how fast does the flex 3401 rotate?

[pman626]

In the beginning of the video, it appears the pad rotates very slowly. Is the camera not catching how fast it really rotates, or does it really rotate that slowly? It looks like it rotates 10x slower than a rotary

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arn_kVH3BVc]In depth Look at the FLEX 3401 Polisher - YouTube[/video]

[Setec Astronomy]

First, as you note, it may be some artifact of frames-per-second, etc. But more likely you are seeing 1) yes, it's slower than a rotary spinning at 1500 RPM 2) remember the pad is also oscillating as well as rotating.

I don't know what the forced rotation speed is, but it's not as fast as a rotary, because this machine uses the combination of rotation and oscillation, like any DA.

[Mike Phillips]

In the beginning of the video, it appears the pad rotates very slowly. Is the camera not catching how fast it really rotates, or does it really rotate that slowly?



I'll check with Yancy to see if he did any speed adjustment of the buffing sequence for aesthetic reasons.





It looks like it rotates 10x slower than a rotary




The Flex 3401 is very very different than the rotary buffer and any other tool for that matter. The below two videos show the difference in how the drive mechanisms work.



An overview with demonstrations of the Porter Cable 7424XP, Meguiar's G110v2, Griot's Garage 6" Random Orbital Polisher, Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher, Flex 3401, Flex 603, Flex 3403, Cyclo Polisher, Makita 9227C, DeWalt 849,





Part 1 - How To Pick the Right Car Polisher for your Detail Project




YouTube- Part 1 - How To Pick the Right Car...





Part 2 - How To Pick the Right Car Polisher for your Detail Project




YouTube- Part 2 - How To Pick the Right Car...

Big picture is this..

The Flex engineers did their homework and the high speed setting on the Flex 3401 is as fast as you need a pad rotating and oscillating to do correction work on modern paint systems.

I'm confident after meeting with Flex engineers and touring their manufacturing facilities as well as attending their training seminar for their tools that if higher speeds were truly needed that is something they could have easily engineered.

Here's a few threads from Nick and my trip to Stuttgart, German to visits Flex.


Germany Flex Plant Tour Pictures (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/off-topic/41718-germany-flex-plant-tour-pictures.html)

Hands-On Training Class at Flex Power Tools in Stuttgart, Germany (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/off-topic/41734-hands-training-class-flex-power-tools-stuttgart-germany.html)

Autogeek Meets Flex Power Tools of Germany - My Perspective (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/company-forum-news-headlines/41816-autogeek-meets-flex-power-tools-germany-my-perspective.html)

Mike and Nick's Excellent Flex Adventure! - Going to Germany! (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/off-topic/41492-mike-nick-s-excellent-flex-adventure-going-germany.html)

Suby, Bob, Me and Nick in Stuttgart, Germany! (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/off-topic/41730-suby-bob-me-nick-stuttgart-germany.html)

Checker Cab in Germany! (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/off-topic/41844-checker-cab-germany.html)


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Mercedes-Benz Taxis in Germany (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/off-topic/41815-mercedes-benz-taxis-germany.html)


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[WRAPT C5Z06]

Speed 6 = 480 RPM

[Mike Phillips]

How many orbits are there in one rotation for the Flex 3401? (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/off-topic/56789-how-many-orbits-there-one-rotation-flex-3401-a.html)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1153/FlexOrbitsPer1Rotation001.jpg





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[Mike Phillips]

Speed Settings for the Flex 3401 (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/flex-polishers/49262-speed-settings-flex-3401-a.html)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1153/Flex3401Speed6.jpg



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