Sintering Furnace Mesh Belt: Edge Reinforcement Solutions

Under continuous high temperature and tension, the edge areas of sintering furnace mesh belts, due to geometric discontinuities, concentrate the maximum principal stress. This makes them the primary origin points for fatigue cracks, tracking deviations, and wire fraying. Industrial practice indicates that approximately 70% of mesh belt failures initiate from edge defects.

Addressing the stringent requirements of thick film technology for cleanliness, flatness, and service life, mainstream edge reinforcement solutions can be categorized into three types: Hook & Interlock, Welded Reinforcement, and U-Shaped Edge Insert.

1. Hook (Bent) Edge Processing

• Method: Extending the edge pins of the mesh belt and bending them into a hook shape to form an interlocking structure (commonly known as "hooking").

• Advantages: Enhances the edge's tensile strength, preventing tearing under high temperatures; simple structure and lower cost.

• Key Parameters: The hook length must match the mesh belt thickness, and the diagonal height must remain symmetrical to prevent tracking deviations.

• Note: Consistent hook formation is crucial. Using specialized tools for the bending process ensures hook uniformity, guarantees diagonal symmetry of the mesh belt, and avoids runtime tracking issues.

2. Welded Reinforcement

• Method: Applying full welding along the mesh belt edge.

• Advantages: Provides high edge rigidity, making it suitable for high-load or high-speed operation scenarios.

• Disadvantages: If the weld points are not full and smooth, they are prone to tearing, leading to a shortened service life for the mesh belt.

• Note: As a very common edge treatment method, direct welding can save labor time and potentially further reduce mesh belt cost. However, the welding process demands not only skilled operators but also strict requirements for welding materials and shielding gases. Instances have occurred where mesh belts from other suppliers, welded with inaccurate current parameters, resulted in rough, burred weld points that scratched and damaged products during loading and unloading.

3. U-Shaped Edge Insert (Crimping)

• Method: Inserting a U-shaped metal channel onto the edge and crimping it securely in place.

• Advantages: Protects the edge wires from loosening or fraying, making it particularly suitable for extra-wide mesh belts (e.g., >1 meter).

• Note: It is essential to ensure that the thermal expansion coefficient of the U-channel material matches that of the mesh belt substrate (e.g., a 310S + 310S combination) to prevent issues from differential thermal expansion.

Conclusion:

Edge treatment often constitutes less than 10% of the total mesh belt cost, yet it determines over 90% of the budget related to tracking, breakage, and contamination incidents. The recommended approach is: first define the operating conditions, then select the appropriate process, and finally, specify the key parameters clearly in the technical drawings. By paying attention to these "seemingly minor edge details," you can transform them into a major factor determining service life.