Microgroove
Relieves Entrapped Air Without Marking
Webex developed a kinder and gentler groove for sensitive films.
A major producer of poly films came to Webex Inc with a problem.
They were processing film at high speed and were having a problem
with entrapped air lifting the web off of
the idler rolls, causing drifting and damaging the film.
They had installed rolls with the Webex standard spiral 'V' groove
and had great success in relieving the entrapped air. However, another
problem had surfaced, the spiral groove was a bit too aggressive
and was marking the sensitive film with a spiral pattern.
Webex engineers worked with the customer to develop a diamond knurl
microgroove pattern. In addition to this pattern, a standard microgroove
pattern was also developed. These groove patterns both offer a high
concentration of very small grooves on the roll surface so that
entrapped air can be relieved but the surface remains very gentle
to sensitive web products.
The diamond microgrooved rolls were installed and the problem was
solved. The entrapped air was relieved while the film remained perfectly
clear.
Microgrooves have since been used to increase traction by relieving
air, to improve release by reducing contact area and have even been
applied to reverse taper idler rolls to improve the wrinkle
removal effectiveness of the roll.
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