Easy way to get chips into floor system?

[gman55]

We are a machine tool manufacturer that has trouble with getting cut metal chips down into the customers floor sluice. We basically have a sloped (4 sided) chute in our machine base that might get grease on it and hence, chips stick and build up to bad proportions. I'm looking for a way to clean or prevent this from happening, without relying on the operator to manually clear problems.

 

[LTD]

How about a coolant jet aimed to hose down the area? This could be permanent or programmed into a more advanced system.

How about attaching a one way or stiff enough "flapper" plate to some part of the machine that moves along the trough? I've seen that done many times to move chips.

Larry

 

[FLisa]

I like the coolant hose idea, but if that is impractical, inducing a vibration is the chute might help - a downward vibratory feeder of sorts.

 

[troppo]

Hi
why don,t you use a rotary screw this will work well on long strands as well.

 

[arunmrao]

I was thinking of suggesting vibratory motors to be installed. This may be alright if chips are short,but if they are long and entangled then the vibration may not be sufficient to push down the chips. In that case washing down with a streamof coolant can be a workable solution.

Dr Arun Rao

 

[Eagle1]

I would think that to introduce vibration into a machine which will eventually have some of that on its own would probably not be in the best interest of the machine or the part being machined. However, could we not utilize a better transport system utilizing an air vacuum system. I once designed a system for transporting electrical connectors from one place to another and some of these were rather small. I believe depending on the size of the chips they might have been similar to chips. However, the component that makes things tough would be the oil/lubricant. However, I do not think that the vacuum option would interfere in any way and would probably be your most cost efficient and maintenance free way.

I certainly hope this suggestion may have been of help to you. Have a GREAT day.