Taking Care of Your Stromag Limit Switch

Your industrial business is dependent upon its people and equipment. The Stromag limit switch is an essential aspect of promoting the safety and efficiency of your company’s assets.

These limit switches determine whether or not a machine is operating at their capacity, and shut it down if it is not.  Without them, your company could see serious injuries and a loss of productivity.

In simpler terms, your competitive edge relies upon limit switches.

Neglecting your Stromag limit switch is neglecting your business. Once you’ve picked out the perfect switch for your company, you will want to ensure its proper operation through general maintenance.

Here’s how you can keep your equipment running, your employees safe, and your money flowing.

Do A Daily Check Of Your Stromag Limit Switch

Limit switches don’t last forever. Just like other equipment, they will wear out over time and eventually fail. This can lead to serious safety concerns and slow down production.

If you stay on top of looking for general wear and tear, you can order a new Stromag limit switch and have it before your old one fails. That saves time and money.

Even if your switch is brand new, you still want to do daily checks. Manufacturing mistakes happen, so you want to catch any problems early. This will also get your team into the habit of doing daily checks before there is an issue.

Use it Properly

Limit switches are meant to be used indoors. Using one outdoors is unsafe and will lead to equipment failure.

There are also certain types of gases and conditions that can cause your switch to fail:

• Hydrogen Sulfide
• Sulfur Dioxide
• Ammonia
• Nitric Acid
• Chlorine
• Excessive dirt and dust, or anywhere with high humidity and heat.

Try to maintain an environment that does not have major changes in temperature, as this can warp equipment and lead to problems later on.

Keep the Frame and Cover Clean

Check the frame of your switch to ensure that there is not dirt build up that can mess with the electrical components.  You will also want to make sure the cover is not damaged, and replace the cover if necessary or after cleaning the frame out.

Depending on the conditions of your workplace, this can be done annually or more often.

Train your employees on safety procedures for limit switches

Oftentimes when a limit switch is activated, it has to be reset by your employees.  This can prove dangerous if the employee has to climb in order to do so.

There are dozens of cases in which people have been severely hurt or killed due to limit switches that have to be reset.  There are also cases in which limit switches have been over-ridden in order to speed up production, leading to injury and death.

Make sure that your employees know that this is never acceptable, and always provide proper safety equipment in case a switch has to be reset.

Pick the right equipment for the job

There are a variety of Stromag limit switches to choose from. Choosing the right one for the needs of your business is essential to guarantee your satisfaction.

Perhaps you need Potentiometer or encounter mounting, or there are budget concerns and you want to maximize your money.

We are always here to help.  Feel free to contact us here with any questions you might have.

Industrial Vibrators: A Complete Buying Guide

Industrial vibrators help keep your machinery working efficiently. They are used in countless industries from farming and agriculture to railroads. The functionality of chutes, hoppers, pipes and bins can all benefit from the use of a vibrator. But how do you select the right one for the job?

Several factors are involved. They include the size and shape of the machinery you’re clearing, the type of material you’re moving and where the vibration is needed. Once you determine these elements, you can choose the right vibrator design.

Here, we’ll provide a step-by-step breakdown of how to make the right selection.

How Do I Know if I Need an Industrial Vibrator?

It’s probably best you answer this question before moving onto researching the product. Industrial vibrators are used for aiding in material flow inside your equipment. They are also used for cleaning off the walls and corners of your vessels. Vibrators can even be used for sorting and positioning materials.

Keeping Materials Loose & Positioned Properly

Vibrating hoppers are most commonly found in the food, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries to help move or position bulk materials or small parts. The vibration moves materials more efficiently. It also positions smaller components so they can be reached by other automated equipment.

Compactors & Concrete

Vibrating compactors are often used to compact soil during the construction of road, building and railway foundations.

Concrete vibrators are used to consolidate freshly poured concrete in the formwork. The vibrations release trapped air and excess water.

Number of Vibrations

The number of vibrations needed for your equipment is first determined by the size and shape of the unit.

Industrial vibrators have a 5 foot “radius of influence.” This means they are only able to “shake” a certain area inside your hopper, chute or other machines. You might need multiple vibrators depending on the amount and consistency of the material you’re moving.

Some vibrators are designed to shake the entire piece of equipment, while others only shake a certain area.

Strength of the Vibrator

The strength of the vibrator you need is determined by it’s use.

If your vibrator is being used simply to keep materials “unstuck” from the walls of your unit, or clean out corners, then you only need to consider the wall’s thickness.

If your intent is to keep materials freely flowing inside your vessel, then there are several calculations involved. You must determine the weight of the material found in the transition area of the chute or hopper. Once you’ve determined the weight of the material, you can calculate the amount of force needed to keep things running smoothly.

Start Shopping For Industrial Vibrators

Now that you’ve calculated the job your vibrator needs to perform, the number of vibrators needed and the strength of the vibrator, you can start shopping!

A few additional things to consider when making your selection are noise levels, environmental concerns, and the vibrator’s required power source. Vibrators must also be mounted to the internal wall of your vessel, though there are some external models. Different vibrators offer different options for mounting, including portable and permanent units.

You can also decide between pneumatic and electric vibrators. Both types will require lubrication and maintenance.

Using an industrial vibrator is a great investment for improving your equipment’s functionality, efficiency and longevity.

Your Guide to Proper Industrial Vibrator Installation

When you work with machinery you have to make sure that everything is running in top shape at all times.

Neglecting maintenance can lead to problems, or in some extreme cases even damage equipment beyond use.

Industrial vibrators are used in so many different kinds of equipment. They’ve become essential in certain kinds of production, and if you have one that isn’t working properly you need to get a new one installed as soon as you can.

What you need to know about industrial vibrator installation

Industrial vibrator installation shouldn’t be rushed. It takes time to properly install a new vibrator, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to replace them with ease.

Want to know the ins and outs of vibrator installation? After you read this post, you’ll be an installation pro.

Never mount directly onto equipment

One of the easiest mistakes you can make when you’re performing an industrial vibrator installation is to directly mount it on the bin or hopper. The vibrator may need to be on the equipment, but it should never be directly mounted on.

If you directly mount the vibrator on the equipment you leave it prone to extensive damage. The intense vibrations can harm the equipment, or even the vibrator itself. In some extreme cases, it could even cause a high amperage draw.

When you do industrial vibrator installation make sure you put it on a plate and channel iron combination. That way you won’t have to worry about damage to the equipment or vibrator when it’s in use.

Mount the right way

You can mount a vibrator to machinery with any regular welding method. The stitch-welding method works best because it doesn’t require heat on the corners of the mount.

Welding on corners could lead to warping or bending after it has been in use for awhile, and could lead to bin damage or even failure.

Place it in the right direction

It’s surprisingly easy to place a vibrator in the wrong direction during installation. Placing a vibrator in the wrong position or mounting it wrong could damage equipment.

Any electric units should be perpendicular to the channel iron. It’s also important to check the mounting plate for any kind of warping. If you notice any irregularities in the mounting it should be shimmed so you can have a tight seal.

It’s important to note that both the vibrator and the mounting plate to be tightly placed. Any slackness could cause problems and damage as time goes on.

Keep spacing in mind

You may have a simple single vibrator installation, but it’s possible that multiple vibrators could be needed. When you install multiple vibrators spacing is very important.

Vibrators that are spaced too close together could be too strong and could damage equipment and themselves. Vibrators that are too far apart may not be working properly and unevenly distributing vibrations.

When you’re placing two vibrators on the same piece of equipment, it’s generally good to keep them 180 degrees apart. If you suspect that you have to place three or more, be sure that the equipment can handle the number of vibrators. If you place too many you could cause damage to equipment when they’re in use.

Next steps

Now that you know how to install a vibrator, it’s time to learn more about them. Learn about the different things industrial vibrators can do and find one for your needs.

If you have any questions about vibrators and our other equipment, contact us so we can help.

It’s always a headache when an industrial gearbox fails and you don’t know why. Maybe the gearbox is making an awful noise or isn’t working like normal. Usually, you know something is wrong and it’s going to take some investigative work to figure out.

Proper and regular maintenance can help prevent these headaches. An industrial gearbox is a machine and will wear down just like any other. You can keep it running.

Here is a handy guide to keeping your gearbox healthy for a long time.

Regular Use And Inspection

All industrial gearboxes are designed to be used in a specific way. They will include specific guidelines and use ratings to help you use them correctly. When a gearbox functions outside of these parameters, this can cause issues.

Be sure to use the gearbox as intended and check it regularly. Look for signs of wear and issue. Abnormal noises, overheating, and decreased performance can all indicate an issue needs to be fixed.

Lubrication Maintenance

Proper maintenance should focus on keeping the gearbox in normal running condition. During normal use, a gearbox will damage itself. Overtime, this damage can build up.

A gearbox’s lubrication and oil should be your first stop. Lubrication helps reduce friction on moving parts so gear changes occur smoothly. To do this, special oil or lubrication is required.

Many times, the lubricating liquid will become contaminated with little particles of dust and other matter. In this case, the lubrication should be replaced. Changing the lubrication regularly can help keep everything pure without having to look for containments.

Advanced Maintenance

Regular maintenance will help keep the gearbox functioning by repairing or replacing the parts that see the most use. Parts that frequently wear out first should be taken care of immediately.

Many parts in the gearbox are important for the transmission changes. Parts such as the gears will normally wear out over time through normal use. This can be accelerated if the lubrication isn’t changed regularly.

When an issue like this comes up, it’s best to replace the specific part and any additional parts connected to it. Some repairs require the replacement of a whole assembly.

Contamination control is another area you can frequently repair. The seals, filters, and breathers that keep foreign contaminants out will require replacing over time. If you ignore these parts, the gearbox will be vulnerable to foreign matter which can increase wear on the inside and affect the lubrication.

Most of these individual units can be replaced on an individual basis. Good shops will keep a healthy supply of these parts on hand.

You should also inspect these parts frequently, both on the inside and outside of the box.

Keeping The Industrial Gearbox Healthy

Avoid a headache with some regular maintenance. You should be consistent with your inspections and maintenance. Make it a routine and stick with it.

If you can do this, you should notice a remarkable improvement in the gearbox’s overall performance and lifespan.

For more help and information, get in touch with us.