Table of Contents
Advertisement
Knives
The single most important factor in determining the life of a rotary feeder and its performance
is the maintenance of the knife. As the knives become nicked, rounded or improperly fitted,
wear on both the rotor and the barrel will accelerate.
Regular maintenance of knives is important to insure proper function of the feeder, and to
reduce or prevent:
→ Scoring and deterioration of the chrome plating on the housing
→ Excessive build-up of wood pitch or other resins
→ Unequal wear of the rotor and the housing
→ Abnormal loading on structural and drive components
→ Loss of the knife shearing ac on of materials will allow unwanted material to pass
through the feeder causing wear or jamming
Visual inspection through the access door and measured clearance checks with a feeler gauge
should be made on a regular basis. Precision recommends that the knives be visually inspected
daily and that an inspection of the knife-to-rotor clearance with a feeler gauge be conducted at
least bi-monthly.
The frequency with which knives must be replaced or re-sharpened will depend on the number
of hours the rotary feeder has been in use, the type of material being handled, the rotor speed,
and the amount of foreign material in the product stream.
See Appendix #3 for knife dimensions and part numbers if you need to order replacement
knives.
Knife Adjustment
NOTE: BEFORE ANY INSPECTION OR MAINTENANCE, YOU MUST FOLLOW STANDARD 'LOCK-OUT/TAG-OUT'
PROCEDURES FOR ALL POWER SOURCES AS DEFINED BY OSHA. SEE WARNINGS
Inspect knives through the knife door opening for damage and proper adjustment.
For ambient temperature applications, knives should be adjusted, using a feeler gauge, to
approximately .008"- .010" clearance from the rotor blades.
For elevated temperature applications, knives should be adjusted, using a feeler gauge, to
approximately half the factory setting of the clearance between the rotor and the barrel.
Updated June 2018
Page 11
Advertisement
Table of Contents
