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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands
    Posts
    208

    Default AI Hembrug universal grinder

    Hi everyone, when replying to another topic, I was asked to show some pictures of my AI Hembrug universal grinder.

    Truth be told, I have more than one. This is the one I want to keep for myself:
    uploadfromtaptalk1425155224221.jpg
    uploadfromtaptalk1425155284908.jpg

    As you can see it is not in a working state. I am working on overhauling it, in between other projects.
    I am a bit of a Hembrug nut, and my current "high priority" project is overhauling a Hembrug DR1ls lathe to replace my current DR1s lathe I went over before.
    I also have a Hembrug shaper that is done and in use and a Hembrug mill that is in queue after my grinder.

    At the moment I am also getting another and almost identical grinder ready to sell. This one is in a better shape to show how it should look:
    uploadfromtaptalk1425155697422.jpg
    uploadfromtaptalk1425155782649.jpg
    uploadfromtaptalk1425156007268.jpg

    This one I bought for some accessories I did not have with my "primary one". But it needs to go soon, these are no small machines!

    I include an original Hembrug picture, to show one of these machines in use:
    uploadfromtaptalk1425156267294.jpg

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands
    Posts
    208

    Default

    I am constantly looking for any of the machine's accessories I don't have yet. But I do already have a lot of accessories for my grinder. I recently bought (but not yet collected) the radius grinding attachment. Here are some pictures of what I have already:
    uploadfromtaptalk1425156694700.jpg
    Centres and center height gauge

    uploadfromtaptalk1425156768596.jpg
    Vices, saw sharpening attachment and large working head with attached dividing attachment

    uploadfromtaptalk1425156933818.jpg
    Internal grinding attachment, large center and dust collection stuff

    uploadfromtaptalk1425157054272.jpg
    Radius dresser, copying attachment and chucks

    uploadfromtaptalk1425157202696.jpg
    Internal grinding stuff, stone dresser, sharpening fingers etc.

    uploadfromtaptalk1425157290901.jpg
    Vertical grinding attachment

    uploadfromtaptalk1425157441503.jpg
    Cylindrical grinding attachment

    There has to be a small workhead somewhere in there too.

    There is also a magnetic sine plate tucked away somewhere in my shop.
    There are a bunch attachments for different kinds of stones and there are all kinds of tapers etc for inserting in the workheads for sharpening different tools.
    And there is a collet attachment for the workheads. And of course a plentitude of different stones.

    And when my grinder is finished: I also have an instructional book that teaches how to sharpen a lot of different tools

    I hope you enjoyed this look at one of my machines/projects.

    regards,
    Peter Heuts

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Perth WA
    Age
    71
    Posts
    6,458

    Default

    Thank you for posting the photos of your grinder Peter. It is certainly substantial.

    Accessories make these machines. The grinder I bought from Peter Fou came with nearly every accessory Hercus made along with a number of additional fixtures made by Peter. I'd previously owned a worn out grinder that had only two accessories, a tailstock and an internal grinding spindle. Pretty much useless.

    What did Hembrug use as a dust extractor?

    I noticed the museum credit on the photo of the youngster at work. I've just had a wander through some of the exhibits. Found a DR1 and a neat little shaper

    Hembrug.jpg

    Bob.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands
    Posts
    208

    Default

    Bob,
    You are certainly right about the accessories of grinders.
    That's why I am constantly on the lookout for them. I am still looking for the relief grinding fixture and have a lead for the "long reamer sharpening fixture" and the nicer multispeed cylindrical grinder attachment. All in due time though, this stuff does not come free.

    I will post pictures of the radius grinding attachment here once I have collected it.

    As for the dust collector, as luck would have it I have an original one
    uploadfromtaptalk1425210931956.JPG
    uploadfromtaptalk1425210950125.JPG

    And the manual page:


    I am missing a dustbag, so it is not fully operational yet, but I am currently working on that with a friend who also owns one, but with a worn out dust bag. Good enough for a pattern though.

    Here is a picture of one of my grinders with dust collection where I bought it:
    uploadfromtaptalk1425211223143.jpg

    This actually is an interesting story (I think)
    This Picture is taken in the shop of the older gentleman I bought this grinder from. He was nearly 80 years old and in bad health. But he still ran a sharpening service. He had to move house because of his health, so he had to sell all his equipment. I met him because of his hembrug grinder, but ended up helping him sell his stuff end clear out his shop.
    As it turned out His father used to be employed at Hembrug's own police, and he himself ended up being trained as a grinder at Hembrug, and after that working there for years. When he left he went to work for the Navy, and was allowed to take the grinder he worked on with him. And that is the grinder I bought from him.
    I still speak with him regularly, and he has told me a lot of stories about Hembrug and his time there. Since I am a Hembrug nut, I thoroughly enjoyed that.
    I also visited the Hembrug Museum with him, and even had a (rare) tour around the former Hembrug grounds.
    The museum is completely run by volunteers, all former Hembrug employees.

    I don't know if you know anything about Hembrug's History?
    I don't know what the proper English word is, but the name "AI Hembrug" comes from "artillery institute (?)" Hembrug. Brug means bridge, and the Hembrug used to be an important bridge near the AI grounds. Hembrug was added to AI to distinguish between both locations after it moved from Haarlem to Zaandam.
    The AI was the dutch government's service that made all kind of supplies for the army. All kinds of ammunition, guns, bajonet's, gasmasks etc. Adjacent to their factories were all kinds of testing facilities of the dutch army where they used to test all kinds of things on the produced guns and ammunition.
    During worldwar 2 the Germans occupied the AI facilities, and robbed everything from the grounds when they left. What they could not take with them they ruined. In the efforts to recover from the war the AI was again built up and equipped. From this period comes the start of production of the AI Hembrug machines.

    The museum shows mainly things about the organisation AI and their primary purpose. The two machines you mention are actually the two only AI machines on display there.
    I am afraid all knowledge and documentation about AI Hembrug machines is scattered around the country among all individual owners of these machines, and a few companies that still overhaul these machines.

    That's why I am trying to collect as much information about AI Hembrug machines as I can (which proves to be quite difficult), and give it to everyone who needs/wants it.

    I hope I haven't exceeded your interest,
    Regards,
    Peter

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands
    Posts
    208

    Default

    Bob,
    By the way, have you posted any pictures from your grinder and accessories? I am curious about how yours looks.

    Peter

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Norwood-ish, Adelaide
    Age
    59
    Posts
    6,541

    Default

    And I was just about to ask if you could give us a brief history of AI Hembrug.

    Michael

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Ballarat
    Age
    65
    Posts
    3,103

    Default

    Needless to say Peter, you couldn't exceed my interest. History is something I am yet to get enough of.
    It doesn't matter what the history is about.
    Many thanks.

    Phil

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    4,779

    Default

    Hi Peter,

    Thanks for posting. That manufacturer certainly did not err on the light side when they built their machines. I can see why you would be a fan of such!

    It makes my quaint t&c look like a toothpick!

    Simon
    Girl, I don't wanna know about your mild-mannered alter ego or anything like that." I mean, you tell me you're, uh, super-mega-ultra-lightning babe? That's all right with me. I'm good. I'm good.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Perth WA
    Age
    71
    Posts
    6,458

    Default

    Hello Peter,

    Thank you for the photos and drawing of the extractor and even more so, the accompanying story. It is a nice thing to know the history of the machines we acquire.

    I had heard about Hembrug a number of years ago. One site I often visit is that of the Dutch machine seller, Machinehandel Bos. He has some exquisite stuff, invariably something from Schaublin and at the moment he has a DR1 for sale. His photos are amongst the best on the Web and if you are only window shopping then why not look at good stuff - http://www.machinehandelbos.nl/aanbo...es/draaibanken

    One of our good friends, who these days only makes an occasional cameo appearance on the forum, is Greg Q. Greg has a DR1, a thing of solidity and beauty. Sadly, I haven't seen it running as Greg was slowly restoring the machine to its original splendor. I think he also had some electrical issues with the motor that prevented a live demonstration. Hopefully he might make a guest appearance to comment on his Hembrug experience.

    Here is a link to thread showing the Hercus No.1 grinder I purchased last year from Peter Fou. http://www.woodworkforums.com/showth...30#post1715330

    Bob.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands
    Posts
    208

    Default

    Hi everyone, thanks for your kind replies.

    I picked up the radius grinding attachment for my U2 grinder yesterday:
    uploadfromtaptalk1425467183117.jpg
    uploadfromtaptalk1425467242298.jpg
    It seems to be in good shape and only needs minimal clean-up.
    If only my grinder was back together again....

    One thing I did not mention before is that Hembrug made two different grinders, the U1 and the U2. They were almost the same, with one big difference, and that is a feature I have not seen on any other grinder. I mentioned with one of my pictures that I have a copy attachment. What distinguishes the U2 from the U1 is the fact that the bearings for the fore-aft movement of the table are much smoother, and the table can be disconnected from the spindle in this direction. Add a counterweight and a template (or original) and follower and you are able to copy-grind. Which will enable me to sharpen or grind blades and bits with special profiles.
    Has anyone heard of such a feature on other grinders?

    Peter

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands
    Posts
    208

    Default

    Hi Bob,

    I can only agree with your remark on window shopping. I like to do that a lot myself, at least regarding "old iron"

    I looked at the pictures of your grinder you kindly provided the link to. That looks like an interesting and capable grinder you have got! Thanks for the link.

    I would be interested to hear Greg's story if he happens to drop by. Always nice to hear from a fellow Hembrug user. I might even be of a little help (if his lathe is not finished yet)?
    I assume there are not many Hembrug machines in use outside of the Netherlands, although they are quite common over here.

    I have no need for big work, and after using my previous dr1s for some time I certainly am very happy with it's performance within this workenvelope.

    A nice extra is that I can use the same collets (which are not that easy to get nowadays) for both my lathe and grinder.

    Peter

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Squamish BC Canada
    Posts
    8

    Default

    Hi There,

    I am looking for some information that is in the beginning of the manual for the U1/U2 T&C grinder that describes the extra attachments.
    As you know, the maintenance part of the manual has the english translation beside the Dutch? However, the extra attachments section is in Dutch only. Wondering if there is someone out there that could translate it?
    Ideally all of it but mostly, I am interested in the part that describes the vertical grinding attachment and the drill/backing off grinding attachment.

    Also, when you are rebuilding these machines where you get the precision cylindrical rollers that the table rides on? And of course, I am always looking for attachments.

    Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    Kind Regards

    Dan

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands
    Posts
    208

    Default

    Dan,
    I would be happy to help you with the translation, but since there are different versions of the manual, it would help If I can get a copy of yours. I hope you have a pdf, or a possibility to make one? I don't mind translating the whole thing, but I would like to do it in parts if you don't mind.

    AI Hembrug used standard SKF parts for all their bearings, and as far as I know all are still available. The rollers you mentioned definitely are, because I inquired about them. I held off at the moment because they were sold in packs of 100 if I recall. And I needed 2 different sizes. What sizes do you need? (I have come across 2 different configurations) maybe we can share?

    Peter

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Squamish BC Canada
    Posts
    8

    Default

    Hi Peter,

    Attached is a copy of the first part of the manual that I have.It was compressed in order to upload to the forum. If you want I can send you the scanned copies directly.

    As a starting point, I recently purchased a vertical grinding attachment and have basically figured out how to grind drill bits with the "backing off grinding attachment" (google translate). The 5c collet end seems to be setup up similar to a Harig Step Grinding Tool. However, the other end has a different taper, a long bar, and a clearance setting dog that I have absolutely no idea how to use.

    The cylindrical rollers are listed as
    • Roller dia 12 x 12 SKF x 45 pcs
    • Roller dia 10 x 14 SKF x 19pcs


    Having to buy a hundred doesn't seem that bad given that I was told 500 was the minimum.

    I will take some pictures tomorrow of all of the different attachments that I have.

    Thanks for all of your help. It is greatly appreciated.
    Dan
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Attached Files Attached Files

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Squamish BC Canada
    Posts
    8

    Default

    Hi All,

    As promised, a few more photo's...

    Dan
    Attached Images Attached Images

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