A number of yeas ago I purchased a Durston rolling mill. All I used
it for for several years was to texture metal so I never notice the
problem for a while. The problem is that it doesn’t roll to a
consistant thickness. There is about a guage difference as you go
through the 4 revolutions which makes a complete turn of the roller.
I was able to ask Bill Durston about it at catalog in motion, he told
me what to do to check fo misalignment etc. I could never find any
thing wrong. I have come to the conclusion that either one of the
rollers is slightly out of round or more likely the hole for the
shaft holding one of the rollers is slightly off center. Is there any
thing I can do to correct this?
You can take it to a machine shop and have the rollers checked and
they can mill them to a constant diameter if it is needed.
We know a shop in St. Petersburg, FL that would be good for that if
you need reference.
First off if there is a problem contact Durston directly. They are
very good at handling customer service issues. Second I am doubtful
of either scenario you describe as being the culprit given how the
rollers and journals are made. I am curious about the condition of
the sheet and how you are measuring it. Is it wavy or dead flat? If
it is not dead flat it can be very difficult to get an exact
measurement of thickness in different areas with typical measuring
tools. While hand rolled sheet is never exactly the same thickness
across the sheet due to bending of the rolls and the edges are
thinner then the center a difference of one gage is very extreme.
Call or email Durston I am sure they can help you figure it out.
Jim
James Binnion
@James_Binnion
James Binnion Metal Arts
360-756-6550
Hi David,
Although unlikely, there is a possibility that the rolls are not
running true. Let me know what model you have and we will send you
two new rolls free of charge after checking your existing rolls. I
will contact you off list to arrange.
Matthew Durston
Durston Rolling Mills
Progress House,
Hospital Hill Waterside,
Chesham, Bucks.HP5 1PJ
Tel: + 44 1494 793244
Fax: + 44 1494 792966
David
There is little chance of a fix that you can do for the problem you
describe unless you have a lathe.
There is a way you can identify the roller with the problem. Get a
dial gauge and a magnetic base and set it up to monitor one roller
and then the other. An inexpensive dial gauge (like one from Harbor
Freight) will normally have a an accuracy to 0.0005 inches and the
error you are looking for will probably be in the range of about
0.010 to 0.020 inches on a full gauge thickness at larger gauges and
in the smaller gauge range then it will run 0.001 to 0.005 inches. If
both rollers are off, and it has been your luck to have them mated
this way, try rolling the follower 180 degrees from the other to
reduce the error. This will not ‘fix’ the problem but it may reduce
it to a livable level.
Write Durston customer service and go through the setup and
alignment with them, and they will then see the problem you are
describing and should have you send the mill in for
repair/replacement or send you new rollers. Either roller could be at
fault but at least one face is not concentric to the shaft. A bushing
cannot produce the symptoms you describe.
Terry