So where should oil be? Not on the floor, that’s where! O-rings, tubing that serves as a seal, are crucial for keeping oil inside the machine and off your shop floor. They seal all hydraulic valve ports on manifolds, and while O-rings may seem straightforward and simple in nature, and they are, there are still many factors to consider for them to function properly.
For instance, every machine uses a combination of different sized O-rings, all specific to your exact machine. It is critical to make sure that those O-rings are fitted correctly and tightly secured. If you are not using the correct O-ring or the placement of the O-ring is off, it can lead to leakage around the valve sealing surfaces. This will result in oil leaking out of the groove and onto the shop floor. Your machine may rack up downtime and oil expenses. Here are some things to consider when dealing with O-rings on your plastic injection molding machine.
The Right O-Ring for The Right Job
First and foremost, all O-rings are not created equal. O-rings can vary by valve, hose and fitting type. Example brands include Bosch, Rexroth, Atos, or Parker, and it is possible for one injection machine to have multiple brands. Fortunately, for ease of maintenance, we can provide Milacron kits that contain all types of O-rings. These kits are also compatible with multiple valve, hose, and fitting suppliers meaning we can be your one-stop-shop for O-rings. You don’t have to constantly be shopping.
Our Milacron Kit numbers are 10133000 (Standard valve repair kit), 10380743 (Square cut O-rings), 11965289 (Atos Valve O-rings), and 10398681 (Face Seal hose /fitting).
When Should I Replace My O-Rings?
O-ring leakage typically does not affect your machine productivity. As part of your weekly and monthly preventative maintenance plan, you should walk around your machinery and take note of any leaks. Check around all manifolds, hoses and fitting connections. Hydraulic system pressures in valves, hoses, and tubing can range anywhere from 2850 psi on the low end all the way up to 5000 psi on the high end. Any leak found should be repaired at that time because leaking is never normal. A small leak will eventually lead to a blown O-ring.
What’s the Worst-Case Scenario?
With a faulty or damaged O-ring, you can lose multiple gallons of oil and trigger a down machine. Be preventative instead of reactive! This leakage can also result in an extremely unsafe work environment for your workers and create environmental hazard issues. Environmental and safety regulatory laws in your area may lead to you hiring outside firms to dispose of the oil and clean-up materials.
Milacron Is Here to Keep You Running
We are here to help. We offer a variety of preventative and general maintenance programs that can help you combat the drips and spills. Please refer to your maintenance manual for suggested preventative maintenance schedules. To schedule Service and Parts, just call our team at 1-800-288-8306. Our Aftermarket Service Team is available 24/7 to handle your needs.
From our National Service Manager to you,
Scott Mason
Technical Support and Parts
1-800-288-8306
