If your business makes use of a planetary mixer, then you should know how to properly maintain it. Properly maintaining your industrial equipment may take more time out of your workday, but it saves you time and money later on by preventing the need for repairs. Here is how you maintain a planetary mixer.
Avoid Any Mixer Abuse
Any mixers, whether they are meant to handle three or fifty pounds of dough, need to be well taken care of in ways that are almost ubiquitous. Mixers need lubrication so that their gears do not grind so close together that they degrade over time. They also need this lubrication to remain separate from any flour used, as flour can interrupt the ability of the lubricant to do its job. This means that you will need to keep your mixer clean externally and occasionally perform a deep clean, when possible. Additionally, never change the speed of the mixer while it is in use, as this can cause the gears to grind as well. Finally, check the manuals given to you with your planetary mixer purchase, or find them online. They should tell you more specific requirements for your planetary mixer to be maintained as best as possible.
Planetary-Specific Requirements
Planetary mixers can be taken care of with guidelines that also apply to commercial mixers, but there are some maintenance duties that are specific to industrial mixers. The shield or cage attached to your planetary mixer is very important, as it prevents heavy or high-volume flour and dough from launching out of the mixing bowl and into the rest of your workspace. Many planetary mixers will not work if the cage does not attach itself properly, so you need to be careful not to damage it. Additionally, there is usually a pin or several pins that fasten the cage to the mixer — these pins can be hard to find or expensive, so be careful not to break them.
Finally, the various switches and electronic parts of your planetary mixer can degrade over time, even if they have a protected covering. You will want to keep your eye out for flour invading their spaces and grooves along with corrosion or erosion over time. These will most likely need to be replaced at least once during the life of your planetary mixer, and being caught off guard is ill-advised.
Maintaining your planetary mixer is one of the best things you can do to save money on industrial equipment and supplies. You will want to keep your mixer clean, lubricated, and free from damage that can occur as time moves on.
You can't have an industrial plant without the right equipment. What equipment you need, exactly, depends on the industry you are in. If you make granite counters, for instance, you will need some saws and cranes. If you make plastic straws, you will need molds and mixers. One thing is true across all industries, however. You need to take care to source the materials from good suppliers who stand behind their products, and then you need to take good care of your equipment. Learn more about the equipment and supplies used in industrial settings as you read this blog on the topic.