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, bolt holes are plugged. It is generally not necessary to heat
the steel before pouring. 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.
Our engineers are well trained and very experienced in installing Epocast® chocks. It is
crucial that your installation is perfectly aligned before using Epocast, as once it is poured, it
can no longer be changed. It is therefore advisable to have your installation aligned and chocked
by our engineers.
For the marine industry, permanent total loading on Epocast 36® should be limited for accurate alignment of independently mounted machinery to 5 N/mm². Temporary loading on Epocast 36® can be allowed up to 70 N/mm². Medium speed engine bedplates can reach 80°C, and slow speed engine bedplates can reach 50°C. Resin chocks do not melt and they are considered fire proof. They will withstand overheating longer and better than the engine in the event of fire. Epocast will burn when exposed to flame but after about 3 minutes the exposed edges of the chocks form a burnt out heat shield, and further burning cannot take place. Technically they are classified as self extinguishing. The supporting surfaces of the chock are not exposed to the flame and are not damaged. The physical characteristics of Epocast 36® do not deteriorate at low temperatures and it does not become brittle. It has been tested to - 110 °C. Thus, Epocast 36® and Epocast 36-P® are suitable for use in Arctic conditions, and for supporting LNG tanks.
