Is a two component pourable chocking compound with excellent physical characteristics replacing the conventional method of steel chocks when used for mounting main and auxiliary engines, gear boxes, steering gears, thrust bearings, stern tubes, etc.
Epocast 36® epoxy resin has proven itself as a reliable chocking compound for propulsion units.
The use of Epocast is a cost effective alternative to the time taking machining of stern tubes.
Metal chocks and shims have been used for many years to adjust the height and alignment of propulsion machinery. This requires skilled work and takes time. Epoxy resin chocks are used for the same purposes. They require less skill and less time to install, yet they perform better than iron chocks. An epoxy resin chock is an engineering product which is cast-in-place to form permanent chocks for machinery support. It can be specified for chocking hot vibrating machinery, or critical alignment installation. A resin chock gives a better result for a longer period than a conventional iron chock.
The basis of success of resin chocks is the low modulus and near perfect cast-in-suit fit over a large surface area, combined with a high coefficient of friction and a high coefficient of thermal expansion. These together hold machinery securely, permanently, and without fretting or wear to the chock contact surfaces.
Resin chocks are economical and convenient for new building installation or for retrofits, due to the absence of any requirement for machining. Installation time is measured in days rather than in weeks normally required for iron chocking. It is used widely for marine main engines of any size, auxiliaries, steering gear, deck machinery, and crane rails. Industrially, it is used for generators, compressors, crushers, and a wide range of grouting applications.
Poxy resin chocks for mounting machinery have been used in shipyards around the world since the early 1970s in approximately 30,000 applications; providing the reliability and superior performance of resin chocks over traditional metal chocks. Many shipyards have experience with this system.
EPOCAST 36 is the registered trade name of the modern pourable epoxy resin chocking system developed and manufactured by H.A. Springer GMBH, and distributed worldwide. It is a two-component pourable chocking compound with excellent physical characteristics, replacing the conventional method of steel chocks when used for mounting main and auxiliary engines, gearboxes, steering gears, thrust bearings, stern tubes, etc. EPOCAST 36 chocks are not only economical to fit but offer additional benefits such as their ability to fill any reasonable irregularity in the chocking interface and to reduce noise and vibration.
There are several features or characteristics of EPOCAST 36 pourable chocking compound which differ from iron chocks. These give EPOCAST 36 a special ‘behavior’ which gives tangible benefits.
Features
– Low modulus of elasticity.
– Low modulus of rigidity.
– Low Poisson’s ratio.
– High coefficient of thermal expansion.
– High coefficient of friction.
– Poured into place.
– Inert (does not corrode).
– Low exotherm (does not overheat when setting).
– Low volumetric shrinkage.
1.5 What is H.A. Springer-Kiel?
H.A. SPRINGER marine + industry service GMBH is a wholly owned private limited company which develops, manufactures, and markets special purpose products as required by customers. Their marine division has EPOCAST 36 and EPOCAST D for chocking; EPOCAST 36-P for cryogenic tank mountings and vertical grouting.
1.5 Where is H.A. Springer GMBH?
H.A. SPRINGER GMBH is in Kiel, a city in the north of Germany and on the Baltic coast. It is a highly specialized and efficient enterprise in the marine and industrial field. H.A. SPRINGER GMBH are the resin chocking specialists when it comes to foundations for engines and machinery of all types and sizes.
The principle is simple. The engine or machinery is aligned on wedges or jacking screws, and the steel surfaces cleaned. Soft foam shuttering or damming is inserted to form the sides of the mould under the bedplate; metal damming is used to form the external side of the mould and to form a pouring space. Release agent is sprayed in, and bolt holes are plugged.
The steel is generally not heated before pouring. THIS IS A UNIQUE FEATURE OF EPOCAST SAVING TIME AND REDUCING THE RISK OF MISALIGNMENT. The resin is warmed to the required temperature and the hardener added; the two are mixed for a short time and then poured into the mould. The chocks are left to cure for 24 to 48 hours. Sometimes heat is required to ensure a full cure. The correct cure is checked by monitoring the temperature of the setting reaction (exotherm) or by checking the Barcol Hardness.
Generally, the SHIPOWNER benefits from having machinery securely mounted on a system requiring minimum maintenance. The owner knows his machinery is not going to require re-chocking during normal service life of a ship. The SHIPYARD knows it is economical and convenient to use resin chocks and that many owners now specify resin chocks in the light of operational experience.
EPOCAST 36 and ancillary materials are supplied directly from H.A. SPRINGER GMBH.
Epocast chocks are usually installed by specialized subcontractors or by the machinery installation department of a shipyard. Training courses for Epocast Technicians are readily available in the shipyard or at H.A. SPRINGER GMBH.
In excess of 18 months, they have found material several years old to be in perfect condition. There are no special storage requirements, except for a dry warehouse. If the EPOCAST 36 has been frozen, the resin should be warmed above 50° and premixed before use.
EPOCAST 36 chocks may be any thickness.
2.0 How Do We Fit the Reamer Bolts?
If the engine is secured by steel fitted end chocks and mounted on resin chocks, there is no real need for reamer bolts. However, if reamer bolts are specified, they can be fitted either before or after pouring chocks.
2.1 How Do We Adjust Alignment After Pouring?
Chocking should be carried out afloat so no adjustment is needed. This is a fact many customers find difficult to accept, but after the first installation, they are satisfied it is true. In the case of damage (e.g., through grounding), the chocks can be removed, just as you would remove an iron chock, and temporarily shimmed or ground just as aircon.
2.2 Is EPOCAST Flexible?
Yes, if you take a bar of EPOCAST 1000 mm long, by 75 x 40 and support the ends on two blocks, two men can stand in the center and it will bend more than 10 mm. This is more than enough to satisfy normal application requirements.
2.3 What Is the Life of Resin Chocks?
EPOCAST 36 is made from petrochemical-based material, in which the molecules link together to form a hard chock resistant and stable solid. During the first hours of cure, especially in cold conditions, the molecular bonding is at a low level and the chock is brittle and unstable. With the application of heat and time, the molecular bonding increases so that long before sea trials the chock is at full strength, being shock resistant and stable. There is no deterioration through age, and your chocks will literally go from strength to strength for the life of the installation.
2.4 Is It Difficult to Learn How to Use EPOCAST 36?
The instruction book appears formidable, but in fact, it contains simple step-by-step instructions which become easy to remember after the first hands-on experience. Customers usually use the first installations for training by our staff. After that, a certificate can be issued to qualified staff to enable work to be carried out without SPRINGER Co.’s supervision.
2.5 Is There a Guarantee?
You can rely on EPOCAST 36 chocks to perform correctly as they are well proven worldwide over 15 years and thousands of applications.
