How to maintain the silicone rubber vulcanizer?

The maintenance of silicone rubber vulcanizer is the key to ensuring the equipment's long-term stable operation and extending its service life. The following are detailed maintenance suggestions, classified by different maintenance links:

I. Daily cleaning and inspection**

1. **Cleaning the surface of the equipment**

- After each use, use a soft cloth or compressed air to clean the rubber residue and oil stains on the mold, pressure plate and equipment surface to prevent dirt accumulation from affecting heat transfer or damaging seals.

- Avoid using corrosive detergents to damage the equipment coating or electronic components.

2. **Check the mold and pressure plate**

- Check whether the mold surface is flat and scratch-free to avoid defects in the vulcanized product.

- Clean the mold exhaust holes regularly to prevent blockage and uneven vulcanization.

II. Lubrication and maintenance**

1. **Lubrication of moving parts**

- Guide rails, cylinder piston rods, bearings and other parts need to be regularly (recommended weekly) coated with high-temperature resistant grease (such as lithium-based grease) to reduce friction and wear.

- The hydraulic system needs to use the specified type of hydraulic oil, check the oil level regularly, and replace the hydraulic oil and filter element every 6 months or after 2000 hours of work.

2. **Seal inspection**

- Check whether the seals of the cylinder and oil cylinder are aging or damaged, and replace them every 3-6 months to prevent oil leakage/air leakage from causing unstable pressure.

III. Heating and temperature control system maintenance**

1. **Heating plate inspection**

- Regularly calibrate the heating plate temperature with a thermometer or infrared thermometer to ensure that it is consistent with the temperature control meter display (the error should be ≤±3℃).

- Clean the surface of the heating plate to prevent foreign matter from causing local overheating or uneven heat transfer.

2. **Temperature control system maintenance**

- Check whether the thermocouple and temperature control instrument are sensitive to avoid vulcanization defects caused by temperature out of control.

- Professionals will calibrate the temperature control system as a whole every year.

**Fourth, Hydraulic and Pneumatic System Maintenance**

1. **Hydraulic System**

- Regularly check whether the oil pump, valve, and pipeline are leaking, and whether the pressure gauge is normal.

- Hydraulic oil needs to be kept clean to avoid mixing impurities and causing blockage or wear.

2. **Pneumatic System**

- Check the air source triplex (filter, pressure reducing valve, oil mist collector) to ensure that the air circuit is dry and lubricated, and clean the filter every quarter.

**Five, Electrical System Maintenance**

1. **Line and Component Inspection**

- Regularly check whether the power cord, relay, contactor, etc. have signs of aging, looseness or ablation, and replace them in time.

- Keep the inside of the electric control box clean and dry to prevent dust short circuit.

2. **Safety Device Test**

- Test the emergency stop button, safety grating, pressure overload protection and other functions every month to ensure that the equipment can stop immediately in an emergency.

**Sixth, long-term shutdown maintenance**

1. **Equipment storage**

- If it is out of use for a long time, it is necessary to thoroughly clean and apply anti-rust oil to the metal parts. The mold should be disassembled and stored separately.

- Disconnect the power supply and cover the equipment to prevent dust.

2. **Inspection before re-activation**

- Before starting, it is necessary to run at no load to test whether each system is normal, and gradually increase the temperature to avoid damage to the heating plate due to sudden heat.

**Seventh, records and professional maintenance**

1. **Establish maintenance files**

- Record daily operating parameters, maintenance time and replaced parts to facilitate tracking of equipment status.

2. **Regular professional maintenance**

- At least once a year, the manufacturer or professional technicians will conduct comprehensive maintenance, including hydraulic system pressure testing, electrical insulation testing, etc.

**Precautions**

- **Safety operation**: Be sure to turn off the power and release the pressure before maintenance, and wait for the equipment to cool down before maintenance.

- **Perform according to the manual**: Different models of vulcanizers may have special requirements, and the original manufacturer's manual needs to be referred to to adjust the maintenance details.

Through systematic maintenance, the equipment failure rate can be significantly reduced and the quality and production efficiency of vulcanized products can be improved.