equipment supplier

[dvd]

I need to coat the end of a small part with lacquer. The part somewhat resembles a bullet in both size and shape. The parts are attached to a roller-chain with clips and conveyed through the system. The line produces 1200 parts/minute. I picture the parts being dipped/dragged into a small tank of lacquer to receive the coating on the end. I also can envision needing to direct a stream of lacquer (NOT atomized spray) at the end of the part.

I am looking for equipment suppliers who would be able to provide the dip tank, lacquer handling equipment such as float valves, pumps, liquid-jet nozzles, etc. Because of the small amount of lacquer applied to the end of each piece the system would use approximately 1 liter/hour of lacquer. I have searched on-line but I don't know what to call this equipment, so I haven't been very successful. I would appreciate tips on suppliers, search terms, examples of systems, etc.

Thanks for helping,

DVD

 

[kenvlach]

Do you want to coat the end by stream of lacquer or by dipping?
Why NOT atomized spray? Some of these are very precise, like a fuel injector in an engine.

What about pretreatment (cleaning, maybe conversion coating depending on substrate)?

What is the material?
Type of lacquer desired (water-based is common to minimize air pollution regulation equipment)?

You will probably need a few more accessories, such as an airknife & drying oven.

For equipment suppliers, see

http://www.pfonline.com/dp/pfd/byzone/SuppliersDatabase_Result.cfm?zone=PE+&zntype=PAINT

http://www.finishing.com/Equipment/index.html

 

[dvd]

Thank you for the reply Mr. Lach. I don't want the atomized spray because there is a small hole in the end of the part that needs to get sealed and a thicker coating is desirable. Of course I may be way off-base in thinking that the dip coated parts will have a superior seal. The parts are brass and the current process, which is an off-line process, does not use any cleaning. There is a solvent-based lacquer currently specified, and substitutions are not allowed. Also the current process does not use any heating or air knives. The parts are produced in an explosive environment. My thinking regarding the stream of laquer versus the dip-coat is that because of the speed which the part will be moving through a dip tank that the trailing side may not get covered, therefore a stream of lacquer directed at the upstream side of the part may be required. All of my rummaging around on the internet has not revealed any equipment suppliers who seem to deal in small-scale on-line equipment. I have to believe that since I have been able to imagine this equipment someone else is already producing it. If you have any additional hints I would be most appreciative.

Best regards,

dvd

 

[kenvlach]

Coating thickness depends more on viscosity than the application method. There are nozzles even for thick stuff like 100% solids (after curing) epoxies.

If you use a viscous coating in a dip tank & are worried about backside coverage, just make the tank longer or put a mechanical mixer or pump nozzle subsurface directed at the submerged portion of the part.

An airknife is typically used to prevent excessive dragout of the liquid. The current process is a batch proces, but for something inline, need drying (or else a very long length!). Maybe use a short row of IR lamps on each side of the line to dry the coating.

Please clarify "The parts are produced in an explosive environment." Is this from hydrocarbon solvent evaporating? May need to worry about explosion proof electrical & OSHA restrictions.

 

[btrueblood]

Or (to coat the backside) rotate the part as it moves thru the dip tank.

You may just want to scale up the batch process (dip a thousand parts at a time instead of one), in order to provide a clean coating. Having a moving chain/belt with particles shedding off it into your laquer tank may be troublesome, and as ken notes, the explosive environment may limit the types of machinery you can have in close proximity.