One way or another, things sometimes go wrong and equipment can break. This can cause a variety of problems for your business, since replacing parts can take time and resources that you might not have. Even if you do have the means of repairing your equipment, doing so will interrupt the flow of business and cause problems for your bottom line. Understanding why your metal expansion joints might fail can help you avoid issues with them in the future.
The Right Parts For The Job
Some expansion joint and metal bellows failures can be attributed to using the wrong part to begin with. Not all bellows and expansion joints are created equal, and when you’re designing your systems you’ll need to ensure you have the right equipment to get the job done. High pressure expansion joints, for example, are designed for applications where your expansion joints will need to endure rough conditions that might damage other types of components. These high pressure expansion joints won’t fail as quickly or as easily under high pressure conditions, keeping your machinery functioning as normal. There are a variety of factors you’ll need to consider when initially selecting your custom bellows or expansion joints. Focus on these important attributes specifically: stress modes, flexing, pressure differential, rigid stops, spring rate, life cycles, temperature extremes, exposure, assembly method, vibration, end configuration, and geometric constraints.
Keeping Up With Maintenance
Another reason that metal bellows may fail is that they’ve simply reached the end of their natural life cycle after long periods of wear and tear. No machinery can last forever, but this especially true for components that haven’t been well-maintained. If you want your expansion joints, metal bellows, and other machinery components to last as long as possible without failure, maintain a regular maintenance schedule and fix any issues as soon as they’re found. Delaying on repairs can lead to mechanical failures that slow down production and operations within your company.
In a busy company, there are some issues that can’t always be avoided, and one of those is having parts fail. However, you can help avoid your metal bellows failing by purchasing the right custom bellows to start and maintaining those standard bellows throughout their usual lifespan. For more information on metal expansion joints and bellows, contact Triad Bellows today.
