Description
The RM48AE-VS builds on everything that made the RM-48 famous and adds the one feature that professional users ask for most: variable belt speed. Fitted with a quality British-made inverter drive, the RM48AE-VS allows you to dial belt speed from a gentle 300 RPM up to 1,600 RPM, giving you the precision to work safely and accurately across a far wider range of materials — from hardened tool steel to timber, plastic, and non-ferrous metals like aluminium, brass, and titanium.
Like all Radius Master machines, the RM48AE-VS uses a 50 x 1220mm (2″ x 48″) belt and offers seven grinding and finishing stations: five contact wheels in different diameters, a free-floating slack belt zone, and a flat platen. Every station is accessible in seconds without tools, via the quick-release tilting and pivoting head mechanism. Switching from vertical to horizontal orientation — or from the 88mm wheel to the 25mm radius — is done in a single motion.
The AE (Australian Edition) designation confirms this machine is configured and wired for 240V / 10A / 50Hz — plug it in and work immediately, with no phase conversion, rewiring, or voltage step-up required. Overload protection and a totally enclosed motor come standard.
Variable speed is transformative in practice. At lower speeds you can work heat-sensitive tool steels without drawing the temper, finish titanium safely without risking ignition, grind non-ferrous materials without clogging, and make precise, controlled passes on thin stock. At higher speeds the machine attacks tough jobs — weld dressing, ceramic belt stock removal, aggressive shaping — with the same authority as the single-speed RM-48.
The RM48AE-VS is the machine of choice for:
- Knifemakers and bladesmiths who grind a variety of steel types including high carbon, stainless, tool steel, and Damascus
- Professional fabricators finishing stainless, mild steel, aluminium, and titanium
- Toolmakers and engineers who need precision speed control for drill sharpening, lathe tool reconditioning, and die work
- Medical equipment manufacturers requiring consistent, repeatable surface finishes
- Aerospace workshops handling exotic alloys where heat management is critical
- Artists and sculptors working with mixed materials
- Farriers and horseshoers shaping and finishing metalwork
- Automotive and motorsport fabricators blending welds and finishing components
Company Information
Radius Master belt grinders are proudly designed and manufactured in Australia. The brand was founded by John Price, a qualified tool and die maker who spent over 45 years developing and refining the multi-station belt grinding concept. The Radius Master became internationally recognised as the benchmark for precision belt grinding, winning on the ABC’s The New Inventors and building a following in over 40 countries.
In 2025, Radius Master was acquired by NIROC — an Australian business led by experienced knifemaker and metalworker Corin Urquhart. Under NIROC, the Radius Master range continues to be made in Australia with the same engineering rigour and quality that built its global reputation.
Features & Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Make | Radius Master |
| Model | RM48AE-VS (Series 2, Australian Edition) |
| SKU / Stock Code | L0961V |
| Belt Size | 50 x 1220mm (2″ x 48″) |
| Number of Work Stations | 7 |
| Contact Wheels Included | 5 (25mm, 38mm, 44mm, 50mm, 88mm diameters) |
| Additional Surfaces | Slack belt zone, flat platen |
| Motor Power | 1.5 kW (2 HP) |
| Voltage | 240V / 10A, 50Hz (Australian Edition — plug & play) |
| Speed Range (programmed) | 300–1,600 RPM as shipped (can be custom-programmed on request) |
| Motor Speed (inverter range) | 400–2,500 RPM (full inverter capability) |
| Belt Speed | Variable: low speed to ~914+ m/min |
| Speed Control | Variable speed (British-made inverter drive) |
| Belt Change Time | ~6 seconds |
| Machine Orientation | Vertical and horizontal (tool-free tilt) |
| Motor Enclosure | Totally enclosed, overload protected |
| Warranty | 2-year commercial warranty |
| Design Life | 20 years |
| Net Weight | ~50 kg |
| Country of Origin | Australia |
Included in the box:
- RM48AE-VS belt grinder machine (Australian Edition, variable speed)
- Pedestal / tilting stand
- Base plate
- Tool rest
- Notching tilt table
- 5 × contact wheels (25mm, 38mm, 44mm, 50mm, 88mm)
- 1 × zirconia abrasive belt
- Integrated variable speed inverter control
