Flex and 'Forced Rotation'

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brwill2005

New member
Given the recent interest in the Flex polisher, I have been thinking about the concept of 'forced rotation'. Can someone define exactly what forced rotation is? I think I have a pretty good idea of what it is, but am curious as to what others think it is. Since the Flex is currently the 'in' polisher, how is it better than a Cyclo as far as its polishing action. If my concept of forced rotation is correct, the Cyclo is also a 'forced rotation' machine. I have never seen the heads on my Cyclo stop rotating, even with heavy pressure. I also know that the heads rotate in the exact same orbit every time. Just interested in what people think.
 
ROB buffers just orbit but the pad is free spinning. Rotary is just spinning and is run by a gear. The new forced rotation machines like the Flex and Makita BO6040 spin like a rotary "and" orbit at the same time. The BO6040 has two modes, forced rotation/orbit and just orbit. When you put it in forced rotation mode a gear spins the pad while it orbits back and forth.
 
OK, I think it is becoming more clear. Does anyone know of a diagram of how this works mechanically? I know the Cyclo is not random orbit, because the two heads orbit in exactly the same motion every time. I also know that the the heads on the Cyclo do not spin and orbit at the same time.
 
I was just viewing the Flex website. It does not mention that the head spins and orbits at the same time. I am not doubting what you guys are saying, rather just trying to understand how this works. I would be willing to bet the action of the Cyclo and the Flex is very similar, minus one head.
 
brwill2005 said:
OK, I think it is becoming more clear. Does anyone know of a diagram of how this works mechanically? I know the Cyclo is not random orbit, because the two heads orbit in exactly the same motion every time. I also know that the the heads on the Cyclo do not spin and orbit at the same time.
Click to expand...



Thought I'd resurrect this thread because I, too, would be interested in finding a diagram to show how this works. Anyone?
 
I'd be interested to see how much difference in cutting can be accomplished in RO mode vs RO w/forced rotation mode.
 
Just today I washed an M5 that I polish out here and there for free. In between the car is butchered when it gets washed.



Too bad that I didn't take a before picture. First I tried the udm and an orange pad OP/SIP - not much correction.



Then I switched to the flex and with the white 6.5" ccs pad from AG and poli seal. Paint correction: 98%



The difference is day and night. I mean 60% more power then the pc. You really want to compare the flex to a rotary. Not a pc type of polisher.



Brad - It will eat the cyclo for breakfast.



Call me



Come by if you want to to try it out.
 
Here you go - this is just poli seal.



aston016.jpg
 
brwill2005 said:
... If my concept of forced rotation is correct, the Cyclo is also a 'forced rotation' machine. ....
Click to expand...
With the machine turned off, give the head a spin. if it rotates freely it isn't forced orbit.





brwill2005 said:
.... Does anyone know of a diagram of how this works mechanically? ....
Click to expand...
Ever play with a Spirograph when you were a kid? It works like that.



Here’s a very cool math website with a demo that let’s you play with the motion.





wannafbody said:
I'd be interested to see how much difference in cutting can be accomplished in RO mode vs RO w/forced rotation mode.
Click to expand...
The Festool, Bosch and Makita can be switched back and forth between forced and random orbit modes.



The easiest way to get a feel for it is to try it both ways. Doing it with sanding disks on a chunk of wood really illustrates the difference.







PC.
 
I got a PC witch is just RO and a Makita 6040 witch is forced rotation and RO and the difference between the 2 is night and day . The cutting power of the force rotation is much more . This is evident when you try on hard clear like the Audi's . With the PC very Little correction can be achieve . With the Makita in RO very similar result than the PC. But when you switch to Forced rotation you can get the job done with no problem . I have done this with the SIP and 106FF .

The RO mode is great as a finishing with a Wax or a sealant



Cheers , Jean Paul
 
(quote)With the machine turned off, give the head a spin. if it rotates freely it isn't forced orbit.(end Quote)



I tried this today. My PC spins with the touch of a finger. My rotary turns with resistance-you can feel the gears moving. My Ridgid 2610 moves but you have grasp the edges of the backing plate to turn it. It doesn't spin freely like the PC. Maybe the Ridgids have some type of forced rotation:think2
 
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