Tempering is an important step that is adopted by most manufacturers during fabrication of glass. It refers to the process of using heat to treat glass to enhance its strength and safety. If you have decided to buy a tempering machine, you must find an appropriate one that will cater for your production requirements. To ensure you obtain value for your money and achieve optimal results, there are certain factors you need to take into consideration before buying this machine. Below are some of the most crucial ones that will guide you appropriately.
Glass product specifications
Before buying a tempering machine, you must specify the type, quantity and quality glass products that your company wants to produce. This is a process that requires input from the entire production team that includes quality control technicians and the marketing team among others. Some of the factors that will guide you when defining the product specification include the type of glass you wish to make, its tempering standard, the minimum and maximum glass piece, its thickness range, the total output you expect ,and the number of hours you plan to undertake manufacturing on a daily basis. Other subsidiary considerations include the minimum and maximum temperatures of the production facility, space restrictions and the voltage of electrical power used. All these specifications will guide your company in acquiring a tempering machine that fits all your manufacturing requirements.
Choice of tempering system
You can either purchase a tempering machine with an oscillating or continuous system. In a continuous system, the glass loads into the heater in one direction until it attains the tempering temperature. It then proceeds to the quench where cooling takes place at the desired rate. Upon reaching the required standards, the glass is released and ready for use. For an oscillating system, the glass loaded moves back and forth into the heater until tempering temperatures are attained. It is then transferred to the quench where it moves backward and forward to cool it down to allow handling.
Oscillating systems process glass ranging from 3mm to 35mm and are available in widths of up to 3.3 meters. In addition, these systems are very versatile and relatively cheaper. Continuous systems that are a bit more expensive are recommended for production of high volumes of thinner glass ranging between 3 to 6mm. Examples of such glass includes shower doors and standard window glass. Clearly, your choice of tempering system will be determined by your budget, the thickness of the glass products you want to make and the quantity. For more information, talk to a fabrication company like Suburban Welding & Steel LLC.
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