The conveyor manufacturing process is carried out in modern conditions, and the most important thing is always precision and quality. In this blog post, we look at how screw conveyors are made and what you need to know about the process.

The task of the various auger systems is to transport the bulk material from one point to another using the auger system. These conveyor pulleys can significantly increase the efficiency of the workflow and "work off" many man-hours from human resources, who can then perform other activities.
The auger shaft, which follows the line of the screw, is responsible for moving the material towards the discharge opening along the path of the screw trough or auger tube. This can occur both horizontally and deviatorily downslope.

What do screw conveyors need to do?

Conveyor pulleys must meet a number of requirements in order to play their full role in the workflow. The main three basic requirements are: precision, quality and high load capacity.

Accuracy
The basic requirement for auger systems is that they operate accurately and fit perfectly into the process.

Quality
For the system as a whole, for both the raw materials and the production work, quality is the most important aspect and must be kept in mind at all times.

High load capacity
Conveyor pulleys are expected to withstand the load. Heavy-duty systems are capable of handling an incredible amount of material.

Production process and types

In all cases, conveyor manufacturing starts with the selection of the best quality raw materials by the manufacturing company, which is essential because the system needs to handle a large amount of material, which is not possible with conveyor pulleys made from poor quality raw materials.

Once you have the raw material, you can start machining it, making the pipe system. In the process, simple metal sheets are transformed into pulley plates. The manufacturing process needs modern tools to ensure the required precision.

The production of pulleys and conveyor pulleys depends largely on the application, size and surface. They are based on:

• thick and heavy-duty segmental conveyor pulleys,
• pulleys used in agriculture,
• small diameter wound conveyor pulleys.

The biggest customers for conveyor pulleys

The greatest demand for conveyor pulleys is in agriculture. It is mainly the production of agricultural machinery parts, such as combine harvester augers or even augers for crop loading. In addition to agriculture, there are other important sectors which are also buyers of conveyor pulleys, such as the pharmaceutical, petrochemical, chemical and construction industries.

Macrofilt: screw conveyors on request

Makrofilt produces customized conveyor pulleys for customers. High quality materials, not only carbon steel, but also acid-resistant, corrosion-resistant, alkali-resistant materials are used to manufacture pulley systems. All of them have individual thread heights and diameters, with couplings and drives defined according to the requirements.

Get in touch with our colleagues who will show you the ordering and production process!

The easiest and quickest way to transport bulk material is with a screw conveyor. These conveyor systems are suitable for the efficient transport of both dry materials and liquids, making them an important part of some industrial and manufacturing processes. We've put together a summary of what a screw conveyor is, what it's made of and why it's indispensable in certain sectors.

What is a screw conveyor and what is it used for?

Whether in agriculture or in the construction industry, the screw conveyor helps to speed up work in all situations and conditions. In the case of a conveyor system, the conveyor is transported by a pulley shaft which is welded to the pipe shaft in a screw-type arrangement. The materials are moved in a closed, lidded tube or trough running along a screw shaft, and driven by a motor.
According to the operating principle, the most important thing for the process is that the coefficient of friction between the trough or the screw tube and the material surfaces is greater than the coefficient of friction between the material and the screw shaft. However, the principle of operation of the auger is not limited to its transport function, it can also perform mixing and pressing tasks.

Different versions of the auger can be used in different situations, for example, there is a belt auger, a plate auger and a paddle auger. There is also a variety of solutions in terms of layout. If the objects or materials to be transported are not very large, a pulley with a screwed surface can be used, while if the material to be transported is larger, it is more practical to change the position of the material by moving the blades.

The pulleys themselves and the pulley shaft vary according to what exactly the task is, what material needs to be transported. Likewise, the discharge chute can be fitted with additional parts, such as a thread puller head or a cutter blade. The auger can be used horizontally, but it can also be used on slopes.

What are the parts?

The construction of the conveyor is complex, the desired movement is the result of the interplay of several elements. One of its two end plates is the drive side, to which the bearing, the mass cup and the drive are connected (this can be indirect or direct), and the other is the free-running side, to which the bearing and the mass cup are connected.

The conveyor system also includes the rotor, the suspension bearing, which varies depending on the length, the hopper, the trough element and optionally sensors.

Makrofilt: the master of screw conveyor manufacturing

Makrofilt specialises in the manufacture of custom filter presses and screw conveyors. Fully customised screw conveyors are made by the company, using high quality materials and manufactured by highly qualified technicians. Our reliable and customised systems are delivered turnkey, so that the customer has nothing to do other than to outline the requirements and then to operate them.

Curious about our work? Contact our colleagues!

Automatic bearing lubrication can save you a lot of time and money, not to mention the problems you can prevent. In today's post, we're going to talk about the importance of bearing lubrication and look at when manual and automatic bearing lubrication is preferable!

You can't do without maintenance

Greasing and oiling is a crucially important maintenance operation. One in two machine and equipment failures is caused by maintenance and operational deficiencies, which then cost the company a significant amount of money to repair. But with the right attention, these problems can be avoided.
By using different lubrication techniques, friction between surfaces can be reduced, thus preventing major wear. Automatic lubrication allows water and dirt to be kept out, which is of great importance in terms of preserving the condition of the surface. The reduced friction of the surfaces means that components will not heat up as much and noise during operation will be reduced.

Basic principles of bearing lubrication

However, the way and manner in which bearings are lubricated is not always the same. There are certain principles that should be kept in mind during the operation. Let's see what they are!

Accuracy
It is essential that the amount of lubricant used during lubrication is exactly the amount needed. Any more and you will end up with a surplus, and any less and the lubrication will be worthless and the desired results will not be met.

Regularity
It is not enough to lubricate a bearing once. Like all maintenance work, it should be done from time to time. Ideally, it should be done regularly, before it is too late and the parts become damaged.

Thoroughness
Completeness and thoroughness is an essential principle. We cannot complete the procedure by refilling a few lubrication points, this must be done at each one for a good result.

Even in extreme conditions
There may be extreme circumstances when a careless machine operator might think that bearing lubrication is not worth the trouble. However, this is not the right approach, as lubrication must be carried out even in extreme conditions.

Manual and automatic bearing lubrication

Bearing lubrication can be done in two ways, manual and automatic. Let's see what you need to know about them!

Manual bearing lubrication
Manual lubrication can be carried out on a stationary machine. In these cases, the bearings are not moving, so the lubricant cannot get into the friction surfaces. Therefore, when the machine is started, the surfaces are still running dry at the beginning. Manual lubrication is done with grease, which wears out over time and can introduce contaminants that can damage the bearing. With manual lubrication, dosing is a big problem. Overfilling or even missing a lubrication cycle or a lubrication point often occurs.

Automatic bearing lubrication
Automatic lubrication is also possible on a machine that works in the opposite way to a manual lubricator, so the lubricant can immediately get into the friction surfaces and "do its job" by movement. In this case, the lubricant is dispensed in dense cycles and is constantly replenished in small quantities, which helps to keep contaminants out and ensures that the lubricant is always fresh.

The automatic bearing lubrication ensures uniform lubrication, which happens automatically after set-up. An environmentally friendly solution that is also cost-effective, as it uses only the lubricant that is actually needed.

How long a piece of equipment has to stand still is important for the operation of the machines, because saving time also saves money. With automatic lubrication, downtime for maintenance can be significantly reduced and the time that the machine can be used can be increased.

Automatic lubrication is a much more efficient solution than manual lubrication, saving more than a quarter of maintenance and operating costs. Make your choice for cost savings and contact the Makrofilt team who will help you put it into practice!