Ningbo Fangli Technology Co., Ltd. is a mechanical equipment manufacturer with over 30 years’ experiences of plastic pipe extrusion equipment, new environmental protection and new materials equipment. Since its establishment Fangli has been developed based on user’s demands. Through continuous improvement, independent R&D on the core technology and digestion & absorption of advanced technology and other means, we have developed PVC pipe extrusion line, PP-R pipe extrusion line, PE water supply / gas pipe extrusion line, which was recommended by the Chinese Ministry of Construction to replace imported products. We have gained the title of “First-class Brand in Zhejiang Province”.
In a PVC pipe production workshop, the high-speed extruder is the core equipment of the entire production line. Inadequate daily maintenance not only shortens the service life of core components, but also easily leads to unplanned downtime, slows down the production pace, and may even cause quality problems such as uneven pipe wall thickness and surface defects. According to survey data from an industry equipment operation and maintenance platform, production lines that adhere to standardized daily maintenance can reduce the frequency of unplanned equipment downtime by nearly 40%. Today, we have sorted out the practical maintenance points summarized by frontline operation and maintenance personnel for the reference of friends related to production.
1. Basic status verification before startup
Do not start full-load operation directly each time the machine is started. First check the tightness of the bolts at each connection point one by one, focusing on whether the wiring of the feeding section and the barrel heating rings is secure, so as to avoid uneven heating that leads to deviation in plasticization effect.
At the same time, check the lubricating oil level of the transmission system and keep it within 1/2 to 2/3 of the observation window. If the oil is found to be cloudy or thickened, replace it in time. Do not wait until parts are damaged by dry friction before taking action.
2. Dynamic monitoring during production operation
During the high-speed operation stage of the equipment, operators should inspect three core indicators at fixed frequencies. The first is the actual temperature of each barrel zone, checking against process parameters for abnormal fluctuations, so as to avoid material decomposition and coking caused by excessively high temperature, or affected material plasticization quality caused by excessively low temperature.
Next, pay attention to abnormal noise and vibration in the motor and gearbox. If abnormal friction noise occurs, reduce speed and troubleshoot in time. Do not forcibly operate with a fault. Finally, verify the matching degree between extrusion speed and haul-off speed to avoid pipe deformation caused by uneven stretching rate.
3. Cleaning after shutdown and inspection of wear parts
After each production run, promptly discharge the residual PVC material in the barrel to prevent the material from cooling, hardening, and agglomerating, which may scratch the screw and the inner wall of the barrel the next time the machine is started. During cleaning, special cleaning material can be used to carry out the residue. Do not scrape the inner wall with hard metal tools, so as to prevent damage to the processing accuracy of the equipment.
Also regularly check the smoothness of the breaker plate and screen pack, and replace them in time when blockage or damage occurs to ensure stable extrusion pressure. After a cumulative operation of 1,000 hours, measure the wear condition of the screw once, adjust the clearance between the screw and the barrel, and ensure uniform wall thickness of the extruded pipe.
4. Protective measures for long-term shutdown
If the equipment needs to be shut down for more than one week, spray an anti-rust protective layer on the exposed metal surfaces of the screw and barrel, disconnect the main power supply of the equipment, and take moisture-proof measures for the circuit section. In areas with high workshop humidity, place desiccant packs inside the electrical control cabinet to avoid poor contact caused by moisture in components.
Overall, the maintenance of high-speed PVC pipe extruders does not require complex operations. The key is to integrate daily inspection, cleaning, and monitoring actions into the regular production process, rather than arranging repairs only after obvious equipment failures occur. Doing a good job in every small maintenance step can not only reduce the cost of parts replacement, but also make the production rhythm smoother and help the production line create more stable value.