Maintaining a reserve of spare parts for the overhead crane is essential to ensure the safety of your production. The simple fact is that having the correct spares on hand prevents the failure of a single part from halting production--potentially for months if the wrong part fails.
So, how do you know whether you have enough spare overhead crane parts? Of course, the exact number can vary from crane mill and crane to mill however, in general you must always have enough spares to stop your downtime from being equivalent to the amount of time it will require a replacement part to be delivered from a manufacturer.
To determine the exact number of spares that you require is a matter of understanding the lifespan of all your parts and adjusting that lifetime according to what you understand about the wear and tear in your operations.
Life Expectancy of Mechanical Crane Parts
To help you determine the exact number of necessary spare parts For your reference, here are a few of the most frequently used mechanical spares along with their overall life span, as well as other things to keep at heart when you are stocking these parts for your cranes.
Wheel assemblies typically last 8-10 years; however this is influenced by your crane's rail as well as building alignment. Track your wheel assembly wear by observing flange wear and the life of the bearings. Keep in mind that the wheel assembly includes an idler and drive group. you'll need both in stock as they aren't interchangeable.
Gearing will typically last between 8 and 10 years. Make sure to check your gearing on a regular basis to ensure it is not wearing much faster than anticipated. Keep in mind that hoist gearing often is a reverse-hand unit; you'll need both available as they aren't interchangeable.
Ropes will typically last for two years if they are used in severe duty. However, for general usage you can expect up to 3 to 5 years.
Life Expectancy of Structural Crane Parts
On the structural side on the structural side spare crane parts sheave, drum, and hanger assemblies are a few of the most crucial spares that you should always have in stock.
According to their work duties the average lifespan of doctors is 10-20 years.
Hooks with laminated hangers are recommended to last for five years when used in extreme duty. Inspections are essential to ensure that hangers don't stop working unexpectedly, before the suggested service life.
Sheaves and assemblies of sheaves should generally last 5-10 years. This includes pins, bearings and any hook block. Regular inspections are critical in order to make sure they don't break suddenly like hangers. Remember that there are both upper and lower sheave assemblies; you'll need to have both of them in stock because they're not interchangeable.
Crane Parts with Production in Mind
Based on these time frames, it is recommended to have a collection of spares in your inventory to keep your crane running until the parts undergo a thorough inspection and then repaired. Furthermore, a majority components of the parts are classified as repairable or rebuildable parts. If you decide to swap them off with the help of a spare part, make sure you take them to a certified repair and inspection service in order to bring them back to working order.
In the end, the base of an organized stockpile of spare equipment and crane parts is a quality inspection plan, coupled with years of experience with material handling equipment.
If you're not sure whether you have enough spare parts, HL Equipment provides an extensive list of recommended spares for each crane. We will pack our spare parts to store them for the long term and, if possible, design built-up assemblies that can be dropped in place for quick part replacement. Our experience aids our customers with their handling requirements daily.