The PP flat yarn extrusion line is the critical first step in woven bag production. When faults occur here, the impact cascades through every downstream process—weaving, coating, printing, and bag-making—causing delays, material waste, and quality issues that could have been avoided with timely diagnosis.
At Haosen Leituo Group, our field engineers have responded to extrusion line problems across hundreds of installations worldwide. Drawing on this practical experience, this guide covers the most frequent faults—from melt instability and surface defects to slitting issues and yarn breakage—and provides actionable steps to restore stable production quickly.
Beyond fault resolution, we also emphasize preventive maintenance and emergency response, because the best way to minimize downtime is to stop problems before they start.
Problems originating in the extrusion section usually appear as output irregularities, unstable motor current, or film surface defects.
| Fault | Common Causes | Recommended Action |
|---|---|---|
| No output or insufficient output | Hopper blockage, over-high feeding temperature, screen clogging, foreign matter on screw, damp and caked materials | Clear hopper and screw, reduce feeding temperature, replace screens regularly, and dry raw materials |
| Unstable extrusion current | Moisture or impurities in resin, uneven temperature control, worn screw, unstable inverter speed | Dry and purify materials, repair temperature control system, replace worn screw, calibrate inverter |
| Uneven die output / thickness deviation | Uneven die temperature, inconsistent lip gap, partial screen blockage, unstable cooling water | Check die heaters, adjust lip gap, replace screens, stabilize water temperature and traction speed |
| Bubbles, pores, or fish eyes on film | Excessive moisture, thermal degradation, impurities in melt, carbonized residue in die | Fully dry materials, lower processing temperature, clean die carbonization, run at low speed for exhaust |
| Die lip hanging material/plastic beads | Abnormal drying, excessive die temperature, poor melt fluidity | Adjust drying process, reduce die temperature, and clean and polish die lip |
Key principle: Most extrusion faults trace back to material condition or temperature control. Always verify these two fundamentals before assuming mechanical failure.
Once the melt exits the die, proper film formation is essential for downstream drawing and slitting. Defects introduced here cannot be corrected in later stages.
|
Fault |
Common Causes |
Recommended Action |
|
Stripes and scratches on film surface |
Foreign particles on die lip, worn die lip, dirty cooling roller |
Clean die lip, repair worn sections, clean and polish cooling roller |
|
Film wrinkling with uneven tension (tight edges, loose center) |
Low temperature at both die ends, uneven cooling water distribution, unbalanced traction tension |
Raise temperature at die sides, balance water flow, calibrate roller parallelism |
Key principle: Film flatness depends on uniform temperature distribution and balanced mechanical pull across the entire web width.
This stage determines the final dimensional stability and strength of flat yarn. Problems here directly affect weaving performance and fabric quality.
|
Fault |
Common Causes |
Recommended Action |
|
Frequent yarn breakage |
Excessive drawing ratio, abnormal oven temperature, poor material toughness, roller slipping |
Reduce drawing ratio, calibrate oven temperature, check material quality, clean rollers to increase friction |
|
Bamboo-joint effect / uneven thickness |
High cooling water temperature, speed fluctuation, undried materials, unstable heat profile |
Lower water temperature, stabilize roller speed, ensure complete drying, maintain constant temperature |
|
Slitting jumping / uneven cutting |
Dull blades, incorrect blade angle, high die temperature, unstable film tension |
Replace blades regularly, correct blade angle, reduce die temperature appropriately, stabilize film tension |
Key principle: Consistency in temperature, speed, and tension is essential for uniform yarn quality. Variation in any of these parameters appears immediately in the finished yarn.
Beyond process parameters, equipment condition and control systems require regular attention.
|
Fault |
Common Causes |
Recommended Action |
|
Uneven winding / stacking |
Tension controller failure, worn winding roller, faulty sensor |
Calibrate tension, replace roller, repair sensor, match speed |
|
Severe vibration / abnormal noise |
Bearing wear or lack of lubrication, loose screws, poor gear meshing, unstable base |
Add high-temperature grease, tighten fasteners, inspect and repair gears, reinforce machine base |
|
Startup failure / temperature control failure |
Phase loss, broken probe, emergency stop not reset, loose wiring |
Check power supply, replace probe, reset emergency stop, tighten wiring |
Key principle: Regular lubrication, fastener inspection, and electrical verification prevent most mechanical and control failures.
Preventive maintenance is far more effective than reactive repair. We recommend the following practices to keep your extrusion line in optimal condition:
Raw Material Control — Both virgin and recycled materials must be dried and purified before processing. Wet materials are strictly prohibited as they cause bubbles, degradation, and unstable extrusion.
Screen Replacement Cycle — Replace screens every 72 hours for virgin material, and within 40 hours for recycled material. Regular screen changes prevent pressure buildup and ensure consistent melt quality.
Temperature Control — Strictly control extrusion, die, and oven temperatures to prevent material carbonization. Monitor thermocouples and heaters regularly for accuracy.
Lubrication — Lubricate bearings and reducers on schedule. Use high-temperature-resistant grease for components exposed to heat zones.
Daily Cleaning — Clean die lips, cooling rollers, and traction rollers after each shutdown to prevent residue buildup that can scratch film and yarn surfaces.
To protect equipment and ensure operator safety, immediate shutdown is required when any of the following conditions occur:
Continuous large-area yarn breakage with no possibility of recovery
Severe die material buildup accompanied by smoking
Severe equipment vibration, abnormal noise, or belt slipping with smoking
Electrical alarm activation, temperature control failure, or motor overheating
Action after shutdown: Stop the line immediately and conduct a thorough inspection before restarting. Document the incident and corrective actions for future reference.
Having a guide is useful, but having a team that knows how to use it is what keeps production running. Here are three ways to strengthen your team's response capability:
Train operators to recognize early warning signs — subtle current fluctuations, slight temperature drift, or minor vibration often precede major failures. Catching them early prevents breakdowns.
Establish a clear escalation path — operators should know exactly when to call maintenance and when to shut down. Decision-making is faster when rules are clear.
Review incidents after recovery — every unplanned stop is an opportunity. Ask: What was the root cause? Could we have detected it earlier? What can we change to prevent recurrence?
A well-maintained PP flat yarn extrusion line is the foundation of profitable woven bag production. Understanding common fault patterns and their solutions enables your team to respond quickly when issues arise—minimizing downtime and protecting product quality.
At Haosen Leituo Group, we go beyond manufacturing. We partner with our customers to optimize their entire production process through technical support, operator training, and tailored machine configurations. Our engineering team is always available to provide remote diagnostics and on-site assistance.