New clutch is aimed at saving twin-screw extruders

Instances of overload in twin-screw extruders can never be completely avoided, so fitting a torque limiting clutch is a wise and cost-effective precaution.

Instances of overload in twin-screw extruders can never be completely avoided.

Conventional safety clutches wear very quickly, if the preset limiting torque for an overload is very close to the operating torque.

Reliable protection is afforded only by components specially designed for torque limitation and monitoring.

The use of such components raises the productivity of extruders, minimises the cost of replacement parts, repairs and down time, and helps manufacturers to become more competitive.

There are few other industrial application where drive systems are subjected to such demanding operating conditions as they are in extruders.

They operate 24 hours a day and very often work very close to their maximum capacity.

Torque input is continually being increased whilst manufacturers are trying at the same time to reduce the core of the screws to maximise plant throughput.

However, reducing safety factors drastically increases the risk of machine overload with the consequent damage to components and premature failure.

Very often expensive screws are the weakest link in the system.

Most cases of overload are caused by foreign bodies in the manufacturing material (metal, tools etc), dirty manufacturing material, faults in the thermal control system and faults in the manufacturing parameters.

Extruder users confirm that 20 to 40 overloads per year are not unusual.

The fact is that the damage caused by a single overload is far more expensive than one safety clutch.

However, more critical than the immediate damage is the fact that replacement parts are often not readily available.

In certain circumstances it can take weeks to obtain new parts.

Loss of production and delayed deliveries annoy customers.

All of the above gives plenty of reasons for specifying that a Mayr torque limiting clutch should be fitted to extruders.

Since conventional clutches are unable to satisfactorily meet the demands made by the extruders, Mayr Antriebstechnik has developed the EAS-XT.

This specially designed safety clutch meets the need for high and consistent accuracy, low mass moment of inertia, easy re-engagement, easy torque setting and attractive pricing.

The safety clutch is combined with a flexible coupling.

It dampens the vibrations to other parts of the drive train.

The EAS-XT is available with an adjustable torque of up to 7,500Nm and, as a result, it covers the majority of extruder applications.

For higher torques up to 190,000Nm, the Mayr EAS -Overload Clutch offer a more economical solution.

The clutch is a modular design fitted with a number of compact overload elements that operate with a specially designed ball/detent mechanism.

Simply integrating the elements into flanges makes it possible to build individual clutches for customer specific applications.

For extruder reliability, a Mayr torque limiting clutch forms part of the minimum standard specification.

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