Dear Members,

Please share experiences do you have on inspection method and instruments applied to check wet/dry condition of copper wire comes out drawing machine (especially drawing machine complete with electrical resistant annealing).

In our case, wet copper wire (due to soluble oil/lubricant/coolant fluid remains on wire surface)will increase possibility on wire discoloration (oxidation).
Recently we apply cooling dies (positioned at exit site of annealing section) with fuction to wipe out the remain fluids from wire surface. But sometimes fluid not wipe off completely, so we need to inspect it as frequent as possible.
So, may be you have experience in applying continuous wet/dry inspection on your drawing process. Please share the information of what kind of instrument do you use and where we can buy that instruments.

Best regards,

Hello Siampudan,

I have never heard of such production instrumentation but the first thing to be sure of is as follows:

Compressed air in an industrial plant is generally quite dirty despite after coolers and automatic water ejection systems. You will also find traces of oil in that compressed air. Since we believe you are wiping the wire with compressed air, you must make sure you have a very good filtration system on the air line just before the air wipes.

Regards
Peter J. Stewart-Hay
Principal
Stewart-Hay Associates
www.Stewart-Hay.com
519 641- 3212

I know that wire drawing can be dirty. I never really heard of anyone needing to inspect the wire for being wet unless it was going directly into an enameling operation such as inline drawing. Generally inline drawing and enameling systems still have pre annealers but the primary function of it is (not) to clean the wire. Wire that is inline drawn does not need pre-annealing.

We had a lot of wipes between the outlet die and the traverse so that we could wipe the wire cleaner. Of course that means having a supply of wipes and the operator regularly moving the wire path and then changing the wipe.

If your wire is that dirty, I would do some checking of lubricant make up, pH, etc.

Siampudan,
I understand what you are requesting protecting drawn copper wires at fine drawing stage from getting in contact with water or moisture. A dry tissue paper kept on the running wires will help you detect any moisture or water carried by wires.

The Steam used to displace the air inside the annealing chamber should not condense on the wires coming at the top end of the unit. It will result in discoloration of wires. Use correct separators and wipers.

Maintain the %concentration of annealing coolant to the prescribed level and also ensure the steam pressure is just right to displace the air. Copper will be very bright by ensuring these steps.