FORMING AND FABRICATING AUTOMATION
S electing the right equipment for the application, along with proper setup and maintenance, will keep conveyors running smoothly and in step with other production-line equipment.
Material Handling: Four Ways to Optimize Conveyor Performance
While main-line equipment such as stamping presses receive the most attention, a production line is like a chain, with each individual link vital to that chain’s performance. The vital link we focus on here is the conveyor, courtesy of a discussion with Colin Reak, marketing communications manager at Jorgensen Conveyor and Filtration Solutions, a supplier to stamping, fabrication and other manufacturing operations.
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3. Achieve the Proper Layout Ideal conveyor performance, even with the best system supplied for the application, requires an ef - fective layout and setup. This includes proper cleat spacing, belt pitch, apron-plate style and incline for the application. 4. Synch With Line Equipment Options exist for tying conveyors into stamping or other production lines. For example, “we can incor - porate a variable-frequency drive to automatically engage the conveyor when the line runs,” Reak says, “which helps in implementing lights-out operation. Also assisting with unattended operation: automated conveyor-health monitoring to reduce jamming and damage, and automatic clearing of scrap, dust and other items that can lead to jamming or excessive wear.
1. Mind the Maintenance Belt tension is key to a properly performing conveyor, and should be checked regularly. An over- or under - tensioned belt can increase wear, reduce productivity and increase likelihood of jams. It also will affect belt tracking, causing the belt to swing from side to side, for example, leading to part or scrap jams. 2. Consider the Application Choose the correct conveyor for the application to boost performance and productivity. “While a normal hinged steel conveyor may work for an application, a conveyor specifically designed for the application can eliminate future problems and increase longevity,” Reak says. “Consider the size and weight of parts, chips or other scrap; volume; and dryness. Also consider material type. Aluminum, for example, may require different conveyor design features than high-carbon steel.”
Unique conveyor options, such as this rubber- belt conveyor for gentle movement of class-A- finish parts, give metal formers and fabricators many choices when looking to provide the most effective solution for an application.
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