How to Install Your Furnace Conveyor Belt

The installation process for your furnace conveyor belt is important to the success of your application. Follow these instructions to minimize downtime and increase performance.

Preparing for the New Belt

Before you begin to install your new furnace belt, be sure to plan your shutdown to provide adequate time to check and clean out your furnace. When you receive the belt, carefully review the instructions on the belt installation sheet.

Inspect the Conveyor Setup

Upon removing the old belt:

Inspect the furnace
Check for worn supports
Check misalignment
Remove any old parts or pieces of the belt
Remove residues of brazing compounds
Check the belt's path for obstructions
Examine the old belt to locate trouble spots or points of failure

Check Drums and Rolls

Take a look at the end drums and press roll for alignment and wear. Make certain the drums, rolls and any support rolls are parallel and level before installing the new belt. This will help insure proper tracking.

Placing and Installing the Belt

Before pulling the new belt in, be sure to check heating and cooling zones to insure uniform temperature across the belt width.

Use a rope or cable attached to a leader to pull the new belt into the furnace. Before tension is applied, be certain all spirals are lying flat in the plane of the belt. Those not flat will look like bumps and should be turned.

Follow the instructions on the Wire Belt Installation sheet for installing and making the belt endless.

Tracking the Belt

Start the drive system and run the belt under ambient or cold temperatures to insure that the belt tracks. Do not track the belt by moving the end rolls out of parallel. Read the instructions from the installation sheet for tracking.

Break In the Belt

High temperature break in occurs after determining that the belt tracks while cold. Make sure all atmosphere is removed.

NOTE: Do not leave a nitrogen blanket in and remove all of the atmosphere. The chrome oxide will not form in the presence of nitrogen. For proper installation and to gain maximum belt life it is always suggested to begin at room temperatures described here. A non-ambient modification would lower the furnace temperature to around 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure to remove all atmosphere and run two cycles at 1,100 degress Fahrenheit, then proceed with the following instructions.

Bring the furnace up to 1,450 degrees Fahrenheit at a rate of approximately 300 degrees Fahrenheit per normal conveyor cycle. A cycle is defined as one complete revolution of the belt, with all sections of the belt seeing that same temperature.

Once at 1,450 degrees Fahrenheit, soak the belt at that temperature for two cycles. Then, take the furnace to 1,750 degrees Fahrenheit (the temperature at which protective chrome oxide is formed) and run for at least two-to-three cycles. After the 1,750 degree soak, introduce the full atmosphere.

Next, proceed to operating temperature, which is typically above 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, and run two cycles with full atmosphere and the belt unloaded, free from product. Then, load parts and start with full production.

Monitor the belt and adjust to insure it is tracking properly.

For more information on Rexnord's conveying solutions for the high temperature industry, visit Rexnord.com or contact us directly at 1-800-638-9568.

Paige Wallace

Paige Wallace is a Market Sales Manager with thirty years experience providing conveying solutions to customers. Her specific area of focus is in the high temperature furnace industry specializing in sintering, brazing, annealing and heat treating market segments.