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Purchasing a new double butterfly machine, what should I look out for?

There are various types and sizes of double butterfly machines. Depending on the desired square footage to be made, the appropriate working diameter can be chosen.
The larger the working diameter, the more efficient the machine!
An additional advantage is that with large working diameters there are gains in floor flatness.

All advantages also have disadvantages. Large butterfly machines generally have a higher purchase price, higher fuel consumption and they are more difficult to transport.
Wear parts such as finishing blades and sanding discs are also more expensive.

What working diameter should I choose?

  • 2x75cm
    This format is suitable for floors up to about 500m2. A big advantage of these small machines is that they fit through a door. This also makes them usable for homes, garages, offices and other small spaces.
  • 2x90cm
    This size is suitable for floors up to about 800m2 and is a commonly used size.
    Because most 2x90cm machines are up to 2 meters wide, 3 to 4 machines fit on a trailer.
  • 2x120cmThis format is suitable for large floors up to 1500m2. Above that, it is advisable to deploy multiple machines.
    All sizes above 120cm have even more capacity and can also gain on flatness.

Highrider or lowrider?

Butterfly machines, also called seat butterflies are available as highriders or lowriders.
In the past, mainly the small machines were available as lowriders, but nowadays even 2x120cm machines are available as lowriders.

  • High rider:
    In a highrider, the engine is in the center of the machine, and the weight is distributed so that the machine has the most ideal balance. This distributes the pressure on the blades as evenly as possible and provides the most optimal operation.
    However, the seat sits high so getting on and off is often a bit more difficult, especially if the machine does not have hydraulic steering.
  • Low rider:
    A lowrider on the other hand has a very low step and low seating position. This makes getting on and off the machine much easier, and it is even possible to set edges with a handheld trowel while remaining seated on the machine.
    One disadvantage of the lowrider is that the balance is not ideal. In a lowrider, the engine is mounted on the side, and on the other side is often offset by the fuel tank, water tank and battery.
    As a result, the weight distribution is not equal.

Which controller suits me?

Double butterfly machines are available with manual control and hydraulic control.

  • Manual control:
    In manual control, the machine is controllable by sticks. This gives great feeling with the machine and the floor but takes effort.
    In general, the bigger/heavier the machine, the more effort is required to control it.
    However, there is a huge difference in this for each brand!
    For example, high quality machines such as AB Lindec are equipped with full bearing control and bearing suspension. With this, it is also possible to adjust the stroke and feel of the steering in 3 positions to your liking.
    Short stroke = a lot of feeling but more effort. Long stroke = less sensitive but less effort. The advantage of machines with manual controls is that they are less expensive, and they are generally more precise and more sensitive to control.
    The disadvantage is that it requires more physical effort, and the controller consists of more rotating/moving parts that require timely maintenance.
  • Hydraulic steering:With hydraulic steering, the machine is steerable by means of two joysticks. This takes no effort and gives great comfort during flattening.
    Especially on larger projects, this is a very big advantage, and once you get used to this you won’t be stepping on a machine with manual controls any time soon.
    Hydraulic steering is generally slightly less precise to control than manual steering, however, each brand feels different.
    Each brand has its own system and with it its advantages and disadvantages. Which hydraulic system is used, which cylinders and the placement of the cylinders have a lot of influence on the steering character.
    With high quality machines such as AB Lindec, for example, there is a choice between hard and soft steering.
    Hard steering = fast reactions with short movements of the joystick. Soft steering allows for slower reactions and feels less nervous.

Which drive should I choose?

  • Centrifugal/freewheel clutch:
    Many double butterfly machines are equipped with a freewheel or centrifugal clutch. In this, the clutch rotates freely when engine is running at idle speed, and automatically engages when the speed is increased. This is a fine system and price-wise the most interesting, but limits pulling power and maximum rpm.
  • Variable Drive:
    A variable transmission has a great advantage on a double butterfly machine. Both the pulling power and maximum rpm will be a stiffer higher as a result. 2 birds with one stone while the engine power remains the same.
    This system offers advantages when sanding because much more tractive power is available. It also offers advantages in finishing because the finishing speed increases about 30%.
    The disadvantage of this system is that it is a bit more expensive to purchase than a centrifugal clutch.
  • Hydraulic driveThe large double butterfly machines from 2x120cm are available with hydraulic drive. This is the most powerful drive for butterfly machines and suitable for heavy and intensive work. However, the purchase price of machines with full hydraulic drive are a lot higher, and the maintenance and repair costs are also a lot higher than machines with centrifugal or vario drive.

 

 

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