Burns Bridge can also troubleshoot your hydraulic system problems where others have failed, as a last resort. In such instances, Burns Bridge will partner with local hydraulics specialists (as necessary) to develop a detailed economic fix to a problem. Burns Bridge lists the following examples of hydraulic process problem solving:

Two Nicholson dial piston cutoff machines of were experiencing very low cutting insert life (500 pieces) and a high level of spend on durable tooling ($250,000 per annum versus a budget of $25,000 for clamping chucks). After addressing an alternate problem with inadequate pull back stroke in the fixture wedges to ensure the pistons were clamped rigidly, the issues of smashed chucks continued at a lower but still unacceptable rate. Further investigation found that there were no hydraulic sequence valves on these machines. In a hydraulic "clamp and work" machine having only one pump, a sequence valve is needed to hold pressure to the clamps while flow is diverted to other operations. Once sequence valves were installed (one day labour to complete), the problem of smashed durable tooling decreased by more than 90% with tooling spend dropping to less than $20,000 per annum. Insert life increased to over 1500 pieces. This was a 25 year old problem.
On the casting deck there were issues with motion faults on three, three axis automatic aluminum pouring ladles controlled by Parker proportional hydraulic spool valves. After investigation, the spool valves were found to be too large and each valve was replaced with an appropriately sized smaller unit, sized to use at least 60% of its capacity. After re-tuning the motion control faults were eliminated. This was a 1.5 year old problem. This fix facilitated a 20% increase in speed and eliminated solidification porosity defects and helping to drive a large increase in casting deck throughput of well over 100%.
In an automotive tier 1 brake bundle manufacturing assembly and test plant, there was a problem with inadequate sealing surfaces on double inverted SAE brake flares produced on a $4 million dollar hybrid CNC PLC brake line end forming machine. Analysis of the hydraulic prints provided with the machine established that there were no sequence valves installed and that the brake tubes were slipping in the clamps. This was confirmed in the tool room where toolmakers were able to clamp the tooling in a vice and successfully make a good brake flare manually using a hammer to drive the punches. After retrofitting appropriate valves to the machine, brake sealing surface increased from 1 mm to over 1.5 mm. The need to spend an hour adjusting the stock at changeovers was eliminated resulting in changeovers which were reduced to five minutes. This was a five year old problem.

Burns Bridge is not a hydraulics expert. However Burns Bridge from experience, feels that many hydraulic problems can be addressed with simple solutions at low cost.

Hydraulic Process Troubleshooting Services