Welcome to the Podiatry Arena forums

You are currently viewing our podiatry forum as a guest which gives you limited access to view all podiatry discussions and access our other features. By joining our free global community of Podiatrists and other interested foot health care professionals you will have access to post podiatry topics (answer and ask questions), communicate privately with other members, upload content, view attachments, receive a weekly email update of new discussions, access other special features. Registered users do not get displayed the advertisements in posted messages. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our global Podiatry community today!

  1. Have you considered the Clinical Biomechanics Boot Camp Online, for taking it to the next level? See here for more.
    Dismiss Notice
Dismiss Notice
Have you considered the Clinical Biomechanics Boot Camp Online, for taking it to the next level? See here for more.
Dismiss Notice
Have you liked us on Facebook to get our updates? Please do. Click here for our Facebook page.
Dismiss Notice
Do you get the weekly newsletter that Podiatry Arena sends out to update everybody? If not, click here to organise this.

In-House Modification of orthotics.

Discussion in 'General Issues and Discussion Forum' started by elainehoey, Oct 1, 2010.

  1. elainehoey

    elainehoey Member


    Members do not see these Ads. Sign Up.
    Hi,
    Was looking for advice on the best bench grinder that is avalable on the market.

    I'm based in the UK and I am using Everflex orthotics which are carbon fibre. So looking for both a coarse and fine wheel, along with a horsehair wheel.

    Also if anyone knows the best type of glue for adaptions and top covers for these types of devices.

    Much appreciated

    Elaine Hoey
     
  2. pgcarter

    pgcarter Well-Known Member

    Carbon fibre is much more tempramental/impossible to adjust.....I make all my devices and for reasons of ease of use do not use carbon fibre.......why do you prescribe them? New top sheets are easy enough but changing profiles is not really possible.
    regards Phill Carter
     
  3. elainehoey

    elainehoey Member

    Hi Philip,

    thanks for the reply.

    I find Everflex orthotics excellent for most patients and can be easily modified with a coarse and fine permanent gritted wheel on a grinder. I'm just trying to source one over here as I don't have access to the previous one I had used.

    Kind Regards

    Elaine
     
  4. pgcarter

    pgcarter Well-Known Member

    Carbon fibre used to be a one time moldable substance that could not change shape after initial molding. As far as grinding it goes there are a number of reasons why you need to be careful about inhalation of dust from it. It is also less easy to grind to a good finish than other materials, maybe you have something which is different to how it used to be??
    regards Phill
     
  5. footdoctor

    footdoctor Active Member

    Hi Elaine.

    I own an orthotics lab in the u.k and think i can help you.


    We have used many different grinders since our inception, now using industrial units because of continuous use.

    We used to use the combi 10 from algeos, its a great unit as it has 2 grinding wheels and two polishing wheels and has a port at the back for dust extraction unit to be fitted. Its fairly priced and we ran it every day for years without any problems.www.algeos.com.

    Give them a try.


    Scott
     
  6. elainehoey

    elainehoey Member

    Hi Scott,

    many thanks for your reply. It was good to hear from someone with the experience.

    I had spoken to algeos to see if i could get 2 permanent gritted wheels on a grinder, one coarse and one fine. Not heard back yet.
    Do your wheels require adding sandpaper or are they a permanent grit?

    What type of glue do you recommend for the Everflex-cabonfibre orthotics?


    Regards

    Elaine
     
  7. footdoctor

    footdoctor Active Member

    Hi Elaine.

    The wheels on the combi 10 unit from algeos are rubber and you can choose which grit of caps you want. I use a light grit for finishing and heavy grit for removing most of the excess material, its pretty easy to replace the sand caps and they usually last about a year.

    I use colle de cologne by renia, works for bonding pretty much any material, you will require good ventilation and a respirator/extraction unit though its pretty nasty stuff. More importantly it depends what material you are bonding to the shell. Neoprene, eva and foams bond nicely. poron must be abraded, coated with a pu primer before adhesion and vinyl can be difficult too. Just make sure that the layer of glue is thin and evenly spread, allow it to dry completely then rectivate with a short blast from a heat gun.

    good luck

    scott
     
  8. Jeremy Long

    Jeremy Long Active Member

    Out of our sanders my favorite machine in the Podo Mini from a German maker. It has far better rotary power than the Sani-grinder, et.al. It also has a vacuum that actually sucks virtually anything, including carbon and fiberglass.

    I like Scott's mention of Renia's Colle De Cologne. It is the best cement I have experienced for shoe soling modifications, but it is ridiculously intolerable to air exposure. Maybe that's what helps it hold for so many soling types. For orthotics I have good success and far better resistance to unwanted coagulation with Renia's Ortek cement.
     
  9. elainehoey

    elainehoey Member

    Hi Scott,

    I have spoken to algeos.

    What grit of sand caps do you use for a coarse finish and what one for a fine finish. I will be grinding carbofibre, poron and EVA predominantly.


    Regards

    Elaine
     
  10. footdoctor

    footdoctor Active Member

    Hi Elaine.

    For the combi 10 use course grit 80 on the big wheel and fine grit 24 on the thinner wheel.

    for working with poron and incorporating forefoot extensions into the carbon use a lamelle wheel on the right side of the unit. personally i think horse hair wheels are pointless, unless you want to polish the surface.However as the combi 10 is a constant speed motor it tends to tarnish the surface rather than polish it!!

    Happy grinding!!

    scott
     
  11. elainehoey

    elainehoey Member

    Hi Scott,

    thanks for that. I spoke to Algeos and unfortunately one doesn't get the chance to try the sand cap grits out first. So its good to be recommended what will work.

    I previously found the horsehair good for removing poron additions that i had glued onto the carbonfibre shell. Thats why I was keen to retain it .

    I'm sorry but what is a lamelle wheel?

    Kind Regards

    Elaine
     
  12. footdoctor

    footdoctor Active Member

    Well, you've got space for 2 wheels on the righthand side so fit a horsehair wheel too.

    Lamelle is like scotch brite (think abrasive polishing wheel used to shine up floors on industrial floor polishers) it's great for incorporating poron/cork/Eva into the shell as it's slightly rounded in shape and flexible unlike a hard sanding wheel.

    Wire wheels work for this too but are slightly too harsh.

    Scott
     
Loading...

Share This Page