When to Use vertical bellow cover？

Metalworking is one of the key industries in our modern society and consists on processing metals to produce parts and structures for a wide array of industries such as aircraft, automotive, etc.

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This industry requires high precision machine tools, skilled operators, and strict adherence to delivery deadlines.

The barriers faced by metalworking engineers are significant and range from mechanical failures of machines to challenges pertaining to temperature control and material properties.

Each of these obstacles can slow down production, negatively affecting your OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness).

Among these issues, bellow covers can create considerable problems. To mitigate this, we will outline the prevalent failures of bellow covers and suggest methods for addressing them, ensuring that bellow-related concerns are minimized.

Common Failures of Flexible Bellow Covers:

Rupture and Breakage:

Flexible bellows endure significant mechanical stress. Over time, this tension may lead to the formation of pinholes—tiny openings at the fold points where strain is greatest. Pinholes are early signs of wear and may eventually cause more extensive damage, but they typically don’t result in immediate machine shutdown. However, if a bellow does break, the impact on production can be severe. Exposure to coolant fluids can degrade the material, making it less flexible. For instance, PVC can become stiffer and more prone to fractures at the fold lines once it’s been compromised.

Prevention Tips

Always choose coolant-resistant materials for your bellows to prevent chemical degradation and maintain flexibility. Communicating your coolant usage with your bellow manufacturer can help ensure they select the right materials. Additionally, selecting high-tenacity fibers for larger bellows can enhance tensile strength.

Derailing:

Flexible bellows are lighter and more compact than telescopic steel covers, making them suitable for horizontal, vertical, or even inverted installations to protect linear motion guides from debris. They are generally affixed by mobile PVC plates, but if the material is overly flexible, derailing may occur.

Prevention Tips

Select materials with excellent folding memory to keep the cover in its designated path. Additionally, ensure that the material has strong High Frequency welding adhesion with PVC plates to prevent unexpected detachment.

Surface Damages:

Bellow covers are often exposed to abrasive debris, arising from cutting and grinding processes. This wear, combined with repetitive motion, can damage the cover over time. Delamination may also happen due to the vacuum peeling effect from certain coolants, particularly if coolant mixed with fine particles is left to dry overnight.

Prevention Tips

Opt for hard-coated fabrics, such as PUR, instead of soft materials like PVC or TPU, which are more vulnerable. Regularly clear away debris to prevent it from damaging the fabric, and choose textured fabrics to mitigate the vacuum peeling phenomenon.

Piercing and Holes:

In high-speed applications, debris can puncture the bellow cover.

Prevention Tips

For environments where high impact resistance is needed, consider using para-aramid based fabrics or hybrid bellows reinforced with steel laths.

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OTEGO specializes in technical fabrics tailored for flexible bellow cover solutions.

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Understanding Bellow Way Covers

Bellows serve as the ideal protection for a variety of machinery, safeguarding mechanical components like guide ways, screws, and other sensitive parts. They can be customized with ease and at a low cost, often without the need for molds.

Quality Considerations

Bellow way covers possess compact dimensions, high operational speeds, waterproofing, and resistance to elevated temperatures. The materials used are selected based on the environmental conditions and processing requirements. Fabrics used in these covers act as barriers against coolants, hot shavings, powders, and other abrasive materials while offering strain resistance.

Bellow covers are designed to be watertight, with each fold supported by an internal frame. The joins between stiffeners and fabric are created via welding, eliminating the use of adhesives. In some models, stainless steel slats are integrated to provide additional protection against hot shavings, welding spatter, and corrosive substances.

Bellows are also available in various shapes for different applications, such as the protection of shafts and hydraulic cylinders. As an industry, we have accumulated a wealth of experience, enabling us to deliver bellows and caps that ensure optimal quality and longevity.

Our Bellow Way Covers

The aesthetic finish and consistent profiles of the bellows enhance the visual appeal of machinery. The design possibilities of bellows are virtually limitless, with the Venetian and U shapes being the most common. Special rear handles can bolster stability, while sloped shapes improve liquid drainage.

Custom-sized bellows can be produced to meet specific customer needs, utilizing materials like synthetic rubber and PVC that can withstand a range of temperatures and environmental factors. Bellows constructed with heat-sealing technology provide durability, water resistance, and oil protection.

For many applications, including medical and food technology, stringent requirements such as dust tightness and food compatibility are paramount.

The automotive sector also increasingly relies on bellows in assembly line operations. The demands from clients can often lead to tailored solutions, developed swiftly and efficiently by our knowledgeable staff.

With infinite combinations of materials, shapes, and processing methods, our bellows meet diverse application needs, with robust internal frames providing structural integrity across various conditions. Whether in horizontal or vertical configurations, our bellows ensure smooth operation and flexibility suitable for modern machinery.

If you're interested in learning more about our vertical bellow cover, contact us today for expert consultation!