What is this?

[NCMau]

I bought this beautiful beefy grinder few years ago at an auction. I am going to modify it and use it as a small surface grinder. It has several X-Y movements.
I am curious to know what was/is the specific use of this grinder.
Anybody?

[mudbug]

Never seen one before,but looks like it was a specific function built tool (I'd have bought it too)

Don't see why it won't work for your intended use though. You might be able to attach cutter wheels to the spindle instead of a grinder wheel and use it as a spline cutter on a shaft or maybe it was originally for cutting keyways ?

Probable not suitable for heavy duty cutting ,but might work as an occasional light duty horizontal mill of sorts?

Cool Tool at any rate..

After looking at it more... The shaft mount is smooth on one side while the other side has a keyway so it was probably built to do something specific in a manufacturing plant. It could have used a grinder wheel to surface flats on something too.

[GWIZ]

I don't see way of moving the Y axis, I would guess it was used for sharpening circular saw blades and maybe router bits (seeing the index ring)
Planer blades with an angled fixture.

[greywynd]

Originally Posted by GWIZ

I don't see way of moving the Y axis, I would guess it was used for sharpening circular saw blades and maybe router bits (seeing the index ring)
Planer blades with an angled fixture.

I'm wondering if the motor/wheel move in and out, but not certain.

I'm thinking it would be some sort of sharpener/grinder too, whether woodworking tools, or possibly milling cutters for horizontal mills.

[LKeithR]

Yup, tool sharpener of some sort...

[PixMan]

There's a handwheel on the bottom that adjusts Y-axis, its just not very accessable.

I think you might have meant Z axis. Nothing obvious, though shades of a handwheel in the rear of the machine.

[Lew Hartswick]

Originally Posted by PixMan

There's a handwheel on the bottom that adjusts Y-axis, its just not very accessable.

I think you might have meant Z axis. Nothing obvious, though shades of a handwheel in the rear of the machine.

Interesting comment. : Since the spindle rotation on lathes and mills is the Z
axis, why is it not for a surface grinder???
...lew...

[NCMau]

Originally Posted by PixMan

There's a handwheel on the bottom that adjusts Y-axis, its just not very accessable.

I think you might have meant Z axis. Nothing obvious, though shades of a handwheel in the rear of the machine.

I guess you are right about the Z axis. I am not very familiar with the terminology. The broken wheel in the back adjust the in and out position of the motor.
The tag says: Dependable Machine Co., Mod 101-4. Also says "Manufacturing Woodworking Machinery". Google didn't help.
So like you guys pointed out, most likely is a sharpener for wood working tools.
Anyway, I think even with its limited travel, I can make it work for a small shop surface grinder or whatever would evolve into. Just a fun project.

[digr]

Here ya go I think the machine is in this catalog page 11 on the menu bar page 12,13 and 14 in the document

[mudbug]

It's amazing that this was identified from a simple picture... This place never fails to be a wonder on most any subject.