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- Subject: HVLP Painting Equipment & Robots
- From: "Richard Illig (717) 327-3568" <ILLIG.RICHARD@a1.pader.gov>
- Date: Wed, 25 Jun 1997 13:43:16 EST
- Delivery-date: Thu, 26 Jun 1997 07:57:00 EST
- Posting-date: Thu, 26 Jun 1997 07:57:00 EST
- Sensitivity: Company-Confidential
From: R. Illig E-mail: illig.richard@a1.dep.state.pa.us Kirsten, I am not a professional so please take this info as a possible suggestion. The use of a robot should not make a difference as long as the robot is programable, or is capable, of some basic adjustments. I spoke with one facility that had used robots but had to eliminate them when the product line became variable in size...the robots dated to about 1988 and could only handle one program. Upgrading the robots was reportedly too costly a venture and retraining the robots was much too time consumming. HVLP can be a very efficient system. Electrostatic systems or powder coatings, especially since you mentioned metal (based?) furniture (and the facts that they already operate an oven and perform a touch up operation)(caution: the oven MAY need serious modification to handle powder coatings, also touch up operations CAN be a source of some concern, waste-wise)(this may depend more on the actual shape of the furniture...round vs flat surfaces, curved vs angled), may be an even more efficient consideration. I was recently given the impression that electrostatic systems may be turned on and off as needed to control Faraday Cage effects, which would minimize the need to perfrom touchups. Also, electrostatics seem adaptable to most air-systems. I'm not sure if a robot could also manipulate the electricity at critical moments, but can't see why not. A recently visited cabinet-maker replaced HVLP guns with what SEEMED to be (they talked alot about better control of the spray cone from the gun and overspray) an Air-Assisted HVLP gun, although they didn't call it by that name (I was unable to get a lot of details but am begining to think they actually replaced an airless spray system with HVLP). They reported that lower pressures were needed, a large reduction in paint usage, significantly less overspray (and associated waste), and good quality. (They also reported that when a competing company claimed their guns could perform the same way, the guns were tested and reportedly DID NOT compare.) I hope this serves to aid, and not confuse options. Ric
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