How Does Fan-Out in Slit Webs Affect Tension and Material Integrity?

[es_shoes]

Hello everyone,

I have a question about the tension effect of spreading out a slit web over a short distance. We are installing a web cleaner that requires 40 - 3/8" or 5/8" slits be brought through it with a short distance between one another. I've designed a shaft that will keep each individual web 1/8" apart from each other, but over 40 cuts, it means the web will increase in width from 25" to 29.75" over a span of only 22 inches of material. The kicker is that this product needs to be run at low tension and high speed. Will this fan-out create a large amount of tension, especially on the outside strands, which will be displaced about 2.5 inches over a short amount of material? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.


Benjamin

 

[eljose79]

,

Thank you for your question. The tension effect you are describing is known as the "spreading effect" and it can have significant implications for the performance and durability of your web cleaner. As you have mentioned, the increased width of the web due to the fan-out can create tension on the outside strands, which can cause issues such as uneven cleaning, tearing, and premature wear and tear on the web cleaner itself.

To address this issue, there are a few suggestions I can offer. First, it may be beneficial to consider using a different type of web cleaner that is specifically designed for handling wider webs or has adjustable settings to accommodate the increased width. Alternatively, you could also try reducing the number of slits or increasing the distance between them to minimize the spreading effect.

Another option is to use materials that are more flexible and can better withstand the tension caused by the fan-out. This could include using thinner or more elastic materials for the web or incorporating a buffer zone between the slits to distribute the tension more evenly.

Lastly, it may be helpful to conduct some testing and analysis to determine the optimal tension settings for your specific application. This can help ensure that the tension is kept at a safe and consistent level throughout the web cleaning process.

I hope these suggestions are helpful in addressing your concerns. Please let me know if you have any further questions or if I can provide any additional assistance. Best of luck with your web cleaner installation.

 

[charng]

,

Thank you for your question. The tension effects on web slits can be quite complex and depend on various factors such as material properties, web speed, and slit spacing. In your case, the fan-out created by the 40 cuts over a short distance may indeed result in increased tension, especially on the outside strands. This is because as the web width increases, the same amount of material will need to be spread out over a larger area, leading to a decrease in tension. However, the displacement of 2.5 inches over a short amount of material may not be significant enough to cause major tension issues, especially if the web is being run at low tension.

To mitigate any potential tension problems, I would suggest conducting some tension tests on the web before and after the installation of the web cleaner. This will allow you to monitor any changes in tension and make adjustments as needed. Additionally, you may want to consider using a more flexible shaft design that can accommodate the fan-out and minimize tension effects. As always, it is important to carefully monitor and adjust tension levels during high-speed operations to ensure optimal performance and prevent any potential issues.

I hope this helps and please feel free to reach out with any further questions or concerns. Best of luck with your project!