What maintenance on the pellet extruders is required from proper and reliable operation? The basic maintenance steps are what we will answer in this article.
Introduction
Our pellet extruders are designed to be used with as little maintenance as possible. However, there are always some things to keep an eye on. Following the following steps ensures that the pellet extruder will last as long as possible. Additionally, it will help lower the downtime of your pellet extruder by preventing excessive wear and tear of all the components that are present:
1. Regular Cleaning (purging):
Clean the pellet extruder components regularly to prevent the buildup of residue, contaminants, or leftover materials. This includes cleaning the hopper (vacuum cleaner), screw, barrel, and nozzles using a purging cycle. Use appropriate cleaning agents and tools to avoid damaging the components. In general this means that purging is necessary between any material change at least.
2. Temperature Control and material degradation: Ensure accurate temperature control throughout the pellet extruder. Inconsistent temperatures can lead to poor product quality, uneven melting, and even degradation of the material in the pellet extruder. Be aware! Switch off the pellet extruder heaters, when leaving the extruder unused to anticipate on unnecessary issues or danger. Material will degrade if you leave the extruder hot while unused! Causing in a screw that needs to be replaced.
3. Wear Parts Replacement: Keep an inventory of commonly worn parts, such as heaters, nozzles, burst disks and pressure sensors (if your pellet extruder is equipped with a DFC). Replacing these parts when broken, can be performed by the operator with the manuals from CEAD. For parts that screw into the extruder and become hot, like the nozzle holder nut or a burst disk, ceramic grease must be used to prevent the parts from welding together under the high temperatures, friction and pressures. When you are in need of any new parts to refill your stock, don’t hesitate to call our customer support team.
4. Safety Checks: Regularly inspect safety features, such as emergency stop buttons and the fence interlocks, to ensure they are functioning properly. Safety should always be a priority in any maintenance routine.
5. Documentation: Maintain a detailed maintenance log that records cleaning schedules, inspections, repairs, and parts replacements. This helps in tracking the pellet extruder's history and planning future maintenance tasks.
Tips!
1. Never leave the pellet extruder hot while not in use! Always turn off the extruder heaters.
2. Use ceramic grease between parts that have threats and become hot. For instance the nozzle holder nut.
3. Clean on a regular basis with a purge cycle and special purge material.
4. Do not forget about your filters! They can cause issues when clogged. Pellet transport issues are very common if you forget to clean your filters.
Conclusion
Remember that the specific maintenance requirements can vary depending on the type of pellet extruder, the materials being processed, and the operational hours. It's always a good practice to consult the pellet extruder's user manual and follow the manufacturer's guidelines for maintenance and servicing. When you put a CEAD pellet extruder into use, scheduling and monitoring these 5 steps will help you anticipate ahead of possible problems and overcome downtime.