How do I know the brake linings on my press are worn?

The main sign is slide overrun: the slide does not stop at top dead center. Clutch slipping, overheating and a burnt smell are also warning signs. In that case stop the press and inspect the clutch-brake.

Can I replace just one worn lining?

It is not recommended. Linings are replaced as a set on the whole brake or clutch, otherwise contact is uneven and braking becomes unstable.

What do the numbers in a lining name like 260x220x4x60 mean?

Outer diameter 260 mm, inner diameter 220 mm, thickness 4 mm and sector angle 60°. With these four numbers a lining can be selected without a catalog number.

What is the difference between a brake lining and a friction insert?

A sector lining is a thin flat ring segment fastened to a clutch-brake disc. A friction insert is a thick block with a radiused working face used in shoe brakes and clutches of heavier presses.

What clearance should be set after replacing the linings?

Clearance and stroke depend on the clutch-brake model, so take them from your press passport. There is no universal value.

Do you make linings to a sample?

Yes, MELITA has its own production of linings and inserts. Send a drawing, a photo with measurements or the sample itself via the quote request form.

Crank Press Brake Linings: How to Select by Model or Size

What the clutch-brake of a crank press does

On a crank (mechanical) press the flywheel runs continuously and the slide moves only on command. The clutch-brake handles this: the clutch connects the flywheel to the crankshaft for the stroke, and the brake stops the shaft and holds the slide at top dead center once the clutch disengages.

Both units work by friction. In УВ31xx-series disc clutch-brakes, sector brake linings - flat ring segments of friction material - are fastened to steel discs. Shoe brakes and the clutches of heavier presses use friction inserts - thick blocks with a radiused working face. These parts wear out; the unit itself lasts for years.

Everything for this unit is in the press spare parts section, split into sector brake linings, friction inserts and complete clutch-brakes.

Signs of lining wear: when to replace

Wear builds up gradually, so catch the first symptoms. Press setters look for:

Slide overrun: after the stop command the slide does not stop at top dead center but travels further, and the overrun grows over time.
Clutch slipping: the flywheel noticeably loses speed and the stroke feels sluggish under load.
Overheating: the clutch-brake housing or discs get hotter than usual.
Burnt friction material smell, dust or dark deposits around the brake.
Visible wear: the lining has thinned, shows cracks, chips or delamination, or rivet heads are close to the working face.

Identifying the part: by clutch-brake or press model

Any of these signs is a reason to stop the press and inspect the unit. Slide overrun is an operator safety issue, so running the press "until the end of the shift" is not an option. Adjustment or the clutch engagement system can also be at fault, so diagnosis is a job for a qualified press setter.

The easiest way is to search by the unit designation. Disc clutch-brakes are marked with the УВ31xx series - УВ3132, УВ3135, УВ3138, УВ3141, УВ3144. The same designation appears in the lining part number: for example, the УВ3132-00-009/801 lining (260x220x4x60) is for the УВ3132 clutch-brake, and the УВ3135-00-009/801 lining (295x255x4x60) is for the УВ3135.

If the nameplate is not visible, the press model (КД2124, К2130 and so on) and its passport will help: the passport lists the clutch-brake type and the part numbers of the friction unit. One clutch may have several lining versions with a different sector angle or thickness, so check the model against measurements. Where to find the data:

nameplate or marking on the clutch-brake housing;
press passport - the section on the clutch, brake and friction parts;
part number on the drawing or in the spare parts list;
the press parts selection page, which lists model cross-references.

What to measure on the old lining or insert

If the model is unknown, select by measurements. Use a caliper; measure thickness at the least worn spot or on a new lining from the same set. A sector lining is described by four numbers in this order: outer diameter x inner diameter x thickness x sector angle.

What to measure	How to measure	Why
Outer diameter (D)	On the disc the lining is fastened to, or by laying the sectors out into a ring	Defines which disc and housing the lining fits
Inner diameter (d)	The same way - along the inner arc on the disc or in the assembled ring	Together with D sets the width of the friction ring
Thickness	With a caliper at several points where wear is lowest	Affects stroke and clearances of the unit; nominal value from the drawing or passport
Sector angle	With a protractor, or 360° divided by the number of sectors in a full ring	60° means six sectors per ring, 90° four, 120° three
Fastening	Number, diameter and position of holes for rivets or screws	So the holes match the disc without rework
Friction insert	Length, width, thickness H and radius r or R of the working face	The insert must bear on the pulley or disc over its full area

Example lining sizes from the catalog

Several sector linings in stock at MELITA. The product name already contains the measurements, so compare your old lining directly with the table.

Sector linings cost roughly 35 to 325 UAH incl. VAT per piece depending on size; one of the popular items is the УВ3141-00-009/801В lining (450x390x4x60). Friction inserts have their own dimensions: the УА3141 insert is 75 x 60 x 20 mm with a 30 mm radius, the УД-1830А insert is 110 x 60 x 40 mm; insert prices range from about 115 to 2 030 UAH incl. VAT. If the whole unit is worn out, take a complete clutch-brake, for example the УВ3135 clutch-brake: clutch-brakes start from ~57 600 UAH incl. VAT depending on the model.

Designation	Outer D, mm	Inner d, mm	Thickness, mm	Sector angle
УВ3132-00-009/801	260	220	4	60°
УВ3135-00-009/801	295	255	4	60°
УВ3138-00-009/801	355	295	4	90°
УВ3141-00-009/801В	450	390	4	60°
УВ3144-00-009/801	540	480	5	60°
25-808-01	548	348	6	120°

Replace as a set and work safely

Linings are replaced as a set - all sectors on the brake or on the clutch at once. Mixing new and worn sectors gives uneven contact, a grabbing brake and fast overheating of the new linings. Count the sectors on each disc and order the full set, ideally with spares for the next replacement.

We deliberately give no clearances or tightening torques here: they depend on the clutch-brake model and are stated in the passport and operating manual of the press. The general procedure:

Stop the press, switch off and lock out the power, release pressure in the clutch engagement system, hang a "Do not switch on" tag.
Lower the slide to the bottom position or block it securely so it cannot move under its own weight while the brake is dismantled.
Inspect the discs: scoring, heat marks or warping must be corrected, otherwise a new lining will not last.
Adjust clearances, stroke and spring force only per the passport of your press - there are no universal values.
After assembly, check that the slide stops at top dead center on idle strokes, and only then put the press back into production.

Linings made to a drawing or sample

MELITA (NTC Melita LLC, Dnipro) has worked with forging and pressing equipment since 2015 and has its own production of brake linings and friction inserts for presses. If the size you need is not in the catalog, we will manufacture parts to a drawing, a sketch with measurements or a sample of the old lining.

Send the press or clutch-brake model, a photo of the part and the measurements from the table above via the request a quote form. We will select the item, issue an invoice with VAT for your company and ship across Ukraine by Nova Poshta, Meest or freight carrier; pickup in Dnipro is free.