His goal was to use a commercial purge compound (CPC) to help assist with screw pulls and ensure that the screw and barrel was 100% crystal clean with no contamination leftover from the previous production run. He estimated 4 overhauls per month once production started.
He and I reviewed reviewed their normal process and operating environment. We discussed details including the size of the extruder, L/D ratios, and verified what the system capacity held, just to name a few. After our brief consultation I was able to identify and specify the best grade for application.
I suggested 3 easy and effective tips after our brief session:
Towards the end of June he gave me an update. He said he used approximately $76 worth of the CPC and it worked tremendously well. His typical overhaul time went from around 60 minutes down to a mere 20 minutes. He now easily could pull the screw from the extruder, remove what little purge residue was left by hand, and re install the screw in 1/3 of the time.
In addition, he no longer needed to use a barrel/wire brush or a wire wheel that he used habitually prior to our purge program. With an estimate of 4 overhauls per month once production started, getting 160 minutes back per month will generate more machine capacity, save money over the short/long runs and should make things easier for the himself and other technicians.
Learn about the importance of implementing proper purging procedures by downloading this free industry guide.