Page 30 - Plastics News June 2021

FeAtures

Maintain the Life of Your Thermoformer

Alexx Strobridge

Just a small number of regular adjustments can make a major difference in how your machine performs. Here
are some tips and troubleshooting advice.

t is possible to maintain a thermoforming machine’s necessary. Rails need to start parallel to the mold,
Iperformance at high levels across the equipment’s and there should be 3/8 in.-1/2-in. per side between
lifetime through careful maintenance and regular the rails and the mold. If the rails are too close to the
adjustments, as well as targeted troubleshooting when mold, damage to the mold and chain rails may occur.
issues occur. Moreover, operator adjustments are more Issues in these alignments are common, so remember
important than ever, since travel and building occupancy to check and adjust before major performance
restrictions put in place to minimize the spread of problems begin to occur.
COVID-19 make it more difficult for OEM maintenance
teams to access equipment installed in plants. ● Another adjustment to be monitored is the need to set
the height of cooling tubes, especially if materials are
However, the good news is that just a small number of being changed regularly. The standard wisdom is that
regular adjustments can make a major difference in cooling tubes should be set to the material thickness
thermoforming performance. What’s more, when issues plus 0.020 to 0.030 in.. If using materials thinner than
arise, a checklist of 10 possible problems and solutions 0.030 in., though, setting the cooling tubes with this
can help to resolve all but the trickiest thermoforming much clearance will result in issues. Instead, set the
concerns. With this information, operators can maintain cooling tube height with a double layer of material
equipment and keep it running smoothly day-to-day and with these thinner materials. If set too high, rippling
year-to-year. in the sheet known as webs can occur as the material
lifts off of the pin chain and is folded over. Set too
low, the cooling tubes cause excess drag and dust is
produced.

Rail Adjustments
Basic rail-adjustments throughout thermoforming
equipment’s lifetime helps to ensure peak performance,
as well as to avoid issues from surfacing. There are a few Finally, chain adjustments are necessary to keeping up
major adjustments that should be made regularly; more reliable performance. Wear and stretching of the chain at
regularly than most operators expect in order to prevent uneven rates can lead to issues with shot alignment and
performance issues:
tracking. That wear and stretching is natural over time
● First, operators should regularly check the rail and and might be worsened by the sheet pulling or melting
tool alignment and make minor adjustments as unevenly. Chain tension should also be checked regularly,

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