Stop and isolate the machine before inspecting damage
If unusual vibration, fracture or significant chipping occurs, stop the machine and isolate its energy sources according to its safety procedures. Inspection must be carried out by qualified personnel. Never touch knives, measure clearances or clear blockages while the machine is running. Record the damage location, operating time and material batch.
Distinguish wear, chipping and fitting problems
Uniform dulling, localized chipping and fastening problems require different investigations. Check knife orientation, fasteners, adjacent knives and clearances against the installation drawing. Review any oversized feed or hard contaminants. Do not conclude that the material is at fault from one photograph alone.
Validate changes through operating records
Provide the technical team with material and load information, original knife specifications and damage photographs. Changes to material, cutting-edge geometry and heat treatment should be reviewed against impact and wear conditions. Keep comparable operating records rather than relying on unverified service-life multipliers.