Metal shredders inevitably experience malfunctions during long-term operation. If these malfunctions are not addressed promptly, they can impact production schedules. Mastering the solutions to the following five common faults can help businesses quickly resume production and minimize losses.
Fault 1: Material Jamming. This manifests as a sudden machine stoppage and abnormal motor noise. The cause is often excessive feeding speed or the presence of hard foreign objects (such as stones) in the material. Solution: Immediately disconnect the power supply, open the equipment’s maintenance door, and remove any material or foreign objects stuck between the blades; adjust the feeding speed to ensure uniform feeding. It is recommended to install a grid at the feed inlet to prevent large or hard foreign objects from entering.
Fault 2: Blades Not Rotating. The motor runs after startup, but the blades do not move. This may be due to a damaged coupling or a gear transmission malfunction. First, check if the coupling bolts are broken. If broken, replace the bolts and realign them. If the coupling is intact, check the gearbox. Open the oil level sight glass. If metal shavings are found mixed in the gear oil, it indicates severe gear wear. The gearbox needs to be disassembled, the gears replaced, and the gearbox cleaned before adding new lubricating oil.
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Fault 3: Uneven shredded particle size. Large differences in particle size after shredding are mainly due to uneven blade wear or improper clearance adjustment. For dual-shaft models, check the wear of the blades on both sides and replace severely worn blades. For single-shaft models, adjust the clearance between the blade and the liner, generally controlled at 2-5 mm, adjusted flexibly according to material requirements. Too large a clearance results in larger particles, while too small a clearance accelerates blade wear.
Fault 4: Motor overheating and tripping. Overheating of the motor causes the circuit breaker to trip. Common causes include overload, poor heat dissipation, or unstable voltage. First, check if the feed rate is too high and reduce it appropriately. Clean the dust from the motor’s heat sink to ensure proper heat dissipation. Use a multimeter to measure the voltage; if the voltage fluctuation exceeds ±10%, a voltage regulator needs to be installed to stabilize the voltage. If the motor still overheats, it may be due to a short circuit in the coil, requiring professional repair.
Fault 5: Severe equipment vibration. Severe shaking during operation is often caused by loose or unbalanced bolts. After stopping the machine, use a torque wrench to check the bolts connecting the machine body to the foundation and tighten them to the standard torque. If the bolts are intact, check if the rotor is balanced. For dual-shaft models, ensure both rotors have the same weight; if there is a deviation, add a counterweight to the lighter side to adjust.
When encountering a fault, first disconnect the power supply, take safety precautions, and then troubleshoot. Simple faults can be resolved by yourself; for complex problems, contact the equipment manufacturer’s after-sales service to avoid further damage due to self-disassembly.
