TRIM CHAIN MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR
By: Evan Lucyk
In mining operations—as in life—things inevitably break down. When this happens to your business, it can be a big hit to your budget. And one of the last things anyone in the industry wants to do is suffer a breakdown that elicits a fatal blow to their bottom line.
In potash mining, a boring machine’s trim chain is an important and much-needed component. It has a direct impact on daily functioning,operations and operator safety. In other words, it’s a major deciding factor in whether your ultimate bottom line is blissful—or bad news.
Since it’s such an essential component, you need to make sure it’s in proper condition and able to endure all the wear and tear it will likely go through. Here at Bit Service, we provide the value-added service of trim chain inspection and repair. During this process, there are many steps we take to ensure you’re provided with not only the best possible product, but the best possible service, as well. Our goal is to give you total peace of mind when it comes to your production endeavors. We want you to be confident that they are going to continue operating at optimum efficiency.
That’s not to say that possible pitfalls concerning improper maintenance and repairs of equipment (trim chains in particular) will never happen, but rest assured we are here to help. And after decades in the industry, we know exactly what we’re doing, so you can feel secure knowing that your business is in good hands.
Bit Service is a key supplier, innovator, and repair facility for trim chains for the potash industry’s boring machines. During periodic inspections, we have a few key areas to look for on your trim chains, which will maximize their service life and repairability.
These main areas of concern include:
The Everyday, Visual Test: Ideally, at the start of each shift, all trim chains should be visually inspected for excessive wear, damage, and any visible cracking. If any of these red flags are found, the trim chains should be scheduled for maintenance immediately.
Reading of the Bits: Trim bits should be inspected for proper installation, condition, and remaining service life. At this time, if any of the bits do not meet serviceable criteria, they need to be replaced right away to maintain the proper operation and safety of the chain.
Take Stock of the Surroundings: While inspecting the chains, we take the time to inspect the surrounding systems—the chain’s guides, sprockets, and sprocket cleaners. These elements all work together as a cohesive, interrelated system, which means if any of them are left to work in a less than serviceable condition, the entire chain will suffer a reduced service life.
If you’re in the market for the best trim chains, check out Cincinnati Mine Machinery— one company that we proudly use as our go-to supplier for trim chains and other products, and who we’ve been working with now for over three decades. Since the company is focused on providing high-quality and reliable products, and top-notch customer service—core values that are directly aligned with our values at Bit Service—we are confident when recommending them to all our clients who are looking for optimum results.
For further reading, here’s an article that provides a step-by-step guide to inspecting and repairing your trim chains, which we hope is helpful. Reach out to us today to discuss any questions or concerns.