How to Size a Turning Roll
SELECTING A TURNING ROLL TO BEST MEET YOUR NEEDS
Turning rolls are designed to support and rotate cylindrical workpieces such as vessels, tanks, and pipe sections. Proper sizing requires evaluating weight capacity, rotation power, traction, and roll spacing to ensure safe and stable operation.
Determining Load Capacity:
The first step in selecting a set of Turning Rolls is determining the maximum weight capacity required to safely support your workpiece. Before evaluating how that weight is distributed, it’s important to understand how a basic Turning Roll system functions.
A standard Turning Roll system consists of:
• One powered Drive Roll
• One non-powered Idler Roll
The Drive Roll works to support one end of the workpiece, providing powered rotational motion, while the Idler Roll merely holds the workpiece, guiding the rotation from the opposite end. In a symmetrical application, the load is equally distributed between the Drive and Idler roller.
Each Drive and Idler roll has its own load rating and must be sized accordingly. Always determine the maximum total weight of the vessel before selecting a system.
Tractive Pull and Eccentric Loads:
Tractive pull ratings indicate the available turning power of a given Turning Roll that can be allotted during application. Although most Turning Roll applications are primarily concentric loads, they are also rated to handle a certain degree of eccentricity. In applications involving eccentric loading, this available turning power must be compared to the force required to rotate the offset load to ensure proper performance.