Cleaning the non mesh extruder head is an important step in maintaining the normal operation of the equipment and ensuring product quality. The following are detailed cleaning steps and precautions:
Cleaning steps
1. Shutdown and cooling down
-Turn off the power of the extruder and ensure that the equipment stops running completely.
-Wait for the head temperature to drop to a safe range (usually below 100 ° C) to avoid burns or material carbonization.
2. Disassemble the machine head components
-Use specialized tools such as wrenches and screwdrivers to disassemble components such as the head flange, die mouth, and splitter cone.
-Pay attention to recording the disassembly sequence, and if necessary, take photos or mark the position of components for subsequent assembly.
3. Remove residual materials
-Softening residue: Use a copper brush or wooden tool to scrape off the softened plastic (to avoid scratching the surface with steel tools).
-Stubborn residue: Use specialized cleaning agents (such as polyethylene/polypropylene cleaning materials) or clean after heating to the melting point of the material.
-Carbonization layer treatment: If there is burnt material, it can be polished with high-temperature sandpaper or soft abrasive paste.
4. Cleaning and decontamination
-Use non-woven fabric or soft cloth dipped in alcohol and acetone (compatibility needs to be confirmed) to wipe the runner and mold surface.
-For grease stains, soak them in neutral cleaning agents and rinse them off.
5. Inspection and maintenance
-Check for scratches or corrosion on the flow channel and mold mouth, and replace damaged parts if necessary.
-Apply high-temperature resistant grease to threads and fasteners to prevent rusting.
6. Reinstall
-Assemble the machine head in reverse order to ensure that all components are tightly fitted.
-Use a torque wrench to tighten the bolts according to the manufacturer's requirements to avoid uneven force distribution.
7. Preheating and Testing
-Preheat the machine head to operating temperature before starting up, and observe for any material leakage or abnormal noise.
-Squeeze out a small amount of material and check if the appearance of the product is uniform.
precautions
-Safety protection: Wear heat-resistant gloves and goggles throughout the process to avoid contact with high-temperature components or chemicals.
-Tool selection: Sharp metal tools are prohibited to prevent damage to the precise surface of the machine head.
-Material compatibility: The cleaning agent needs to be compatible with residual plastics (such as acetone, which is not suitable for materials like PS).
-Regular cleaning: Develop a plan based on production frequency (such as cleaning every shift or week) to prevent material accumulation and carbonization.
-Record maintenance: Record the cleaning time and identified issues for easy tracking of equipment status.
Special case handling
-Ultra high molecular weight materials: may require specialized furnace dismantling materials or high-temperature calcination (with manufacturer guidance).
-Multi layer co extrusion machine: It needs to be cleaned layer by layer to avoid cross contamination.