Troubleshooting
Thermoplastic - PVC / ABS
Milling Issues: Issues involve cutting or processing the edges on the edgebanding machine.
Problem
Milling waves are visible.
Solution
- Feed rate too high.
- Cutting speed of cutters too low.
- Re-process with scrapers and buffing; cut against the feed.
- Increase the number of cutters on the router bit.
- Increase RPM.
Problem
Evidence of stress whitening in radius during machine centre processing.
Solution
- Edgebanding fed in too cold.
- Increase heater power or reduce feed rate.
- Use a thinner edgebanding material or increase material geometry.
Problem
Top side of the panel is smeared.
Solution
- Hotmelt amount too high. Reduce hotmelt amount.
- After-processing tools poorly adjusted. Adjust the milling device and knife, clean/sharpen if needed, and apply a separating agent before processing.
- Hotmelt strongly smears. Choose a better-suited hotmelt with clean machine running behaviour.
Joint Imperfections: Issues in the quality and finish of joints between the edgebanding and the board.
Problem
There small gaps or bite marks along the edge where the edgebanding meets the board?
Solution
- Apply more adhesive.
- Increase application temperature.
- Preheat the board.
Problem
Edgebanding pulls off easily by hand. Hot melt adhesive remains on the chipboard. The grid pattern of the glue application roller is visible.
Solution
- Not enough adhesive applied.
- Room temperature too low.
- Edgebanding material too cold (stored outdoors).
- Hot melt adhesive temperature too low.
- Feed rate too low.
- Too little pressure applied by the application roller.
Problem
Poor adhesion, pattern of the application roller visible.
Solution
- Open time exceeded.
- Increase roller temperature and machine speed.
- Check the temperature of working pieces.
- Pressure too low; adjust pressure rollers.
Problem
PVC /ABS edge can be easily removed from the hotmelt film, with no residue on the edge or hotmelt film.
Solution
- Edge is not properly primed. Use primed edging.
Adhesive Application Issues: Issues occur during the application of hotmelt adhesive to the panel.
Problem
Panel edge unevenly coated: lower part well coated, upper part not sufficiently coated.
Solution
- Panel not square cut. Set saw in a rectangular position and check with a square.
- Application roller inclined. Set the roller in a rectangular position and check with a square.
Problem
Panel edge thickly coated with hotmelt, excessive hotmelt squeezed out along the edges.
Solution
- Too much hotmelt applied. Reduce the hotmelt amount.
Temperature and Heating Issues: Issues relate to improper temperatures during machine processing.
Problem
Evidence of stress whitening in radius during machine centre processing.
Solution
- Edgebanding fed in too cold.
- Increase heater power or reduce feed rate.
- Use a thinner edgebanding material or increase material geometry.
Problem
Adhesion failure: Edgebanding pulls off easily by hand. Hot melt adhesive remains on the chipboard.
Solution
- Hot melt adhesive temperature too low. Increase temperature.
- Edgebanding material too cold. Warm up the material or adjust storage conditions.
Post-Processing Issues: Issues that occur after the initial edge processing and involve finishing.
Problem
Evidence of stress whitening or poor finish.
Solution
- Reduce scraper blade chip thickness (max. 0.1 – 0.2 mm).
- Re-process with buffing and scraper.
Problem
On thick edgebanding, the colour fades slightly in the milled areas (stress whitening).
Solution
- Warm up the milled area with a hot-air station.
- Rework on buffing station.
Problem
Indentations or scratches appearing on the face of the edging.
Solution
- Clean edgebanding draw in.
- Clean press rollers and spray with separating agent.
- Clean scanning head; if that does not help, check the scanning head for damage and replace, if necessary.
Problem
Edgebanding surface print is damaged during machine centre processing.
Solution
- Use Special Rollers.