Evidence-first editorial standard
This guide separates observed facts, engineering assumptions and data that still require confirmation. It does not promise a universal service life or replace the exact product data and project specification.
A screen feed box wears from three causes at once
The incoming stream strikes the back plate or the material bed, the material then slides as it spreads across the width onto the deck, and the whole box vibrates with the screen. A liner chosen for only one of these, typically abrasion, cracks or loosens under the other two. Selection starts from which of the three dominates in each zone of the box, as set out in abrasion, impact and erosion.
Zone the box before choosing any liner
The impact zone is where the stream lands, set by drop height, lump size and trajectory, as explained in impact energy from drop height and lump mass. The spreading zone and the lip onto the deck see sliding abrasion. Side walls wear unevenly when the feed is off-centre, a pattern described in one-sided chute wear. Record each zone on a sketch with the measured wear, since the boundaries move when the feed rate or the material changes.
In the impact zone, let material protect the box where possible
A ledge or dead box that holds a bed of material takes the impact on the material instead of the liner, as described in dead boxes and material beds, provided the material does not build up and the screen loading stays even. Where a bed is not possible, the liner must absorb impact: IC IMPACT ZTA composites, or IC FLEX rubber-ceramic panels where impact is moderate and vibration high.
Vibration rules out some constructions and some fixings
Brittle bond lines and rigid tiles on a thin, flexing plate tend to crack or let go under continuous vibration. Rubber-ceramic composites absorb part of it, and bolted or weld-on fixing holds better than adhesive alone on a vibrating structure; the trade-offs are in bonded versus weldable fixing. Check also the added mass: a heavier liner changes the screen’s dynamic load, so any significant weight increase must be confirmed with the screen manufacturer.
The lip onto the deck and the edges deserve their own detail
The discharge lip sees sliding abrasion and the edge of every liner is a weak point under impact, as covered in edge protection in impact zones. Specify how the lip is protected, how liner edges are covered at joints and at the box perimeter, and how the liners will be replaced without dismantling the box. Liners that can be changed from outside, or in modules a crew can handle, shorten the shutdown.
What to send for a quote on a screen feed box
Send the box drawing or dimensions, the feed rate and its range, the material, maximum lump size and moisture, the drop height into the box, the current liner and how it failed, photos of the worn zones, the screen type and its stroke and frequency if known, and the access available for replacement. With that, the zones can be matched to IC IMPACT, IC FLEX or IC TILE, and the approach for the transfer as a whole is on our page on impact and transfer point linings. The same logic applies upstream to the crusher discharge chute.