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Belt Grinders and Motors

Variable-Speed Motor & VFD Combo for 2×72 Belt Grinders

  • Techtop motor and KB Genesis KBAC variable-speed drive with its power cord, top-down view, on black with a purple glow
  • KB Genesis KBMA variable-speed drive box beside a motor with a polished fan cover, on black with a purple glow

2 shop photos · swipe or pick a thumbnail

Starts at$1,195

Available to ordermost orders ship in 7–10 business days

A TechTop TEFC 3,600 RPM 56C face-mount motor and a KB Electronics KBAC-27D drive, programmed for the motor it ships with. The KBAC is sealed NEMA-4X, so shop dust stays out, and the speed dial and forward/off/reverse switch are right on the face. Finish the cord and plug wiring with the supplied guide, and your 2×72 runs any speed from a crawl to full tilt from one knob.

Build your setup

Configure your motor package

Motor / VFD

Pairs with

Not part of the bundle discount. Ordering a grinder too? Choose this package in the grinder's own Motor / VFD step.

Quantity

$1,195 each

Your total
$1,195
  • Ships in 7–10 business days
  • 2-year warranty
  • Secure checkout by Stripe

  • Shipping

    $95 a grinder, $145 with a motor, $35 the first accessory — capped at $145. Tracking number emailed the day it ships.

  • Free local pickup

    1741 Industrial Drive Unit #8, Sterling, IL 61081. Email me to set a time, Mon–Fri 9:00am–4:00pm Central.

  • 2-year warranty

    Covers non-wear parts against defects in materials and workmanship under normal use. Motors and VFDs carry their manufacturer's warranty; I will help you through a claim.

  • Questions before you buy?

    Call or text 1-779-372-0262 or email me. You get the person who built it.

Google reviews

What owners say

Straight from Google, word for word. The ones about this kind of part come first.

  • 5 out of 5 stars

    I put a 1.5 hp 3500 rpm motor on mine and I can really lean into when grinding and I can’t get the belt to slip off to the side like I can another grinder.…

    Read the whole review by Dave WShow the short version of Dave W’s review

    Quality , performance and a work of art all rolled into one. I was shopping around for a new 2x72 grinder when I stumbled upon Torus CNC website and after taking a look at what they’re offering I couldn’t say no. I purchased the M-90-AL - 2 x 72 - Tilting Belt Grinder without hesitation and I couldn’t be happier with this grinder. It has all the feature you’ll get on any modern 2x72 (tilt function included). It accepts 1.5 inch tooling arms making it universal for and attachment you can get on the market. Every single part of it was cnc machined to perfection. There were no burs/ hard edges and everything is fit and finished so well that it ought to make even a machinist blush when they unbox it. Mine came fully assembled. All I had to do was mount the motor and a contact wheel and I was making sparks. The platen I’m using on it though is an ORIGIN that I bought off eBay many years ago and I was concerned that it wouldn’t work well on this grinder because the main body is approx 1/2 thick but to my surprise there were zero belt alignment issues using another makers platen. I didn’t have to add a single spacer or do any milling to the mating surface to get it to work. I did however drill and tap 2 new holes in the tooling arm I bought with it for it to mount up but that’s nothing. Because it works in harmony with the rest of the grinder after installed .I even recycled an older drive wheel without issues.When buying this I was given the option of his ratcheting tensioner system so I chose that option , and I gotta say ….this is so professionally done my jaw dropped just looking at it before a belt even went on this grinder. The ratcheting system is a bit of a learning curve since my other grinder uses gas shocks but after having experiences this ratcheting system I just can’t go back to a grinder with spring or shock tensioning. I absolutely love it. And I believe that adds to why this thing has such good tracking because it’s giving me the perfect tensioning I wasn’t getting from my other grinder .it really tracks like a dream! I put a 1.5 hp 3500 rpm motor on mine and I can really lean into when grinding and I can’t get the belt to slip off to the side like I can another grinder. The tilt function is as beautifully done as it is functional. It takes all of 2 seconds to unlock this grinder and tilt it over on the side. And I’m back to grinding. The pictures of this grinder on Torus CNC website just don’t do it justice. This thing is a real cnc work of art. I’ve caught myself just starting at it since it’s been in my shop lol. My only regret was that my budget only allowed me to buy one of these grinders. In the future I’d like to get another. And even the variable speed option.All in all this grinder exceeded my expectation by a long mile and I have no regrets whatsoever. Anyone reading this and is considering adding this grinder to their arsenal you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how friendly and communicative Torus can be if you shoot them an email with any questions or inquiries. Well , I think that just about sums it up so I’m out of here. Thanks for reading.

    Dave WGoogle review by Dave W (opens in a new tab)
  • 5 out of 5 stars

    Runs super smooth and quiet with basically no vibration. Even though it's aluminum, there's zero flex or rattling - feels rock solid even when you're really putting it to work.…

    Read the whole review by Eric TorrieShow the short version of Eric Torrie’s review

    Got this belt grinder for our farm shop and it's been awesome. The machining quality really impressed me - everything fits tight and feels solid, you can tell they put real care into making it.

    Setup took maybe 20 minutes tops and it was ready to roll. Runs super smooth and quiet with basically no vibration. Even though it's aluminum, there's zero flex or rattling - feels rock solid even when you're really putting it to work.

    Love the tracking system and the ratchet belt tensioning - makes changing belts quick and painless. All the controls just make sense.

    But honestly, what made this purchase special was dealing with Rich. He was incredible - answered all my questions before I bought it, made sure I got the right setup, and followed up several times after it arrived to check how everything was running. You just don't get that kind of service anymore.

    First belt grinder we've owned and I'm really happy with it. Thing's built to last and performs great. Would definitely recommend it if you're looking for a solid grinder for your shop.

    Keep up the fantastic work Rich!

    Eric TorrieGoogle review by Eric Torrie (opens in a new tab)
  • 5 out of 5 stars

    I decided to use Taurus CNC because almost everything is made from high quality aluminum.…

    Read the whole review by victor schmidtShow the short version of victor schmidt’s review

    Super Happy for deciding to purchase my first professional quality 2 x 72 belt grinder from Torus CNC. The owner Rich Answered all my questions and fast and he stayed in contact with me assuring everything went smoothly. I decided to use Taurus CNC because almost everything is made from high quality aluminum. That means no rust! I’m using a misting system that gets water everywhere. The set up took 20 minutes literally. Everything came preassembled and very well packaged. If you’re thinking about buying a new professional belt grinder for knife making or custom fab work this is the spot you won’t be disappointed.

    victor schmidtGoogle review by victor schmidt (opens in a new tab)

Why this one

Variable speed, programmed and mounted.

  • TechTop TEFC 3,600 RPM 56C face-mount motor, 1 HP on 120V or 2 HP on 220V

  • KB Electronics KBAC-27D drive in a sealed NEMA-4X housing, pre-programmed for a 2×72

  • Speed dial and forward/off/reverse switch on the face, smooth ramp up and down, fits every Torus and most 2×72 grinders

What the dial does to belt speed

The drive dial sets motor speed up to the 3,600 RPM nameplate, and the drive wheel turns that into belt speed: pi times the wheel diameter times RPM, divided by 12.

Torque or speed. Your call.

  • 4-inch drive wheelSlower belt speed and more torque. Better control for sharpening, finishing and tough steels, and less likely to bog when you lean in. This is the wheel that ships on every Torus grinder.
  • 7-inch drive wheelFaster belt speed for rapid stock removal on big blades and heavy shaping. It may bog under a heavy load with a smaller motor, and it gives up some fine control.
  • Keyed 5/8-inch bore
  • TechTop TEFC 3,600 RPM 56C face-mount motor

Belt speed (SFPM) = (pi x drive wheel diameter in inches x effective RPM) / 12

4-inch for torque and control, 7-inch for about 75% more belt speed. Both keyed 5/8-inch.

Assumes the drive wheel runs straight off the motor shaft at 1:1. Step pulleys or a gearbox shift the answer by their ratio.

Values marked on the figure: SFPM; SFPM; RPM.

The KBAC-27D is programmed for the motor; you finish the cord and plug wiring.

Who it's for

Built for the work you actually do

Anyone running a fixed-speed grinder who has burned a thin edge, DIY grinder builders who do not want to program a drive, and Torus owners adding a motor to a bare chassis. If you want to slow the belt for stainless and speed it up for profiling without touching a pulley, this is the package.

What’s in the box

  • TechTop TEFC 3,600 RPM 56C face-mount electric motor (1 HP 120V or 2 HP 220V)
  • KB Electronics KBAC-27D variable-frequency drive, wired and programmed for 2×72 grinder duty
  • Sealed NEMA-4X drive housing with the speed dial and forward/off/reverse switch on the face
  • Grinder not included
Techtop motor and KB Genesis KBAC variable-speed drive with its power cord, top-down view, on black with a purple glow

Specs

Product specifications and dimensions

Base price
$1,195 before options
Motor / VFD
1 HP TechTop + KBAC-27D VFD (120V) · 2 HP TechTop + KBAC-27D VFD (220V)
Weight
40 lbs
Dimensions
22 × 16 × 14 in
Availability
Available to order
Lead time
Most orders ship in 7–10 business days from time of order
Ships from
1741 Industrial Drive Unit #8, Sterling, Illinois
Shop
Torus CNC — Sterling, Illinois, USA

Options

Choose and compare product options

Compare motor packages, attachments and finish choices before ordering.

  • 1 HP TechTop, 120V ($1,195)

    Runs on a standard household outlet. Plenty for hobby knifemaking, sharpening, handle work and finishing. Pick this if you do not have 220V in the shop.
  • 2 HP TechTop, 220V ($1,245)

    Twice the motor for $50 more, but it needs a 220V single-phase circuit. Pick this for heavy stock removal, forge scale, and all-day production work.
A Torus Classic 2x72 on the test stand with the belt tracking, its motor wired to the VFD and dust collection hooked up
One knob from a crawl to full belt speed.

Before you order

Shipping, warranty and returns

  • Shipping and lead time

    Most orders ship from Sterling, Illinois in seven to ten business days from time of order, with a tracking number the day it goes out. A more detailed delivery estimate will be given when you order. Motors and VFDs are covered by their manufacturer’s warranty; email me at rich.linville@toruscnc.com and I will walk you through a claim. Warranty does not cover improper installation, moisture, modification or misuse. Ground shipping in the lower 48: $95 a grinder, $145 with a motor package, $75 a motor on its own, and $35 for the first accessory plus $15 each after. A grinder with a motor and any accessories is capped at $145.
  • Warranty

    I warranty the non-wear parts against defects in materials and workmanship under normal use. Motors and VFDs carry their manufacturer's warranty; contact me for guidance on the manufacturer's claim process.
  • Returns

    Returns are reviewed case by case and must be pre-approved within two weeks of arrival. The buyer covers insured return shipping, a 25% restocking fee applies, and original shipping is not refunded.

Straight answers

Questions I get about the motor package

Will it fit my grinder?
It fits every Torus grinder and most 2×72 setups built for a 56C face-mount motor. If you are unsure about your motor plate, email me the bolt pattern and I will check.
1 HP or 2 HP?
If you only have 120V outlets, take the 1 HP. If you have a 220V circuit and you hog heavy stock or run all day, take the 2 HP. The wall decides first; the 2 HP is $50 more.
Is the VFD programmed?
Yes. The KBAC-27D arrives programmed for the motor you choose, in its sealed NEMA-4X housing. You complete the cord and plug wiring with the supplied guide, then set speed from the dial on the face.
What about the warranty?
Motor and VFD warranty claims go through their respective manufacturer. I will help you as much as I can in the rare case you have a problem, but be aware that a replacement can take some time.
Can I run it with a longer cord or a different plug?
Yes. See my general guide for wiring your VFD, motor, cable and plugs, and the recommended 12-gauge rubber cords on the Amazon links page.

Goes with it

The attachments that earn their keep

Each one fits all four Torus grinders, and every piece in the same order counts toward the bundle discount.

ForgeBrain

Read this before you build

Free knifemaking guides from the same bench, organized by the work at the grinder.

2x72 abrasive belts in graduated grits on the shop wall
Abrasives

Choosing a Motor & VFD for Your 2×72

Every Torus ships as a complete assembled chassis with the motor sold separately — which hands you the one decision that shapes the machine’s personality more than any attachment: what spins it. Here is the whole motor conversation in plain shop language. HORSEPOWER: WHAT REAL GRINDING NEEDS The working consensus for knife grinding: 1.5 HP…

Read the guide
A first knife blank laid out on a beginner's bench
Beginner Guides

How to Choose a 2×72 Belt Grinder: Complete Buyer’s Guide

If you’ve spent any time in knifemaking forums or subreddits, you’ve seen the question a hundred times: “what belt grinder should I buy?” The honest answer is that it depends on your budget, how much assembly you want to deal with, and what you plan to grind. This guide walks through the actual decision, feature…

Read the guide

One-man shop

Tell me what you're building

I answer my own email and build Torus grinders in this shop. If you are not sure which setup fits your work, ask me before you order.