Is Your Finish Quality Dropping? Check These Key Wear Parts
Before you blame the primer or adjust the machine settings, check these three components — they're the cause of most finish quality issues.
When a vacuum coater that's been running perfectly starts producing uneven finishes, the instinct is to adjust settings or change primer. But in most cases, the root cause is simpler: a wear part that's reached the end of its service life.
Vacuum coaters have remarkably few moving parts, which is part of their reliability. But the parts that do wear — filters, feed rollers, and chamber seals — have a direct and measurable impact on finish quality when they degrade.
3 Key Wear Parts
Check these in order when troubleshooting finish quality issues.
1. Filters & Screens
Symptoms: Gradually declining film build, uneven coverage across the profile width, visible particles in the finish. Check: Remove inline filter, inspect for clogging or discolouration. Replace quarterly or sooner if flow rate has noticeably dropped.
2. Feed Rollers
Symptoms: Intermittent bare patches, variable film thickness along the board length, boards pausing or jerking through the chamber. Check: Look for glazing, flat spots, or wear grooves on roller surfaces. Replace when grip becomes unreliable.
3. Chamber Seals
Symptoms: Air bubbles in the finish, primer foaming in the tank, inconsistent vacuum pressure readings. Check: Inspect seals for cracking, hardening, or deformation. Replace when vacuum pressure can no longer be maintained at normal levels.
Troubleshooting FAQ
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