Posted to News on 18th Oct 2006, 15:42
Speedi-Sleeve restores worn shafts quickly and economically
SKF's new Speedi-Sleeve enables worn shafts to be quickly restored to 'as good as new' condition without the need to dismantle the machinery in which they are used - and without the need for costly re-grinding. The result is big reductions in maintenance costs and plant downtime - not to mention the benefits that accrue from shafts being properly sealed once again.
Speedi-Sleeves are thin-walled, hardwearing sleeves with a high-quality finish that are simply pushed into position over worn shafts to provide a brand new sealing surface. The shaft requires no preparation or pre-treatment, making installation fast and straightforward; the only tools needed are a mallet, a pair of pliers and the fitting tool supplied with the sleeve.
With the sleeve in place, the size of seal that was previously used will still fit, which avoids the need to locate and purchase new seals, as is invariably necessary when worn shafts are reground.
Standard Speedi-Sleeves are made from high-quality SAE304 stainless steel, with a surface that is machined without directionality to a finish of Ra = 0.25 to 0.5um - a better finish than can normally be obtained by machining the shaft itself. The sleeves are available in sizes to cover common shaft diameters from 12 to 203mm and, subject to minimum order requirements, custom sizes can also be produced.
While standard Speedi-Sleeves will satisfy most requirements, for applications where abrasive wear is a particular concern, SKF also offers Speedi-Sleeve Gold. Identical in all other respects to their standard counterparts, these products have a special coating that significantly increases surface hardness to approximately 2300 Vickers. This makes them excellent for use in dusty and gritty environments, particularly when they are fitted in conjunction with SKF long-life seals.
