cutting open a scroll compressor

[marc5180]

One of the guys at my works is replacing a scroll compressor this week but since the system has only been in 2 years he wants to cut the failed compressor open and look at it and see if he can tell why it failed.

I said he would need to cut it open with a grinder and to be careful but he thinks he can cut it open with a hacksaw, is this possible or will it take him a few days?

[chemi-cool]

Its about 4 mm thick, if the guy has nothing else to do, let him.

With a grinder it will take a few minuets.

[monkey spanners]

I cut open a copeland 7.5hp scroll and as Chemi says its about 4mm thick, and took me two grinding discs....

Theres no way i'd try with a hacksaw.
Cut it below the weld/ on the seam if possible, that way you are cutting where it is double skinned and the rubbish from grinding won't get in and confuse the issue as to if it was contaminated. But it depends on the make and style of compressor.

I've only cut open two so far but will do any i get in future as its interesting to see how things fail.
I usually take the head and end plates off any semis i get that fail but thats just an excuse to play with the bolt gun

Theres a guy on youtube called Aussie50 that has loads of vids of compressors being cut open, worth a look to see whats involved.

[marc5180]

I spoke to him today, he tried with the hacksaw but gave up after half an hour because he wasn't getting anywhere.

He ended up borrowing a grinder which took him a couple of minutes he said.

[icecube51]

en the result whas?????? .....of the compressor ofcourse.

Ice

[marc5180]

Well he cut it open and got at the scroll but couldn't get the end plate off to look inside the actual compressor, so gave up.

I've seen on you tube that you have to cut the compressor at the bottom on an angle since it's welded from the inside.

[aussiejoel]

ive cut open a few lil recips to look at show apprentices and get the lil piston out all with hack saws didnt take very long but a grinder would be the go

[exotiic]

I have just cut one open to inspect the cause of failure. I cut the top right under the weld which allowed me to remove the top case and the scroll top. The scroll base was able to come off too but the platform was welded to the case. to get rid of that I simply cur the welds out in a square with the grinder through the case and knocked the weld off.

The cause of the failure in our compressor was a shattered scroll. Absolutely nothing was left. When removed the compressor contactor was only providing two phases on power up which resulted in the failure.