Wood chipper is an important equipment in the production chain of wood processing factories, pellet mills, or agricultural and forestry waste recycling facilities. With high operating frequency in dusty and impact-prone environments, the machine is susceptible to wear and tear, reduced performance or damage if not properly maintained. In fact, ignoring regular maintenance not only increases repair costs but can also cause production interruptions and occupational safety hazards.
So how to maintain the wood chipper effectively and properly? In this article, we will guide you through 7 maintenance steps that need to be performed periodically, helping to maintain optimal performance, prolong machine life and minimize operational risks. Whether you are a small workshop owner or a technical manager at a large factory, these are the core steps you should not ignore.
MỤC LỤC
Why is it necessary to maintain wood chipper periodically?
Regular maintenance of wood chipper is not only a technical recommendation, but also a mandatory requirement to ensure safety, efficiency and cost savings during operation. This equipment often has to process hard, dirty or high-moisture wood – factors that cause rapid wear of important parts such as chipper blades, rotating shafts and transmission systems.
In fact, many small and large wood workshops have experienced machines stopping in the middle of a production shift due to broken blades, overloaded motors, or broken belts, simply because they did not check and maintain them on schedule. The consequences are not only high repair costs, but also damage due to lost operating time, late orders, or work accidents due to unstable machine operation.
In addition, a well-maintained machine will operate more smoothly, consume less electricity, and produce more consistent quality wood chips. For professional manufacturing enterprises, maintenance is also an important factor in achieving ISO standards, or meeting the technical requirements of international partners.
The ideal time to perform wood chipper maintenance
Determining the right time to maintain Wood chipper machine is a key factor in preventing breakdowns, optimizing operating efficiency and operating costs. Do not wait until the machine has problems to deal with them, but build a regular maintenance schedule based on the work intensity and technical characteristics of the machine.
- According to actual operating hours: For industrial wood chipper machines, manufacturers often recommend technical inspection milestones after every 50-100 operating hours. In particular, operations such as cleaning, checking the chipper blades, and lubricating bearings should be performed more frequently if the machine operates continuously for 2-3 shifts/day.
- According to fixed time cycle
- Daily: quick check of machine condition before shift (knife, motor, unusual noise).
- Weekly: clean parts, check belt, tighten screws.
- Monthly: re-align drivetrain, evaluate machine performance.
- Quarterly or 6 months: partial overhaul, replace worn components if necessary.
- After the machine operates in harsh conditions: When the chipper processes wood with high moisture content, wood with many impurities or operates in places with high temperature and humidity, maintenance should be performed earlier than usual. This is when the machine is susceptible to vibration, rust or increased friction between parts.
- Before entering peak production season: For seasonal production facilities, such as bio-pellet production or wood chipping for export, general maintenance should be carried out at least 1–2 weeks before peak season to avoid the risk of disruption during peak operating demand.
Wood chipper machine!
How to Maintain a Wood Chipper? 7 Steps to Take Regularly
Step 1: Check and clean the entire machine
After each shift, you should clean the machine to remove wood dust, sawdust and plastic residue. Use compressed air or a dry cloth to clean areas such as the chipping chamber, discharge door, and rotating shaft. Avoid using water because it can easily cause electrical short circuits or rust components.
Step 2: Check and sharpen the star blade
The chipper blade must be kept sharp to ensure chip quality and to avoid overloading the motor. If the blade becomes dull, chops unevenly, or makes a loud noise, resharpen or replace it. Typically, the blade should be inspected every 50–100 hours of use.
Step 3: Lubricate bearings, shafts and moving parts
Regular lubrication reduces friction and increases the life of rotating parts. Use the appropriate grease as recommended by the manufacturer. Be careful not to apply too much or in the wrong place to avoid grease clogging or flowing into unwanted areas.
Step 4: Check the belt, flywheel and drive system
Make sure the belt is not loose, cracked or slipping. Check the tension periodically, adjusting if necessary. Observe the pulley and flywheel for misalignment, vibration or unusual wear.
Step 5: Check the electrical system, motor and switches
Electrical systems should be inspected regularly to ensure safety. Check wiring, circuit breakers, and motors for signs of heat, strange odors, or unusual noises. Check that the emergency stop switch is working properly.
Step 6: Tighten bolts, screws, check frame
Vibrating machines can easily loosen bolts and screws. Periodically check important locations such as the machine’s feet, blade frame, and safety cover and tighten if necessary. Replace rusty or deformed bolts.
Step 7: Keep a maintenance log and monitor machine performance
After each maintenance, record information about the time, content performed and machine condition. This helps monitor equipment performance, detect faults early and plan maintenance more effectively.
Safety notes when maintaining wood chipper?
Safety is always the top priority when it comes to wood chipper maintenance. Here are some important notes that should be strictly followed:
- Disconnect power completely before operation: Always make sure the machine is disconnected, the motor has stopped rotating and the system is unloaded before opening the cover, removing the blade or checking the inside. This is a mandatory rule to prevent accidents.
- Use full protective gear: Technicians must wear gloves, dust goggles, masks and noise-canceling headphones when performing maintenance. When cutting, sharpening knives or tightening bolts, special care must be taken to avoid hand injuries.
- Do not perform maintenance while the machine is hot or running: After stopping the machine, wait a few minutes for the shaft to stop completely and the temperature to cool to a safe level before opening the inspection cover.
- Always follow the technical procedure: Maintenance must be carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Do not arbitrarily disassemble, change the structure or replace non-standard components.
- Maintenance area supervision and warning: When maintaining large machines or in common operating areas, there should be warning signs and a person in charge of safety supervision to avoid accidents caused by others accidentally starting the machine.
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We would like to sincerely thank our readers for taking the time to read this article about industrial wood crushers at GREEN MECH.
We hope this article has provided enough information and helped customers better understand the product as well as why they should choose to buy a wood crusher at GREEN MECH.
In particular, we look forward to cooperating and providing quality products to customers. With experience and professionalism, we are committed to providing the best products, reasonable prices and the best after-sales service.
GREEN MECH Vietnam specializes in manufacturing and supplying sawdust crusher from small scale to export. Any need for advice on investment in wood chipper machine, please visit the website: biomass.vn or contact Hotline (Zalo): +84 935 940 886 or call center: +84 941 108 8888 or leave information in the form, we will contact you right away.
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