8 CONSIDERATIONS WHEN PURCHASING A ROTARY VIBRATORY MACHINE
Buying Mass Finishing equipment, as with all investments, can be a bit overwhelming at first. There will surely be a number of suppliers and machine types available to you. In order to ensure you get the best value for your money we recommend you consider the following when purchasing a rotary vibratory machine:
Movement – Appearances can be deceiving, don’t be fooled into thinking all machines are the same just because they look similar. Always test the machine and its processing ability before you buy! Test its amplitude, see how regular the movement is, is it consistently driving the same way?
Strength and durability – Check how heavy the machine is, usually you’ll find something costs less because it is made of cheaper and lighter materials.
Longevity – Bearings are critical in a rotary vibratory machine. When standard bearings are used they will fail within a relatively short timeframe and each time they need replacing there is the cost of buying replacement parts and of course, down time. This is where a cheaper machine over a relatively short period of time becomes more expensive due to cost of ownership.
Control – The less you pay the less you are going to get. Mass finishing machines are designed to produce consistent results, you can only do that when you have a controlled process.
Speed – Single wound motors are cheap to fit but not really suitable for vibratory finishing applications as typical unloading and rinsing requires that the machine be operated at different speeds. While inverters can be fitted to control speed changes, it is often a case of making something fit rather than it having been designed with the best results and operating techniques in mind.
Protection – Many linings look the same (color, claims, etc.) yet in reality the differences can be considerable. How thick is it, where is it tested and is it the same all over (and how is that checked?). How is the lining applied and how does the manufacturer ensure that the lining has no defects (pores) that result in premature failure and replacement costs?
Power – The amount of energy being put into a machine, as well as how that power is utilized, is vitally important to achieve desired results. Just because two machines may have similar sized motors in terms of kilowatts doesn’t necessarily mean they will perform the same.
Flexibility – Linked to power and speed, controlling the movement of the machine via eccentric weights is a critical factor. Technology is constantly changing, new materials, manufacturing methods and tooling is always evolving. As a result the machine you invest in will only fully return its investment when it has the flexibility to finish the parts you make today, as well as the parts you make tomorrow.
