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Tracking Wrinkles: Part II

Published: June 01, 2004, By by Timothy J. Walker TJWalker & Assoc. Inc.
The easiest way to explain roller diameter variation tracking is to walk you through the chain of events. Diameter variations create web strain variations.

Tracking Wrinkles: Part I

Published: May 01, 2004, By Timothy J. Walker TJWalker & Assoc. Inc.
When traffic is heavy on a multi-lane freeway, staying in your lane is critical. We trust the other drivers in the cars next to us will stay in their

When Rollers Fight, Webs Lose

Published: April 01, 2004, By Timothy J. Walker TJWalker & Assoc. Inc.

A tram is a coal bin with wheels. If you want your coal bin to stay on its tracks, you must keep the two axles parallel. If they are not parallel, the

Fun with Force Gauges

Published: February 29, 2004, By Timothy J. Walker TJWalker & Assoc. Inc.
In today's world of high-tech electronic gadgets, a force gauge may seem unglamorous, but I hope to convince you a force gauge is something you should have and use.

Reduce Web Nip Problems

Published: February 01, 2004, By by Timothy J. Walker TJWalker & Assoc. Inc.
Web handling is about transport and delivery, getting from point A to point B, without damaging the product. It is relatively easy to move a web across a free span or over an unnipped roller, but getting into and through a nip can be a show stopper for many processes or products. As a web handler, you should consider nips your tough customers.

Friction Circles on a Winter's Day

Published: January 01, 2004, By Timothy J. Walker, TJWalker & Assoc. Inc.
Doing doughnuts — this was the term my high school friends called the art of driving around in snow-covered parking lots, spinning your back tires during a hard turn to get your car to fishtail in a circle.

Linebackers, Leashes, & Superman: A Look at Stress

Published: November 30, 2003, By Timothy J. Walker TJWalker & Assoc. Inc.
Do you work well under pressure? How you react is dependent on the level of pressure or stress exerted on you. How your product reacts to pressures or stresses also will depend on the stress level it feels.

Small Flexing, Big Benefits

Published: October 31, 2003, By Timothy J. Walker TJWalker & Assoc. Inc.
All spiral rollers, whether rigid or flexible, are con artists. Their turning roller's barber pole optical illusion tricks your eye. The rotating spirals, starting at the roller center, create a sense of outward motion.

Where Does a Spreader Spread?

Published: October 01, 2003, By Timothy J. Walker, TJWalker & Assoc. Inc.
Spreader rollers are important tools for web handlers with two main applications. First, they can spread a web after slitting, creating a gap between

Pay Attention to Tension

Published: September 01, 2003, By Timothy J. Walker, TJWalker & Assoc. Inc.

Our web handling expert reveals the subtle secrets of the slitting/rewinding process.

Going with the Parallel Flow

Published: August 01, 2003, By Timothy J. Walker, TJWalker & Assoc. Inc.
Parallel flow usually is a good thing. In driving your car down the road, if you and the other drivers agree to keep parallel to the lines in the road,

A Slippery Answer to Web Scratching

Published: July 01, 2003, By Timothy J. Walker, TJWalker & Assoc. Inc.
What percent slippage in idler roller speed relative to web speed is required to create scratches? Answer #1: Zero percent slip. Scratches are a form

Can't Touch This (Web): Part 3

Published: June 01, 2003, By Timothy J. Walker, TJWalker & Assoc. Inc.
Over the last two months, I have reviewed why some webs demand U Can't Touch This and web line options for true touch-free web handling. This month, let's

Can't Touch This (Web): Part 2

Published: May 01, 2003, By Timothy J. Walker, TJWalker & Assoc. Inc.
Last month we covered the web and process motives for touch-free web handling. This month we ll begin to review web line options for Can t Touch This

Can't Touch This (Web): Part 1

Published: April 01, 2003, By Timothy J. Walker, TJWalker & Assoc. Inc.
More than a decade ago, rapper MC Hammer made famous forever the line U Can't Touch This. I've worked with converters who use this phrase to describe

Cinching Belt Tightening Gone Bad: Part Two

Published: March 01, 2003, By Timothy J. Walker, TJWalker & Assoc. Inc.
The expression it's a cinch usually means something is easy, as easy as tightening a belt. However, as we learned last month, cinching is not something

Cinching Belt Tightening Gone Bad: Part One

Published: February 01, 2003, By Timothy J. Walker, TJWalker & Assoc. Inc.
In today's economic climate, belt tightening sounds like a fiscally wise move. Belt tightening, also known as cinching, is good for budgets, trash bags,

Differential Rewinding: Part Three

Published: January 01, 2003, By Timothy J. Walker, TJWalker & Assoc. Inc.
This month we continue our diagnosis of differential rewinding. The last two columns reviewed the whys and hows of differential rewinding, but before filling your prescription for two new differential shafts, let's review potential detrimental side effects.

Differential Rewinding: Part Two

Published: December 01, 2002, By Timothy J. Walker, TJWalker & Assoc. Inc.

Last month we made the case for using differential rewinding shafts. This month, let's talk about what differentiates one differential shaft from another.

Differential Rewinding: Part One

Published: November 01, 2002, By Timothy J. Walker, TJWalker & Assoc. Inc.
Don't try to do ten things at once. While this is good advice, sometimes ten things come flying at you at once. If you focus on one item, you risk dropping the other nine.

Five Questions and Answers on Lubrication

Published: October 01, 2002, By Timothy J. Walker, TJWalker & Assoc. Inc.
Lubrication occurs when a gas or liquid separates or reduces the contact between two surfaces. Lubrication is used intentionally to reduce wear and increase

Well Done Tension

Published: September 01, 2002, By Timothy J. Walker, TJWalker & Assoc. Inc.
I'm in love with a new gadget that makes cooking easier. It's the electronic temperature probe. These have been available for manufacturing applications

Goldilocks and the Three Bears Deal with Traction Problems

Published: August 01, 2002, By Timothy J. Walker, TJWalker & Assoc. Inc.
Rollers are the hands of web handling the hands we use to grip the web to meet our goals for web speed, position, and flatness. To be able to position

Outsourcing Is Trendy, But Is It Right for Process Expertise?

Published: July 01, 2002, By by Timothy J. Walker TJWalker & Assoc. Inc.
Outsourcing and supplier management have been hot topics over the last decade. Using external resources can provide budget flexibility for economic ups

Stripe Slitting: The Challenge of Staying within the Lines

Published: June 01, 2002, By Timothy J. Walker, TJWalker & Assoc. Inc.
Lines make life more difficult. Remember coloring as a child. At first it was just you, your crayons, white paper, and free expression. Life was easy.

Strand Tracking Problems on Your Slitter/Rewinder

Published: May 01, 2002, By Timothy J. Walker, TJWalker & Assoc. Inc
A slitter/rewinder has two goals: Divide the web into strands (slitting); and create uniform individual rolls (winding). This plan has three potential

Mapping Your Way to Better Tension Control

Published: April 01, 2002, By Timothy J. Walker, TJWalker & Assoc., Inc.
Web handling defects often can be traced back to a specific location in your web line. Web tension at that location is always a prime factor in understanding

Pyramids and Wound Rolls: Long-Lasting Quality

Published: March 01, 2002, By Timothy J. Walker, TJWalker & Assoc., Inc.
What comes to mind when you think about the pyramids? First, the pyramids have survived the test of time. Second, they have a distinct and impressive

Web Line Knowledge Offers a Competitive Advantage

Published: February 01, 2002, By Timothy J. Walker, TJ Walker & Assoc. Inc.
Web lines are the backbone of the converting industry the equipment used in converting paper, film, foil, and other webs into valued product. In this

Wide Web Handling and the Problems It Can Bring

Published: December 01, 2001, By William E. Hawkins, Film Handling Solutions Ltd.
As new film casting machines have grown in width during the past several years, so have casting machine windups. One problem that arises with wider rolls

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