|
|
Buying a Plate Roll For Your Company
Purchasing a plate roll can be a necessary step for your company. If it is your job to make this choice there are a few things that you should always remember to consider.
You must consider the properties of the material that you most commonly roll and stay within the operating restrictions of the machine. By following these two key tips you will be able to find a plate roller that will fit your needs.
By carefully assessing the equipment, a company can gain a greater competitive edge in the industry. If you do not understand your equipment and the maintenance your machinery will require then your company will not be as productive as it potentially could be.
First, you must factor in the properties of the material that needs to be rolled. This means that before buying plate rolls a manufacturer needs to understand the properties of the materials they work with the most and what kind of machines will work best with that material.
A metal's temper and yield strength must be matched with the different plate rollers to better meet the needs of the company. A metal's temper is the hardness or strength properties of the metal used in the plate rollers.
The yield strength of a material is defined as the stress at which a material begins to deform plastically. Both the metals temper and the yield strength play a significant role in which plate roll to purchase.
Be aware that the materials temper and yield strength is important since steel characteristics can vary drastically. Remember that metals have changed over the past couple of years and what was once known as mild steel no longer exists and metals are continually getting stronger.
Today's steel is much stronger and requires more strength to bend. Countless varieties of steel abound in the manufacturing world today. As you research you will find that each of these different steels requires varying pressures to roll.
Even though drawings call for a plate to be the same dimensions, a tougher material will require a much higher-rated rolling machine. It is important to be aware of these differences.
In absence of such considerations, defects will result and the manufacturer will end up with excessive scraps. Having excessive scraps can be costly, especially if the problem can be solved by understanding the various types and properties of metals.
The next major thing to consider when purchasing a plate roller is to give it a workload that it can handle. In other words, stay within the operating restrictions of the machine you are purchasing the plate roll for.
By understanding how the machine operates and by trying to create the best environment for your machine and plate roller to operate you will see greater results and enlarge the lifespan of your plate roll. Quality rolling machines are usually cambered, or arched, at half of the full-rated value of the machine.
Hence, a two inch machine is cambered to roll one inch plate at a nearly perfect edge. This type of machine produces a premium high quality product.
Disregarding this important fact can result in a low quality product that the customer is not likely to want to purchase. If the product is not made right, there is no reason to make it in the first place, and it is likely that you will actually lose money.
One problem that commonly arises when rollers attempt to put pressure on the upper limits of their plate roll is a barrel effect. If 5/8 inch plate is rolled through a one inch-rated machine, a small degree of barrel effect will likely occur which will cause extra tension on both the machine and the material.
Also be aware that when plate thickness approaches the upper end of a machine's rating, then severe defects can occur. Unless the material is corrected with a shim, it will not be sellable.
When very thin material is rolled through a very thick plate, the finished product may come out tighter in the center than at the ends. Time consuming shimming is necessitated to correct what is called an hourglass effect.
It is easier to have the right machine for the product in the first place rather than having to shim to repair earlier mistakes. It is recommended that manufactures identify what material and what amount of thickness represent their highest volume of work.
In other words, what material does your company work with the most? Then a company can deliver a machine that will work the best with that specification, thus conserving valuable production hours and eliminating large amounts of scrap.
By following these two simple steps you will avoid issues with your machinery, produce a higher quality product, and actually save money in the process.
About the Author Jack R. Landry has used metalworking equipment for the last 11 years and written hundreds of articles about machine tools and the plate roll. Contact Info: Jack R. Landry JackRLandry@gmail.com http://www.RJorgenson.com/plate_section_rolls.htm
|
 |
Please Rate: |
|
Rating: |
 Processing ... |
(Average: Not rated) |
| Views: | 26 | |
|
| More Articles from Technology | | |
| Top Articles in Technology | | |
|
