Our photo this week highlights a dial indicator.
FEECO’s Customer Service Engineers use the dial indicator to measure rotary drum shell and tire run-out, or the degree to which a drum is out of its standard, cylindrical shape.
Temperature changes can cause excess run-out. If the rotary drum is overheated, or cooled too quickly, the drum shell can expand, resulting in a belly-like bulge.
Changes to the shell are clearly unwanted; the excess stress on the shell can lead to cracks and ultimately catastrophic failure. More specifically, deformed shells can cause trunnion or tire misalignment. As a result, services such as re-mounting / re-shiming the tire, grinding the trunnion wheels or tires, and/or re-aligning the trunnion wheels may be necessary.
To prevent excess run-out, FEECO recommends the following:
- Shell temperature should be monitored.
- The drum should not be heated without the material inside.
- The drum should gradually be heated and cooled.
- Regular drum shell inspections should be carried out to catch any issues before they have the chance to escalate.
Rotary drum inspection and maintenance is critical to prolonging equipment life. To learn more about FEECO’s services, including run-out diagnostics, contact our Customer Service Engineers today!