With a complex array of internal components such as Falk couplings, Enemac torque limiters, Ave chains and Centrex clutches working and grinding together, it stands to reason that power tools create a significant amount of noise. Whilst noise is an intrinsic part of many industries, there are certain strategies that can be taken to limit the amount of noise those operating and working in close proximity can carry out to reduce the amount of noise they are exposed to.
The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 was enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on all industries in 2006. The objective of the Regulations is to ensure the hearing of workers is protected from excessive noise at their place of work.
If you are concerned about the amount of noise yourself or your employees are being forced to endure when using power tools, take a look at the following power tools noise reduction tips
Damping
As the HSE advises, damping is one method used to ‘dampen’ noise being created by industrial equipment. There are essentially two basic damping techniques. One is to attach a layer of bitumastic – or similar – high damping material onto the surface. The second is to place a constrained layer of damping where a laminate is constructed.
Fan Installations
The HSE also advises using fan installations to decrease the amount of noise caused by power tools and other industrial equipment. According to HSE, maximum fan efficiency coincides precisely with minimum noise.
“Any fan installation feature that tends to reduce fan efficiency is therefore likely to increase noise. Two of the most common examples are bends close to the fan and dampers,” writes HSE.
Existing machine guards
Improving existing machine guards present on equipment can also help reduce the amount of noise being generated by the machine.
Vibration isolation pads
Another tried and tested method to reduce the amount of noise being collectively, created by the likes of Juboflex couplings, Kumera clutches and Sferax linear bearings, is to use vibration isolation pads. As the HSE highlights:
“Mounting motors, pumps, gearboxes and other items of plant on rubber bonded cork (or similar) pads can be a very effective way of reducing transmission of vibration and therefore noise radiated by the rest of the structure.”
Pulleys
From Berges variable speed pulleys to and adjustable center variable speed pulleys, as Woodworking Tips note, pulleys can be a source of excess noise. As many tools have pulleys which are cast from a soft metal they are not always perfectly balanced, which creates movement and ultimately lead to excessive noise being created. Replacing these pulleys with ones that are turned from solid pieces of steel will help with noise reduction.
For more advice, tips and developments in the world of industrial components keep returning to YB Component’s blog that is updated on a weekly basis.