Neutrol and Neutrofier Magnetic Chuck Controls

Neutrol & Neutrofier Magnetic Chuck Control Repair

Control System Labs repairs the full line of Electro-Matic Products (ELMATCO) Neutrol and Neutrofier magnetic chuck controls, including the Neutrol II, Neutrofier, Neutrofier II, and Neutrofier III series, along with their remote control stations, keypads, and circuit boards. Electro-Matic Products Co. of Chicago is no longer in business, so factory support for these controllers ended years ago — but the grinders they run are still on shop floors across North America. When a chuck control fails, we restore it to original operating specification, test it under load, and return it with a warranty, so you don't have to scrap a working grinder or re-engineer the machine around a modern replacement.

What Neutrol and Neutrofier controls do

Neutrol and Neutrofier controllers are rectifier-based power supplies that energize the electromagnetic chuck on a surface grinder. They convert AC plant power to the DC voltage the chuck coils require, let the operator vary holding power for thin or delicate workpieces, and run a demagnetizing (demag) cycle that reverses and steps down the current so finished parts release cleanly without residual magnetism. Later models such as the Neutrofier II and Neutrofier III add solid-state control boards, remote operator stations (4RC series), and adjustable demag profiles.

Machines that use Neutrol and Neutrofier chuck controls

These controllers were sold both as original equipment and as retrofits on virtually any machine tool fitted with an electromagnetic chuck. You will most often find them on:

• Blanchard vertical-spindle rotary surface grinders — the most common home for Neutrofier controls. Blanchard models 11, 16, 18, 20, 22, 22D, 22HD, and 32 (chuck sizes from 16″ through 60″ and beyond) are routinely equipped with Neutrofier II and Neutrofier III controllers driving their round electromagnetic chucks.
• Mattison surface grinders — both large reciprocating-table grinders (24″ × 72″ and similar) and Mattison rotary grinders frequently run Neutrofier chuck controls.
• Brown & Sharpe surface grinders — including Micromaster-series reciprocating grinders fitted with electromagnetic chucks.
• Gallmeyer & Livingston surface grinders — smaller toolroom machines such as the Model 206 were commonly paired with Neutrofier controls.
• Other reciprocating and rotary surface grinders — builders such as Gardner, Thompson, DoAll, Harig, Norton, and Okamoto, wherever the machine was ordered with or retrofitted to an electromagnetic (rather than permanent-magnet) chuck.
• Mills, planers, and other machine tools using electromagnetic chucks or magnetic faceplates for workholding.

Because the controller is matched to the chuck rather than the machine, a Neutrol or Neutrofier can appear on nearly any brand of grinder. If your machine has an electromagnetic chuck and a gray Electro-Matic control cabinet or pendant, we can repair it.

Common failure symptoms we repair

• Chuck will not energize, or holding power is weak and parts shift during grinding
• Demag cycle not working — parts stick to the chuck after the cycle completes
• Controller overheating, tripping breakers, or blowing fuses
• Shorted outputs, failed SCRs/rectifiers, or burned control boards (CEV, EMLV, TDV series)
• Dead or erratic remote stations and keypads (4RC6A, 4RC8, 4RCSA, 17RC3, 25RC1E)
• Variable holding-power adjustment no longer responds

Neutrol and Neutrofier models we repair

We service the complete ELMATCO chuck control family, including:

• Neutrol II control stations and keypads (031979, 031982, 110821)
• Neutrofier controls (EMLV7D, EMLV15D, NRV3FD-46, EML 20)
• Neutrofier II controllers and stations (CAV3-11, CAV3A-11, CAV3-71A-11, CAV1.5-71A-11, 17RC3AE, 17RC3BE-1, 17RC3BE-2, CEV boards)
• Neutrofier III controllers and stations (TDV10-41, 25RC1E)
• Remote controllers (4RC6A, 4RC8, 4RCSA)
• Chuck and clutch control boards (CEDV10, CEDV15, 2506E-B, 11671LO2)

Don't see your model or part number listed? Call us — the product line spanned decades and many custom variants, and we can evaluate any Electro-Matic chuck control.

Frequently asked questions

What machines use Neutrofier II magnetic chuck controls?

Neutrofier II controls are most commonly found on Blanchard rotary surface grinders (models 11 through 32) and Mattison surface grinders, as well as Brown & Sharpe, Gallmeyer & Livingston, and other surface grinders equipped with electromagnetic chucks.

Is Electro-Matic Products still in business?

No. Electro-Matic Products Co. of Chicago, the original manufacturer of Neutrol and Neutrofier controls, is no longer in operation. Control System Labs provides component-level repair for these controls so existing machines can stay in service.

Can a failed Neutrofier control be repaired instead of replaced?

Yes. Most failures involve rectifiers, SCRs, control boards, or demag circuitry, all of which can be repaired at component level. Repair preserves the original wiring, mounting, and demag behavior your grinder was built around — typically at a fraction of the cost of retrofitting a new chuck controller.

What is the difference between Neutrol and Neutrofier controls?

Both are Electro-Matic electromagnetic chuck controls. The Neutrol and Neutrol II are compact control stations, while the Neutrofier line (Neutrofier, II, and III) covers higher-capacity controllers with variable holding power, automatic demagnetizing cycles, and remote operator stations used on larger production grinders.

Get your chuck control repaired

Call (716) 836-2100 or submit an RMA form to get a repair quote for your Neutrol or Neutrofier magnetic chuck control. Repairs are tested under load and backed by our warranty.