Chip Conveyor That Threads Through Tight Mid-Run Spaces
Some machine-tool installations don’t have a clearance problem at the infeed or discharge—they have a pinch point in the middle. A cross-member inside the machine base. A structural support that sits between the chip discharge and the conveyor exit. A coolant pan support or casting rib that narrows the vertical space in the middle of the horizontal run while leaving room at both ends. The SteelTrak™ 727 is the only conveyor in the NLECO lineup designed for this specific geometry, using a tapered frame that narrows from 6⅝” down to 4⅛” at the mid-point, then widens back to 6⅝” at the discharge.
This taper allows the conveyor to pass through or under obstacles that would block a uniform-depth conveyor. Neither the 722 (6⅝” throughout), the 725 (5⅜” infeed / 6⅝” discharge), nor the 721 (8½” throughout) can navigate a mid-run pinch point the way the 727 can.
Tapered Frame Construction
The 727 frame is formed from 12-gauge steel with a three-stage depth profile. The horizontal infeed section starts at 6⅝” deep, tapers down to 4⅛” through the narrowest section of the run, then transitions back to 6⅝” at the incline and discharge sections. The semi-rounded infeed design allows material to enter the conveyor smoothly even when the infeed is positioned inside or beneath the machine.
The liquid-tight horizontal infeed section is standard on the 727—recognizing that most machines producing chips in these tight internal spaces also use cutting fluid. Full liquid-tight construction for the entire conveyor is available as an option. Marine-type bearings are standard at the infeed for wet-environment durability.
Belt and Drive Specifications
The 727 uses a 2½” pitch hinged steel belt with a one-piece apron, ⅝” high cleats on 12½” centers, and 1″ high sidewings. The 1½” diameter rollers provide smooth belt travel, and TruTrak flanged rollers are available as an option. Outside sidebars are required on belts wider than 18″ and optional for narrower widths.
Standard belt widths include 6″, 8″, 12″, 18″, 24″, 30″, and 36″ with custom widths available. The drive shaft is 1-3/16″ diameter with a 5-tooth x 4.25″ P.D. sprocket. The standard drive is ½ HP (230/460V, 3-phase, 60 Hz, TEFC), top mount on the right side, at 30 FPM. Standard curves include 30, 45, and 60 degrees. Z-shape, L-shape, and horizontal configurations are available.
When Mid-Run Clearance Is the Problem
The 727 is the right choice when the conveyor must pass through a restricted space between the infeed and incline sections. Typical scenarios include conveyors that run inside a machine base casting where internal ribs or supports create a mid-run height restriction, installations where the conveyor passes under a coolant tank, chip pan, or structural member between the machine and the collection point, retrofit applications where the machine was designed without conveyor clearance and an obstruction sits between the discharge area and the available exit path, and multi-machine cells where the conveyor must thread between adjacent machines through a narrow vertical gap.
If the tightest point is at the machine discharge (infeed), the Model 725 with its 5⅜” shallow infeed is the better option. If clearance is uniformly limited along the entire run, the 722 with its consistent 6⅝” depth is the right choice. The 727 is specifically for situations where the frame must get narrower in the middle and then widen back out.
727 vs. 725 vs. 722: Three Compact Frame Strategies
Each model addresses a different type of clearance constraint. The 722 provides a uniform 6⅝” depth when the entire run must stay compact. The 725 provides a shallow 5⅜” infeed with a deeper 6⅝” incline when the tightest space is at the machine. The 727 provides a tapered mid-section (down to 4⅛”) when an obstruction sits between the infeed and discharge. All three use 2½” pitch belts, 12-gauge frames, and are compatible with the full SteelTrak accessory catalog.
Options and Accessories
The 727 supports perforated and pimpled belt surfaces, radial sidewings, impact bars (top and bottom mounted), recessed and cut-back cleats, center land dividers, top covers, automatic chain oilers, bolt-on bottom pans, drain plugs, liquid-tight bottom pans, drain holes, access panels, quench tanks, marine bearings, side-mounted drive, custom infeed hoppers, discharge chutes, optional side rails, floor supports, castered floor supports with floor locks, and custom paint.