Effectiveness of any granulator machine greatly depends upon the type and quality of machine knives used. Ensuring you have granulator blades that guarantee to be manufactured to the OEM specification is a crucial factor for continued high efficiency performance.
Factors determining Granulator blades quality
Often granulator model determines the choice of granulator blades. However, quality of processed materials also should be taken into account. It is not uncommon that granulator blade edge can be either too hard or too soft for a particular application. Also, it is important to evaluate the base material of the blade. While D2 is the most commonly used, some blades applications would benefit from customized grades of steels. Like, for granulating dense materials, steel with high toughness than D2 can be offered. However, materials with a large volume fraction of particulate fillers, can utilize higher alloy steels to increase knife life.
Therefore, it is always a good practice to ask advice from your granulator blades manufacturer about blades hardness and steel grade for each application.
Correct steel for granulator blades has a good wear-resistant, i.e. an optimum balance of hardness and toughness. Hardness prevents a blade from wearing away during repetitive use. Toughness on the opposite, balances hardness by strengthening the knife to resist chipping. If a granulator blade loses its toughness, it becomes more brittle and more exposed to fractioning.
Therefore, finding the correct ratio between hardness and toughness is an important step that each granulator blades manufacturer should discuss with its customers. Granulator blades made from the correct materials last longer only if used in the right environment.
5 signs it’s time to give dull granulator blades the edge
It is a good practice to regularly examine your granulator blades by looking at the cutting edge. Normally, if the blade is chipping, then the hardness of the blade material is too high. If the blade is getting dull quickly and the amount of the processing material between the blades changes suddenly dropped, the knife hardness is usually too low.
It is important to tell granulator blades manufacturer about these defects and also what type of material is granulated with the blades. Luckily, granulator blades can be sharpened many times, however, if they are used in the wrong environment a purchase of new ones might be suggested.
Unfortunately, all granulator blades will go dull with time of use. Once the granulator blades go dull, the granulator machine:
1 use more energy when cutting
2 cuts with the increased level of dust
3 makes a lot of noise during the operation
4 produces particles of different sizes
5 reduces throughput rates
To improve your granulator performance, work with a high-quality custom oriented blade manufacturer. They can examine and recommend you a new granulator blade, discuss application and needs of your business.
