| Table
of Contents
Concrete
Masonry, A Proven Winner for Correctional Institutions
World
Center for Concrete Technology:
New Courses
Setting
the Groundwork for a New Facility
The
Evolution of Segmental Retaining Wall Units
Concrete
Masonry Can Take the Heat
Production
Tip: Tips
to Produce Desirable Concrete Masonry Units
Besser
Block Talk: 13-5/8"
(340 mm) and 15-5/8" (390 mm) Concrete Masonry Units
Batching
and Mixing Technology for All Concrete Industries
A
New Look for Besser.com
Concrete
Masonry Units: Construction
and Landscape
Service
Tip: Prevent
Block Cracking in the Center Web
New
Product: Automatic
Kiln Doors
Product
Enhancement: Crowned
Height Pins
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Production
Tip
Tips
to Produce Desirable Concrete Masonry Units
Check
the condition of the mold
A complete check of
the condition of the mold parts is critical after finishing a production
run and before beginning the next run. Keep a log detailing the parts
you have replaced, the date, and the approximate number of cycles and
units that each mold has produced. This log will help identify the wear
characteristics of the mold parts and which components should be kept in
inventory at the plant. Notes about how much surface wear is acceptable
are valuable to new plant employees and will increase your profits.
Refer to the assembly
drawings provided by Besser Company to ensure that the correct parts are
used for each production run. Call your Besser representative if you
have questions about which parts to use.
Unit height is
checked with a Besser height gauge.
Producing
the concrete masonry units
1. Check to make sure
all mold parts are clean before each use.
2. Frequently check
the height of the green units with a gauge.
Besser offers height gauges in a variety of sizes and styles, including
metric, which will make checking the unit height quick and accurate.
3. As units are
produced, carefully examine the texture of the units,
making sure their appearance is acceptable. The texture of the units
will indicate any problems with mix design or water content and will
allow for adjustment in a timely manner.
4. Periodically
during production, check for cracks in the green units. If cracks are
present, determine where the crack is occurring and refer to section 10
in the Vibrapac®
Operating and Maintenance manual (PDF format) for tips on cracking.
- Make sure enough
water is being added to the mix.
- Check for mold
wear. Excessively worn outside end liners or cores will cause cracks
as the green units strip out of the mold. Other common causes for
cracking are insufficient amplitude and frequency of vibration,
loose or bent cores and feed time.
- Adjusting the
amount of material left by the cutoff bar can usually correct the
feeding problems.
- Be sure the
agitator is working and that the fingers are not over the openings
restricting material flow but over the cores and division plates.
Both of these items will reduce the amount of feedtime needed to
localized areas.
- Consider using an
admixture that can help with consistent feed and fill.
5. A rubber wiper or
steel bristle brush should be mounted on the cutoff bar to clean the
shoes with each stroke of the feedbox.
6. Adjust the block
finishing brush to assure that all excess
material is removed from the green units. Check the brush
to make sure that it is clean and not worn. If it is dirty,
clean it or replace it with a new one.
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