Here’s a Throwback Thursday item for you! The first three generations of Gartech Glue Units ran on DC-based technology. With today’s entry, we’re posting the procedure for setting the speed card inside the control panel. You can also download documentation on how to set the KBIC-120 and KBSI-240D boards. A potentiometer or “pot” is a variable resistor with 3 terminals that require manual, rotated adjustment. Before we get started, always be sure to follow your plant’s safety protocols before attempting to use this DC-based Gartech Glue System Speed Setting info. Never make an adjustment to any item inside the panel without authorization from a superior. We recommend your plant’s electrician be the only one who handles this level of work.
The KBIC-120 90VDC Drive Board used in the control panel is manufactured by KB Electronics.
Below are the steps for setting Minimum and Maximum speeds.
Adjustments Before Initial Start-up
- Adjust “ACCEL” pot (potentiometer) to .5 sec. by turning CCW (counter-clockwise) to the 3 o’clock position.
- Adjust “IR” pot to 40-degrees setting by turning CW (clockwise) to the 9:15 o’clock position.
- Decrease “MAX” pot to 40-degrees setting by turning CCW to the 8 o’clock position.
Motor Switch “ON” and Flexo Run Register “OFF” and 5K Pot Fully CCW
- Adjust “MIN” pot CW until the motor starts to turn; then adjust CCW until motor stops.
- Adjust 5K pot fully CW and adjust the voltage to 90 VDC on A1 and A2 terminals using the “MAX” pot.
Motor Switch “ON” and Flexo Run Register “ON”
- Adjust “MIN” pot on KBSI-240D to match surface inches per minute “Low Speed” (ex: 20 kicks/min) of folding rail belts and Gartech Glue Wheels.
- Adjust “MAX” pot on KBSI-240D to match SI/M “High Speed” (ex: 300 kicks/min) of folding rail belts and Gartech Glue Wheels.
- Repeat the (2) steps in this section until tracking repeats.
It is worth noting that a DC-based system running at optimal condition is capable of 5% speed regulation at best. If running at 50ft/min, this allows variation of +/- 2.5 ft./min. We discuss this in our entry Why Upgrade Your Gartech Glue System? In the era when these generations were manufactured, this was the best tech available. Now, with an upgrade to an AC-based system, that 5% variation becomes 1% or 5-times better than the DC tech. The AC upgrade is available for every Gartech Glue System running a DC motor and DC-based tech. We also offer an upgrade to an electronically geared encoder system, which tracks even better than the AC system. Would you like a quote? Contact us in the sidebar to your right.
Note: Always use a handheld tachometer or an accurate laser tachometer when checking and setting these speeds. Speeds cannot be set by visual comparison.