How To Install Convoluted Wafers
O
ut of the many different possibilities, wafers are just one of the styles of a broom core. They can be
used to make broom cores for sweeper attachments, road construction sweepers, and mechanical sweepers. Wafers are easier to handle than tube brooms and are available in poly, wire, or a poly/wire combo. The shape of a wafer can also be flat or convoluted. Many broom cores are built with flat wafers which are simple install. A spacer is placed in between each wafer as the broom is built creating an evenly spaced broom core. The spacers are reusable but add an additional step and item to inventory. Convoluted wafers are different because, as you guessed it in the name, they have a wavy, convoluted design. The inside ring of the wafer gets pressed to make the convoluted shape. There are no spacers needed with a convoluted wafer. There is, however, a specific way they need to be installed. Once you get the placement right, convoluted wafers are much easier to install as there is no need for a spacer.
• STEP 1 – Place the first wafer section on the rack with the pins on the high convolute over the first bar. The pins will be in the 12:00 position. • STEP 2 – The second wafer section gets flipped upside down, so the pins are on the lower convolute. Rotate the wafer 120 degrees from the first wafer pin to the next bar of the wafer rack. The pins will be in the 4:00 position. • STEP 3 – The third wafer section gets flipped back to where the pins are on the high convolute. Rotate the wafer 120 degrees from the second section to the
TWO TYPE OF WAFER RACKS
third bar of the wafer rack. The pins will be in the 8:00
There are two types of wafer racks: a 3-bar wafer rack
position.
and a 4-bar wafer rack. A convoluted wafer has two pins
• Repeat this process until the core is full of wafers.
on the inside of the ring. The two pins straddle the bars
4-BAR WAFER CORE INSTALLATION
on the wafer rack and keep the wafer in place.
The 4-bar wafer rack is designed to build broom cores
Because the convoluted wafer has high and low points
with the larger 10” ID’s. These are you’re your 10” x 27”,
around the center ring, they must be installed on the
10” x 32”, 10: x 36” wafer families.
wafer rack properly to get the desired spacing.
• STEP 1 - Place the first wafer section on a rack with the
3-BAR WAFER RACK INSTALLATION
pins on the high convolute over the first bar. The pins
The 3-bar wafer rack is designed to build broom cores
will be in the 12:00 position.
with smaller ID’s. Typically, you’ll see the 6 3/8” or 8” ID
• STEP 2 - The second wafer section gets flipped upside
wafers families use the 3-bar wafer rack.
down, so the pins are on the lower convolute. Rotate
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