Extrusion Barrel Alignment using Laser for Greater Efficiency

Premier engineering companies need to be able to serve their customers with diverse services other than the production of precision parts. Some of these services include laser barrel alignment, gearbox repair, melt pump refurbishment and heavy metal analysis. In order to carry out these highly sophisticated services, an engineering company such as Precision Products Inc (PPI) maintains an excellent set of CNC machines.

Extrusion barrel alignment using laser saves time and money. An investment in laser alignment helps by lowering replacement parts costs and decreased down-time besides less wear and tear of critical components besides lower power consumption. There are very small tolerances between a screw and the extruder barrel. If the barrel is not properly aligned with respect to the output shaft of the gearbox, there will be a sharp fall in the output efficiency of the extrusion line.

A very small misalignment of 0.060” on the screw may require 9500lb force that will result in extra wear on the screw and barrel leading to premature failure. Extrusion barrel alignment therefore helps prevent reduction of extruder output and line efficiency and therefore profits. It may even prevent screw breakage in certain extreme cases.

Laser barrel alignmentis the best way to prevent improper alignment of the extruder screw and barrel. This should be carried out each time the screw is removed and whenever the gearbox is decoupled from the extruder. PPI carries out laser barrel alignment procedure with less than 0.001” deviation. Such a procedure requires 8-10 hours or less and the dividend paid off makes it well worth the cost.