brackets
Cut to the required length (it all depends on the tool used, but for a low-power grinder, the profile length is 15-20 cm). Weld washers to the ends of the profiles. It is recommended to use at least 2 mounts for an angle grinder, but three is better
The angle grinder has threaded holes for connecting the handle. We use these holes to attach the tool to the movable base using pre-prepared brackets
First, the brackets are attached to the tool using bolted joints of the appropriate size, and then the reverse ends of the profiles are welded to the sleeve. As a result, we get a ready-made machine that can be produced literally within an hour

The photo below shows the design of a homemade machine made from a grinder with a detailed description of the necessary materials. Using the instructions, or for some, a diagram is enough to make a homemade cutting machine. It is important to take into account that a casing for an angle grinder must be provided, otherwise the risk of serious injury increases. Operating the tool without protective clothing, not only on a person, but also on the device itself, is strictly prohibited.

The simplest device is ready for use. The angle in the machine design is used as a guide for centering cutting materials. You also need to make a straight hole in the iron sheet, into which part of the disk will “go” when sawing workpieces.

Option 3 - an even easier way to make a cutting machine from an angle grinder

Many people do not have welding machines or do not know how to use them, so if you belong to the category of these people, then you should not despair. There is also no need to ask your friends and neighbors to make a machine. It is quite possible to do without welding, and bolts and nuts will be used as the main connectors. So, to construct a simple cutting machine from a grinder, you will need the following consumables:

Corners - and a small number of them up to 1 meter. If there are pieces, that's even better. Corner thickness is standard 2-3 mm
Steel tube 30 cm long - will be used as a handle on which the grinder will be attached
Steel sheet 2-3 mm thick and of any size, but not less than 20x20 cm
Bolts with nuts with a diameter of 8-10 mm

Let's start making a homemade instrument. The manufacturing process is as follows:

First, you need to attach a 15 cm long corner to the steel sheet
Attach another corner perpendicularly to the wall of the lying corner using bolts and nuts. If there is welding, you can make tack welds
Attach the tube to the perpendicularly installed angle using the same bolted connections
The tube should move freely, so there is no need to tighten the nut on the bolt. Instead, you need to tighten the fixing bolt with another nut.
Connect two steel plates measuring 5x6 cm to the tube at a distance from the connection point. These plates will be used to attach the grinder to the handle
Attach the angle grinder to the casing with pre-prepared steel plates

As a result, we get a simple cutting machine, a photo of which can be seen below.

There are many options for manufacturing similar structures, so it all depends on what you want to get in the end and what consumables are available. Working with the version of the cutting machine discussed above is not entirely convenient, as it is necessary to constantly hold the tool (due to the lack of a return mechanism), but this is easy to fix. A spring must be attached to the protruding part of the tube, which will return the tool to its original position, eliminating the need for the master to hold the operating unit.

How to make a start button for a pendulum machine from an angle grinder

The angle grinder works when you press a button. Moreover, the spindle rotation speed depends directly on the pressing force of the button. This means that an adjustment mechanism is built into the button, the operation of which facilitates the operation of the tool. When operating an angle grinder on a stationary machine, it is necessary to consider the starting system so that you do not have to hold the handle with one hand and press the button with the other.

If the tool is equipped with a regular button, which automatically locks when it is turned on, as for example in the first version of the machine, then no difficulties arise here. First, the tool is turned on, and then you can perform work. However, most angle grinders are equipped with self-off buttons that must be held by hand while operating. There are two ways out of this situation:

Use ties (for example, plastic) or clamps of the appropriate diameter. They fix the button in the pressed position. In this case, it is also necessary to take into account the latch, which is responsible for turning the tool on automatically. Both the latch and the button must be tightened with a clamp, tie or other similar materials. In this case, the principle of operation of the device will be as follows - if you need to start the tool, you need to plug the plug into a socket or make a switch
It is rational to remake the starting system if the tool is planned to be used more often as a cutting machine than as a stand-alone angle grinder. To do this, it is necessary to route the wires from the angle grinder to a separate switch, which will turn the tool on and off if necessary.

The power button, if it is displayed, is best located on the handle. A homemade machine does not require large expenses for its production, which, in fact, is its main advantage.

How to make a cutting machine step by step with drawings: 4 reasons in favor of implementing the project

In order not to doubt the correctness of the decision made, study the following facts:

without reliable fastening, the workpieces vibrate, increasing the risk of damage to the disk;
it is difficult to manipulate a heavy tool with high precision while maintaining the perpendicularity of the cut;
difficulties increase when processing thick products, when creating a large batch of similar parts;
Using both hands significantly increases the likelihood of injury.

A high-quality machine is necessary to solve the noted problems and improve productivity. It is created according to the following algorithm:

clarify the purpose and scope of work;
study drawings of factory analogues and homemade products, choose the appropriate option;
compose a set of design documentation with a list of necessary purchases;
carry out assembly according to the approved plan with performance testing.

Important points when constructing a pendulum machine

The type of tool under consideration belongs to the category of dangerous, therefore, when constructing the equipment, the following main points are taken into account:

The manufacture of the frame is the basis responsible for the reliability of the installation. It is impossible to save on the manufacture of the frame, therefore only steel materials are used, the thickness of which is at least 2 mm
Frame - the design of this part can be different, but the most important thing is to ensure the mobility of the cutting tool. This is achieved through the use of different materials, but in any case, you need to think carefully about the quality of the hinge joint, since your life depends on it. It’s better to spend more material, but make a high-quality and safe cutting machine
Tool fastening - the angle grinder is fixed directly to the moving part. Moreover, the fixation must be as reliable and high-quality as possible. When working with an angle grinder, “reverse impacts” may occur, which are dangerous because the machine may simply be damaged, and the master who performs the manipulation will suffer as a result.
Providing a counterweight is a small but important element that allows the tool to return to its original position when not needed. This will eliminate the possibility of damage to parts of the human body
A protective casing - it must be present, no matter what design of the machine is invented, but using the device without a protective casing is strictly contraindicated
The presence of a ruler - this will increase the accuracy of the work performed, which is important when cutting parts such as tiles, ceramics, and metal
The starting device is also a kind of safety-affecting device. The control button should be located in close proximity to the master performing the work. This will allow you to quickly react at the right time by turning off the power supply to the tool.

In addition to options when the machine has a moving part, there are also methods for manufacturing cutting devices with the tool located in the lower part of the bed or workbench tabletop. However, this option is suitable only for cases when sawing wood is planned. Below is an example of how to make a home sawmill from a grinder quickly and easily. Details on making home sawmills can be found in this article.

This is interesting!
The tool can only be used in this form with disks or circles for processing wood. Cutting tiles and metal in this position of the grinder is extremely dangerous.

Machine reinforcement and other operator protection

A reliable power frame is the basis of safety. Additionally, they cover moving parts and prevent unauthorized persons from accessing the work area. When processing parts, goggles, masks, mittens, and other personal protective equipment are used.

In addition to the reliable strengthening of the machine, a certain location of the grinder serves to protect the operator. For safety and to prevent damage to clothing, it is installed so that the sheaf of sparks during operation is directed in the opposite direction from the person.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of homemade machines made from grinders?

The homemade products in question have some advantages and disadvantages, which everyone who has set out to make a cutting machine from an angle grinder also needs to know about. The advantages include:

Having a stationary machine in the garage, you can quickly, and most importantly, efficiently cut different materials
Obtaining a high-quality and even cut, which makes the device perfect
Cheap - if you have an angle grinder, then the cost of manufacturing the machine will be minimal

Now let’s find out what disadvantages the homemade device in question has:

Low reliability - even with the most competent approach, the possibility cannot be ruled out that a person may receive various injuries just because of working on such homemade equipment. To protect yourself, you need to work in protective clothing
The difficulty of transporting the device depends on its size and weight. Only if the machine is called stationary, then it is intended for use in only one place

If you have already managed to manufacture the type of equipment in question, then understanding the correct operation of it will not be difficult. Already from the first test of the tool you can feel how effective its work is. Below is a selection of photos showing options for homemade cutting machines from grinders. In addition, a tool such as an angle grinder is fraught with many interesting ideas for expanding functionality, but that’s a completely different story.