In a crushing operation, these wear parts will continue to accrue costs over time, and the failure of these parts isn’t necessarily a matter of bad luck. Most of the initial wear on a jaw crusher can be attributed to the operation of the jaw crusher and its setup in the field. By shifting from a paradigm of simply replacing parts to one of optimization in the operation of the jaw crusher, it’s possible to greatly extend the life of these parts and reduce the cost per ton.
The secret to a long life begins with the feed. If large material is fed in and impacts the jaws of the crusher, it can cause impact damage and greatly reduce the life of the crusher. It’s essential to keep the feed within the crusher’s limits. A grizzly or wobbler feeder can help remove the finer material and ensure the material fed in isn’t too large.
The operational setting is equally important, particularly the Closed Side Setting (CSS) and the feeding of the materials. For instance, the liners may not last long enough if the CSS is too tight because they will be worn out due to excessive abrasiveness. However, the liners may not wear out evenly on the chamber if the setting is too loose. It is equally important to ensure that the materials are being fed to the center of the crushing zone.
For instance, feeding the materials off-center may cause the jaw plates to wear out unevenly. It may cause the jaw plate on one side to wear out significantly faster than the other side. A jaw plate on one side may look fresh, yet the other side may be significantly worn out due to the off-center feeding of the materials.
A proactive maintenance plan is crucial. For instance, the jaw plate material and the tooth profile are equally important. Using High Manganese jaw plates may be the best option when dealing with abrasive materials. However, the jaw plates may need to be rotated on a timely basis. A jaw crusher is likely to last significantly longer when the right jaw plate material and tooth profile are put in place.
