Why isn’t the fish feed pellet extruder rotating anymore

 

 

If the motor of the floating feed extruder machine is running normally, but the screw is not moving at all, it is most likely that there is a mechanical jam between the screw and the barrel. For example, the high-temperature molten material remaining in the barrel may have cooled and "seized" the screw, or the screw may have been scraping the inner wall of the barrel due to bearing wear. Forcing the screw to turn in this way may cause it to bend and scratch the inner wall of the barrel, significantly increasing the difficulty and cost of repair.

 

 

1.Raw material carbonization or hardening causing blockage in the barrel

 Causes: Before shutting down the extruder, dry material was not introduced to clean the barrel. Residual high-starch and high-oil raw materials cooled and hardened inside the barrel, forming a hard "material sleeve" that wraps around the screw; or the barrel temperature was too high during production (over 160℃), causing the raw material to carbonize and adhere to the screw threads and the inner wall of the barrel, hindering screw rotation.

 

 Solutions: Turn off the power, disassemble the barrel heating coil and die head, inject 80℃ hot water into the barrel (a small amount of edible oil can be added to soften high-oil raw materials), soak for 40 minutes, then slowly clean the residual raw material with a special material hook (with a wear-resistant alloy head), avoiding scratching the inner wall of the barrel during cleaning; after cleaning, manually rotate the screw (using a turning device) to ensure there is no jamming.

 

 

2.Screw bearing wear or bushing damage

 Causes: The support bearings at both ends of the screw bear axial and radial pressure for a long time (the extrusion pressure of an extruder can reach 1.5MPa). If lubrication is insufficient (grease is not replenished on time), the bearing raceway will wear rapidly, causing the screw to become eccentric; or the screw bushing (the part that mates with the barrel) will wear due to long-term friction (clearance exceeding 0.5mm), causing the screw to jam against the bushing during operation.

 

 Solutions: Disassemble the screw bearing housing, remove the bearing for inspection. If there are pits in the raceway or broken balls, replace the bearing with the same model (such as tapered roller bearing model 32318); measure the inner diameter of the screw bushing. If the wear exceeds 0.5mm, replace the wear-resistant alloy bushing (hardness of HRC60 or higher); after reinstalling the bearing and bushing, use a dial indicator to check the radial runout of the screw (error must be ≤0.1mm).

 

3.Screw and barrel coaxiality out of tolerance
 Causes: After equipment handling or maintenance, the screw and barrel were not calibrated for coaxiality during reinstallation (error exceeding 0.3mm); or the barrel fixing bolts are loose (caused by long-term vibration), causing the barrel position to shift, resulting in the screw thread edge rubbing and jamming against the inner wall of the barrel during operation.

 

 Solution: Fix a dial indicator to the barrel end cap, with the indicator head contacting the middle of the screw. Manually rotate the screw and record the maximum and minimum dial indicator readings. If the difference exceeds 0.3mm, loosen the bearing seat fixing bolts and use thin copper shims to fine-tune the height and horizontal position of the bearing seat; tighten the barrel fixing bolts (in diagonal order, torque according to the equipment manual, such as 120-150 N·m for M20 bolts); check the coaxiality again until the error is ≤0.2mm.

 

 

 

MIKIM boasts extensive experience in poultry feed pellet production lines, significantly reducing the incidence of poultry diseases. Its equipment is not only widely used across various industries domestically but also exported to Southeast Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America, earning a high reputation internationally. This global presence not only demonstrates the adaptability and competitiveness of its products, but also demonstrates the company's experience in adapting to diverse market standards and logistics conditions, enabling it to provide a stable supply chain for its overseas customers. Whether serving large domestic farms or cross-border feed companies, MIKIM can leverage its global service network to ensure a consistent, high-quality experience.

 

For more information on process flow design, equipment layout, factory construction plans, individual equipment pricing, or turnkey project proposals, please feel free to contact us!!!

 

 

 

1. What is the price of the floating fish feed extruder?

The price ranges from approximately $5,500-$24,000

2. Do you provide maintenance services for your customers?
Yes, we offer comprehensive after-sales maintenance services to our customers.

 

 

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