Glass edge grinding is a critical process in the glass manufacturing process, ensuring that the edges of glass products are smooth, safe, and beautiful. To achieve high-quality results while ensuring safety, operators must follow a detailed process and observe specific precautions. Below is a comprehensive guide to the glass edge grinding process and the necessary safety measures.

1. Preparation Before Starting Work

Before beginning an edge grinding operation, the operator must take the following preparatory steps:

• Wear protective gear: Operators should wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves and rubber boots, to prevent potential injuries. When handling large pieces of glass, they should also wear a hard hat to prevent falling debris.
• Review the production task list: Operators must carefully review the production task list to understand the specific processing requirements and goals for the day. This ensures that everyone is on the same page regarding the tasks at hand.

2. Inspect Semi-Finished Products

Before processing, it is essential to thoroughly inspect the semi-finished glass:

• Recheck dimensions: The operator should carefully measure the dimensions of the glass piece to ensure that any errors from previous operations have not been carried over. Accurate dimensions are critical to achieving a desired end product.
• Check appearance quality: The operator must check the glass for any defects such as scratches, scale or chipped corners. Any defective glass should be removed from the production line to prevent quality problems in the final product.

3. Monitoring During Edge Grinding

During the edge grinding process, the operator should remain alert and pay attention to the condition of the glass:

• Check for cracks: The operator must constantly monitor the glass for signs of cracks. If any cracks are detected, the edge grinding operation should be stopped immediately to avoid further damage to the glass, equipment or personnel.
• Maintain proper grinding technique: The operator should ensure that the grinding wheel is operating properly and that the appropriate grinding parameters are set for the type of glass being processed. This includes monitoring grinding speed, pressure and cooling water supply.

4. Safety Handling of Glass

When handling glass, operators must follow specific procedures to ensure safety and integrity:

• Proper glass handling: When removing glass pieces from the production line, operators should peel the glass from the outside in. This method helps maintain the integrity of the glass and prevent edge damage.
• Avoid pulling from the inside: Operators should never pull glass fragments from the inside as this may cause the glass to break or shatter. Ensuring that the glass remains intact during handling is critical to safety and quality.

5. Appearance Quality Standards

For high-quality glass, its inspection standards must meet or exceed the standards of automotive-grade glass stock to ensure excellent aesthetic quality.

6. Grinding Amount Control

When the glass thickness is less than 8mm, the grinding amount should be less than 2.5mm.

When the glass thickness is between 10mm and 19mm, the grinding amount should be less than 1.5mm.

The feed rate must be controlled:

For glass below 8 mm, the speed should be less than 2.5 m.

For glass thickness between 10 mm and 19 mm, the speed should be less than 1.5 m.

7. Routine Inspection

The operator must perform daily inspections of the edge grinder after starting and stopping the machine.

Inspection criteria include checking for loose grinding wheels, assessing wear and ensuring circulating water is clean.

Trial grinding is required when processing glass of different thicknesses to verify the performance and safety of the edge grinder.

8. Handling Large Flat Glass

For large areas of flat glass (greater than 3 square meters), hooks and suction cups are required to ensure stability and safety.

When multiple operators lift glass onto the edger, they must coordinate their movements, maintain a consistent speed and avoid running, which can cause accidents.

9. Daily Inspection and Maintenance

Before starting the grinding process, the operator must conduct a thorough inspection of the grinding wheel and edge grinder:

• Inspect grinding wheel: Grinding wheels should be carefully inspected, adjusted and calibrated daily. This includes checking for wear and ensuring the wheel is properly sharpened before machining any product. A well-maintained grinding wheel is essential to achieving a smooth surface and preventing glass breakage.
• Check the circulating water: The circulating water must be kept clean to prevent overheating and ensure effective cooling during the grinding process. The operator should check whether the circulating pipe is unobstructed and change the water regularly to maintain optimal performance.

10. Full Quality Inspection

After the edging process is completed, the glass needs to be fully inspected:

• Appearance and dimensional inspection: The operator should thoroughly inspect the appearance, dimensions and quality of the ground glass. This ensures that any unqualified products are identified and rejected before entering the next processing stage.
• Special requests: For grinding of profiled edges, operators must strictly follow customer specifications and refer to samples or geometries. This attention to detail ensures that the ground surface is smooth and achieves the desired finish.

11. Apply Force Evenly

During the grinding process, it is important to maintain uniform force:

Avoid excessive pressure: Operators should be mindful of the pressure applied during grinding. Excessive pressure can cause damage or cracking of the glass. Continuous and controlled pressure helps to achieve a high-quality finish without compromising the integrity of the glass.

12. Safe Handling and Storage Regulations

Proper handling and stacking of ground-edge glass is essential to prevent damage:

• Use of isolation paper: For extremely demanding fine glass, isolation paper should be used to isolate the glass fragments when stacking after edge grinding. This can prevent direct contact and potential scratches.
• Prevent scratches when stacking: When stacking different specifications of ground edge glass, the operator should place paper or string at the edge connection. This precaution helps prevent the glass from scratching each other during storage or transportation.

These precautions not only improve the quality of the finished glass, but also create a safe working environment for all those involved in the glass manufacturing process.