| How to repair dents in a solid steel belt |
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Dents: Dents in a stainless steel belts can be readily repaired. If a dent is not repaired, a crack can form in a relatively short period from fatigue. Small dents: Small dent (dime size or smaller) can sometimes be repaired by hammering with a hard rubber hammer using a pulley as a backup. If the conveyor does not have a pulley, a flat steel bar can be used as the backup. The bar should have a smooth surface. A heavy steel hammer (approximately three pounds) can also be used with a hard wood backup. Hammering with a metal hammer with a metal backup should be avoided because the belt could be stretched. Medium dents: If the above procedure does not remove the dent or if the dent is of a larger size (up to a half dollar size), a combination of hammering and thermal shrinking will be necessary. This can be most effectively performed on a pulley but can also be done using a metal backup. The dent should be heated with an Oxy-Acetylene torch to 800-1000° F. The dent affer being heated should be hit once with a heavy hammer to just flatten the dent and then it should be immediately quenched using a wet cloth. The area can then be lightly ground. Large dents: Larger dents (half dollar size and up) require selective heating and cooling. It is suggested that these be repaired by someone skilled in this procedure. Dents with cracks: If a dent has cracked open, the cracks have to be first welded before heating and hammering. Again, someone skilled in this procedure should be contacted. Thermal expansion or contraction: After repairing a dent by thermal treatment, the area in question should be allowed to become uniform in temperature with the remainder of the belt. Otherwise thermal expansion or contraction in the repaired area might mast the true results. Conclusion: It has been found that dents repaired by this technique can last a long time without any further trouble. |
