FAQs -Wear Plates
What are the bronze-plated wear plates, ways, and gibs made from, and do you have any recommendations for lubrication?
A: Bronze-plated wear plates, ways and gibs are made from low carbon, extra-fine grain steel electroplated with a bronze alloy. The hardness of the bronze is about 180 Bhn minimum (for hardness conversion charts, please refer to the DME Mold Bases and Plates catalog). The bronze plating has a natural lubricity and is ideal when used against hardened steel. We recommend any good grade of light machine oil suitable for machine way applications to extend the life of the wear surface.
Is there an upper temperature limit for the bronze-plated wear plates, ways and gibs?
A: The bronze-plated wear plates, ways and gibs can be used into working temperatures of up to 400°F (204°C).
What is the coefficient of friction for your bronze-plated wear plates, ways and gibs?
A: The coefficient of friction is about .2518.
I run a clean-room facility. What kind of residue can I expect a DME wear plate to leave?
A: Material: Copper and Tin. In such cases it is recommended to place the wear plate as far as possible from the cavity. Use grease or lubricant oil to reduce wear.
What is the difference between the bronze-plated wear plates and the self-lubricated wear-plates?
A: Self-lubricating wear plates are made from an Aluminum-Bronze alloy and have oil-impregnated graphite plugs.
What is the maximum pressure that can be applied to the DME bronze-plated wear plates?
A: 2700 PSI (pounds per square inch).
When should bronze plated wear plates be replaced?
A: After 0.003 inches (about 0.076 mm) of maximum wear.
I want to drill holes in a self-lubricated wear plate. How can I find out the graphite insert locations?
A: Please contact DME Engineering for assistance. You will need to provide your specific part number.
Can I use two DME Bronze-Plated Wear Plates in mold with the two plates rubbing against each other?
A: This is not recommended (having the two plates rub against each other). The material that wears against the bronze-plated wear plate should be different and have a higher hardness than the bronze plating. It is recommended to have at least 6-8 HRc hardness points difference (higher) in the material that is intended to rub against the bronze-plated wear plate, versus the surface hardness of the bronze-plated wear plate itself.
For additional information regarding DME Wear Plates, Ways and Gibs, please refer to the DME Mold Components Catalog. For other concerns regarding DME Wear Plates, Ways and Gibs, please contact us by visiting our website at http://www.dme.net, or contact your regional DME sales representative. In the USA or Canada only, please contact DME Customer Service by visiting our website at http://www.dme.net, or call 800-626-6653 (U.S.) or 800-387-6000 (Canada).
