Knives and blades play an integral role in all our lives – even if they’re not the first thing you think about. They are used almost on a daily basis, from preparing meals in the kitchen to grooming body hair with razors and straight blades. It seems almost too obvious to say that these knives and blades work best when sharp. Have you ever tried cutting into an onion with a dull blade or trying to get a clean shave? It simply does not give you the desired result. The same principle applies to industrial blades and knives.
Industrial blades and knives are used in many industries familiar examples being hot and cold steel processing, paper and print, all recycling industries, scrap metal processing, forestry, and timber industries amongst other manufacturing plants. If you are in one of these industries, then you know how important it is to incorporate industrial blade sharpening as a part of your regular maintenance to ensure the smooth functioning of your machines. Without proper maintenance of your blades, your production will slow down or stop entirely.
Blunt or dull blades will eventually affect the performance and the wear of the machines they are used in. This will in turn detrimentally affect the quality and integrity of the end product. This can cost your company a loss through machine maintenance and recalling products.
The Sharpening Process
The blade sharpening process begins with a thorough inspection of the blades to see if there are any defects or damage. The blades must then be individually cleaned and sorted in line with the type of blade. Once the blade has been sharpened it must be inspected once more for any defects and corrective measures must be taken before the blade is returned to the machine.
Grinding
Grinding is one of the most effective and simple techniques to sharpen your blade. With a variety of sharpening stones such as honing stones, ceramic stones and Japanese water stones, your blade is sharpened to perfection. An OEM blade manufacturer will have the expert knowledge required to grind the blade back to its original tolerance and parallelism, which will allow the operator to be able to set it in the machine once the blade is reinstalled. They will also have the correct machinery and knowledge of what abrasive segments should be used to do a professional and thorough job.
Always Remember
If your blade is blunt or dull it is no longer cutting, the machines wear parts such as bearings and hydraulic systems will be taking the wear until they break down. Make sure to keep an eye out for these signs as they indicate that your industrial blade needs sharpening urgently.
To increase the life cycle of your industrial blades and knives, sharpening should be part of your regular maintenance. At Zanogen, we’re here to help with the upkeep of your blades so that your business can continue to run smoothly. Get in touch today to get your blade looking and feeling brand new.