Tips for Installing and Selecting Teflon Dams

Teflon dams are relatively small components on solventless laminating machines, yet they are consumable parts that often cause great concern or annoyance for machine operators. Improper selection or installation of this dam can commonly lead to glue leakage in the glue trough, which in turn can cause many problems such as the need for additional cleaning of the equipment and excessive glue application leading to roll slipping.

Common situations that lead to glue trough leakage due to improper installation or selection of Teflon dams are as follows:

1: Excessive Pressure from the Glue Pressing Bar:

When the pressure from the glue pressing bar assembly on the dam is too great, it can cause the gap between the glue storage roller and the metering steel roller to increase after long-term operation, leading to glue leakage

In actual adjustment, there should initially be a certain gap between the nylon pressing block of the glue pressing bar assembly and the baffle block. If the nylon pressing block is in direct contact with the baffle block, it can cause excessive pressure, leading to an increased gap between the glue storage roller and the metering steel roller after long-term operation, resulting in glue leakage in the trough.

2: Bending at the Tail of the Dam:

The dam's tail is relatively thin and is inevitably subject to bending or warping during transportation, use, or storage. Operators must carefully inspect before installation, and if any bending is found, it should be straightened before use. Otherwise, the dam may not press well against the glue storage roller and the metering steel roller during placement, leading to glue leakage in the through.

3: Failure to Replace the Dam in Time:

Teflon dams have a certain service life, usually between 3 to 6 months, depending on the quality and usage conditions. Glue leakage caused by wear of the contact surface between the dam and the glue storage roller and metering steel roller after long-term use is normal, and in such cases, the dam should be replaced with a new one.

Once the machine operator notices that the gap between the glue storage roller and the metering steel roller has increased, they should promptly adjust the speed ratio between the metering steel roller and the transfer roller to adjust the glue application amount, to prevent quality issues such as roll slipping caused by excessive glue application.

There are many teflon dam suppliers on the market, with varying quality levels, making it difficult for general users to inspect and judge. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to purchase from the original manufacturer to avoid minor mistakes leading to significant losses.