How to Extend the Service Life of Excavator Bucket Teeth
Bucket teeth are crucial components of an excavator and are also the most vulnerable to wear. They consist of a tooth base and a replaceable tip, connected by a pin. Since only the tip wears out, replacing it is sufficient, making the quality of the bucket teeth critical for cost-effectiveness.
Manufacturing Process
Bucket teeth are mainly produced via casting, including green sand casting, shell mold casting, investment casting, and forging.
- Green sand casting is inexpensive but results in poor surface finish and performance.
- Forged teeth are more durable but expensive and limited in variety.
- Shell mold and precision investment casting offer a balance between cost and performance, widely adopted in the market. We use shell mold and water-glass investment casting for optimal results.
Failure Analysis of Bucket Teeth
- Failure Modes: Vary depending on working conditions, involving different degrees of wear and impact.
- Stress Analysis: Different excavation phases apply different forces on the teeth.
- Process Analysis: Samples taken from front and back surfaces were tested for hardness after polishing.
- Microstructure Analysis: Metallographic studies show a matrix of dark fine lamellar structures, with inserts composed of white blocky ferrite and dark pearlite or bainite.
- Performance Evaluation: Wear resistance tests using MLD-10 equipment show our materials outperform quenched 45# steel under low-impact abrasion conditions.
