One of the products we offer to our customers are bellows. At Epidor Seals and Rubber Technology we have a wide variety of bellows of different geometric shapes and dimensions.
But sometimes standard solutions do not meet the requirements of the application. For this reason, we offer the possibility of manufacturing custom bellows.
In this article we would like to explain in detail what bellows are, what their characteristics are, what they are used for and much more.
Index
What are bellows?
For the protection of articulated systems, sleeves are used with folds that adapt to the movement of the mechanism they accompany, expanding or contracting with it. We call these particular covers “bellows”.
Bellows are a key component in industry, as they play a fundamental role in the transmission of energy and the operation of machines and mechanical equipment.
Bellows applications
Spindles, hydraulic cylinders, lifting platforms, joints, machine tools, The bellows can be used in a wide range of applications, including axles, axles, wiring, robotics, pneumatic cylinders, motors, turbines, turbines, linear guides, equipment racks, racks, 3D printers, linear actuators, cardan drives, elevators, pipelines or articulated tables, among many others.
In fact, there are as many applications as there are needs capital goods to protect against external agents that can damage them, such as dirt, weathering, dust, heat, chips, sparks, humidity, oils, drillings, welding projections, splashes and a long etcetera.
In any case, the protection of the equipment of interest or of a component of the same exposed to the external agent, we make it with a bellows that we will adapt to the environment of the equipment and design so that it can fulfill its task without the investment in expensive tools or minimum quantities.
Types of bellows
We can find very simple examples, such as the protection of the piston rod of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder to which a cylindrical bellows will be mounted. However, there are much more complex situations that require a detailed study. For example, the protection of the print head of a 3D printer (with vertical and longitudinal movements) to be equipped with two linear guide bellows.
The geometry of the component to be protected determines the bellows type. Thus, for example, we have bellows with cylindrical section; bellows with conical section; and even a combination of both; and finally, bellows with linear guides which are usually rectangular but can have their own design and shape.
Industrial bellows manufacturing processes
Taking into account the diversity of external agents that can deteriorate a bellows, it is logical to think that some materials will be more suitable than others.. And this, in turn, also conditions the bellows manufacturing process.
We distinguish up to four manufacturing processes:
- Rotomolding for cylindrical and conical bellows made from PVC formulations; these are non-standard size bellows for MRO customer requirements. They are made entirely to order, one at a time, without the need to invest in a mold and in short lead times.
- Cylindrical and conical bellows of silicone impregnated on a fiber substrate, FPM and leather that are tailor-made for the MRO segment.
- Bellows of multilayer linear guides by sewing and heat sealing of special executions for machine tool services and lifting tables or platforms, among other applications.
- Synthetic rubber bellows injection molding, The impact of the initial mold cost is usually minimized by the number of units coming out of this type of production, but lead times are somewhat longer. The impact of the initial mold cost is usually minimized by the number of units coming out of this type of production, but lead times are somewhat longer.
Bellows accessories
Other aspects to consider about a bellows are the accessories that can be incorporated, depending on the working conditions:
- Reinforcing rings or guidesThey prevent the pleats of large bellows, particularly horizontal bellows, from jamming when moving or, due to buckling of the bellows, from resting on moving parts or coming into contact with edges.
- Decompression valvesWhen a bellows opens and closes very quickly, it is necessary to add a device that prevents the formation of an air lung inside the bellows itself. This is usually done by drilling holes and inserting devices similar to water diffusers for faucets at key points of the bellows, which allow air to escape and at the same time prevent environmental dirt from entering the bellows.
- Opening system: To facilitate the maintenance of the part that the gusset is protecting, the various gussets can be opened with a zipper, hook-and-loop fastener or Velcro®. They can also be supplied with a “closed” finish.
- Fasteners: The ends of the bellows can be finished with an aluminum or PVC frame or a steel flange where a number of holes have been drilled. Another option is to integrate a collar at the ends of the bellows so that it can be clamped.
We hope this article has been of interest to you. If you need more information about our custom bellows manufacturing service or technical advice, consult our team of experts.