Faustel Blog Part 2: The Web Steering Guide in Roll to Roll Systems

This entry is part 4 of 6 in the series Web Guiding SystemsIn Part 1 of this series we introduced web guiding systems in roll-to-roll winding. Web Steering Guide The web steering guide, as shown in Figure 2, is a roller that has ends which are mounted on a pair of angled linear bearings. As the actuator pushes the roller sideways, the raceways cause the guide roller to pivot about an imaginary point called the instant center. The principles of operation are via a controlled misalignment in the plane of the incoming web and the Normal Entry law. In other words, if the roller is angled, the web must bend sideways in order to enter the roller's axis at a right angle. Since the Normal Entry Law is valid only for traction, any slippage of the web and roller will compromise or destroy guiding. Web steering guides are common whenever there is a long entry span, such as following an air flotation oven. Indeed, this type of guide requires the entry span length to be at least 3-5 web widths long to minimize in-plane bending stresses at the exit of the upstream roller. Similarly, the exit span should be at Continue ReadingThe post Part 2: The Web Steering Guide in Roll to Roll Systems appeared first on Converting Equipment Manufacturer.