{"id":4704,"date":"2020-10-08T12:34:26","date_gmt":"2020-10-08T11:34:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/acton-finishing.co.uk\/?p=4704"},"modified":"2024-03-19T14:52:19","modified_gmt":"2024-03-19T14:52:19","slug":"vibratory-finishing-machine-troubleshooting-and-preventive-maintenance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/acton-finishing.co.uk\/vibratory-finishing-machine-troubleshooting-and-preventive-maintenance\/","title":{"rendered":"Vibratory Finishing Machine Troubleshooting and Preventive Maintenance"},"content":{"rendered":"

From components sticking together to parts getting damaged or odour from wastewater circulation systems, it can be a frustrating process if you don\u2019t know how to fix these problems.<\/p>\n

To help ensure your vibratory finishing process runs as smoothly as possible, we\u2019ve gathered together common vibratory machine troubleshooting and preventive measures you can take to target these.<\/p>\n

Troubleshooting and Identifying Problems<\/h3>\n

\"Vibratory

1. Processing problems<\/strong>
\nHere are some problems you might encounter during the vibratory finishing process and their most common causes. A combination of processing problems and other factors can play together in mass finishing. For each part and application, several different processes can give the required result for your vibratory finishing machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Problem<\/b><\/td>\nMost Common Cause<\/b><\/td>\nOther Possible Cause<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mass doesn\u2019t move properly<\/span><\/td>\nWrong weight setting*<\/span><\/td>\nToo much water; Media filling height too low; Wrong RPM; Media glazed over; Parts are oily<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Work bowl does not start to vibrate<\/span><\/td>\nWrong weight setting<\/span><\/td>\nMedia filling height too low; Wrong RPM; Media glazed over; Parts are oily<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Parts float on top of the media<\/span><\/td>\nWrong weight setting<\/span><\/td>\nToo little water; Wrong RPM; Media is too large<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Parts are damaged or bent<\/span><\/td>\nMedia is too large<\/span><\/td>\nToo little water; Wrong RPM; Wrong weight setting; Too many parts in machine<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Parts\u2019 surface gets impinged<\/span><\/td>\nToo many parts in machine<\/span><\/td>\nMedia filling height too low; Wrong RPM; Wrong weight setting; Wrong media composition; Media is too large; Wrong compound; Too little compound<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Parts\u2019 surface is too rough<\/span><\/td>\nWrong composition\/grade of media being used<\/span><\/td>\nWrong RPM; Wrong weight setting; Media is too large; Wrong compound; Too little compound<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Components stick together<\/span><\/td>\nWrong compound<\/span><\/td>\nToo little water; Media is too large; Too little compound; Parts are oily<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Not enough metal removal<\/span><\/td>\nWrong composition\/grade of media being used<\/span><\/td>\nToo much water; Media filling height too low; Wrong RPM; Wrong weight setting; Wrong compound; Media glazed over; Parts are oily<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Parts become dark<\/span><\/td>\nToo little compound<\/span><\/td>\nWrong compound; Media glazed over; Parts are oily<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Parts are not clean<\/span><\/td>\nWrong compound<\/span><\/td>\nToo little water; Too little compound; Media glazed over; Parts are oily<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Parts are stained<\/span><\/td>\nToo little water<\/span><\/td>\nWrong compound; Too little compound; Media glazed over; Parts are oily<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Parts corrode<\/span><\/td>\nToo little compound<\/span><\/td>\nToo much water; Wrong compound<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Too much foam<\/span><\/td>\nUse of wrong liquid compound\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nExcessive use of liquid compound to water ratio\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

*Weight settings<\/strong><\/p>\n

As well as being able to adjust the throw of the motor\/s by changing the degree settings of the motor\/s, additional weights can be added or removed to control the amplitude, providing ultimate control over your process. Please seek advice of a vibro expert (ActOn Service Department are able to offer this service) or thoroughly read the user manual and isolate your machine before trying to make any change yourself.<\/p>\n

2. Foam problems<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some foam is desired in vibratory finishing applications, ball burnishing only works with a lot of foam and a cleaning or deburring application needs only a little foam. This indicates enough water and compound are being used to carry the metal fines, media sludge, spent oil and any dirt to the drains.<\/p>\n

Too much foam is normally a sign of an out of control process, the most common cause is the use of the wrong liquid compound or the excessive use of liquid compound to water ratio. Nonetheless this issue can be fixed by adjusting the process to the correct levels and\/or by adding a small quantity of ActOn Antifoam to the process chamber during the course of the finishing cycle.<\/p>\n

3. Media problems<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Vibratory

In the pursuit of saving a few pennies here and there, this can easily become an expensive mistake due to much longer processed times (more liquid company, water and electric), damaged or rusty components and ultimately this tinkering will lead to you having to replace your vibratory machine\/chamber with a complete refill of new fill of media chips.<\/p>\n

If your media appears glazed over with a shiny film and feels tactile to the touch, then it has lost its cutting affect. This means you’ll need to refill with new media, which is certainly not as cheap as making sure the water and liquid compounds are set at the correct levels and not altered.<\/p>\n

Some reasons for glazed media:<\/span><\/p>\n