Sterling D48160s Measure the Knife GAP, Check the Knife GAP, SET the Downstroke Knife Shield

SETTINGS AND ADJUSTMENTS

SECTION 4-7

Adjusting or Replacing Bed Knives

MEASURE THE KNIFE GAP

If you are changing the rotor knives, do that now, otherwise, continue with this procedure.

Use brass shim stock to set the knife gap to the cutting clearance of 0.006 in. to 0.008 in. (0.15 mm to 0.20 mm).

Remove the rotor-locating pin.

Rotate the rotor backward, by hand, and measure the gap between it and the bed knife at the point of shear. You can work on each half of the bed knife independent of the other half but keep them in step with each other by working from side-to-side.

SET THE DOWNSTROKE KNIFE SHIELD

Position the knife-shield so that it sets back from the bed knife-edge about 1/32 in. for film and 1/16 in. for thicker materials. Use a plastic or leather mallet, if necessary, to tap the shield or knife-

The upstroke knife clamp does not need this adjustment.

Carefully adjust the bed knife clearance to its final setting and snug down the mounting screws with a 30 mm socket wrench.

CHECK THE KNIFE GAP

Snug the screws down in stages keeping them about even as you progressively tighten them. Recheck the knife gap after snugging down the mounting screws.

After setting up to one rotor knife (usually the highest knife), rotate the remaining knives slowly by the bed knife and quickly verify the knife gap.

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