PRODUCT REVIEWS
Automated shot blasting operation
A Dutch manufacturer of industrial furniture ( ML Constructie ) decided to bring its coating operation in-house . It also did the paint preparation in-house by shot blasting with an automatic shot blasting machine from Rösler .
Ben Luizink , co-owner of ML Constructie , reported : “ To better control the blasting and coating operations , we created our own inhouse coating department .”
The coating process
ML Coating was therefore started and has since grown into a coating company that shot blasts and powder coats its own products and provides blasting and coating services to other companies . One of the first purchases by the newly created company was a spinner hanger blast machine from Rösler .
“ A pre-condition for achieving a homogeneous , high-quality coating is that the components are thoroughly and precisely shot blasted . Most companies in our area still do this manually . However , right from the beginning we decided to automate the entire shot blasting operation ,” explained Mike Luizink .
With the Rösler blast machine , employees place the workpieces onto the respective fixtures and remove them after the blast process . Noise is considerably lower than the noise from manual blast rooms . The automated shot blast process , said Rösler , is eight to ten times faster . While in manual
blast rooms , media quantities of about 6kg are dispensed per minute ; each of the four blast turbines in the spinner hanger machine throws 150kg of media at the workpieces every minute .
The spinner hanger blast machine is equipped with two rails in a “ Y ” design . This allows the operator to place workpieces onto the fixture at one rail branch , while the workpieces from the other rail branch are being blasted . This helps to eliminate unproductive idle equipment times .
“ In the automated shot blast process , the blast media is getting into even the tiniest work piece corners . This is nearly impossible with manual shot blasting operations ,” commented Ben Luizink . “ The Rösler shot blast machine is very tight and emits practically no dust . Since we are coating the workpieces in the same hall , this is a huge benefit .”
Cost and energy savings
ML Coating also achieved significant cost savings in other areas .
“ After ten blast cycles , the sand used in manual shot blast operations becomes dust and is , therefore , no longer usable . This produces a lot of waste material ,” outlined Ben Luizink . “ Another drawback of manual blast operations is that the sand remains in tight corners of the workpieces and is , therefore , lost . In automated shot blasting machines , the entire quantity of thrown blast media is collected in the bottom
The Rösler shot blast machine at ML Coating .
and transported to the media cleaning system with special augers . This ensures much longer usable life of the blast media . Significantly harder blast media can also be used ,” he added .
In manual blast rooms , the compressed air needed for the blast operation is generated by compressors requiring high energy input . In the new Rösler shot blast machine , the blast media is accelerated by direct-drive electric turbines .
Another important energy-saving feature in the Rösler machine are the Rösler Gamma G turbines with their curved throwing blades . Because of the curved blade design , the blast media leaves the throwing blades at a higher speed without additional energy requirements . This results in higher impact velocity of the media on the workpieces . The energy consumption can be further reduced by intelligent adjustment of the turbine RPM . n
www
. rosler . com
Robotic automation , drive and control technology
For three days , the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre in Germany opened its doors to the world of international automation . “ Best in Class Products and Solutions ” was the motto of the Yaskawa stand at SPS 2023 , providing a platform for several highlights .
Yaskawa made use of a special area to present the i ³ Mechatronics industry sector , including the concept and benefits of Industry- 4.0 production . “ i3 ” stands for integrated , intelligent and innovative . This integrated approach comprises existing and newly developed products and solutions for drive and control technology as well as in-house software solutions and Motoman robots . Yaskawa also focused on its iCube CONTROL automation platform at SPS . The system forms a technically coordinated total solution for industry-specific controllers including everything from engineering software and controller hardware to integrated chip technology . It has the potential to do much more . After this new platform was presented for the first time at the last SPS trade fair , the complete portfolio of the iC922x series of control systems followed this year .
The Yaskawa portfolio of HMIs and panel PCs also offered hardware and software innovations . The new generation can be programmed with new visualisation software . This is integrated into iCube Engineer , the software environment of the iCube CONTROL platform .
Yaskawa also provided an exclusive preview of its forthcoming LA700 series : elevatorspecific frequency inverters . Another feature presented at the stand was the 300S + high-speed control system , which Yaskawa is using to respond to current changes in the automation industry . Compatible and available from stock , it ensures that the existing control environment is well equipped for the future “ without any issues ”, said Yaskawa .
Yaskawa robots were also on display at SPS . Some of the stand highlights at SPS included the current Cobot ecosystem ; Motoman industrial robots for handling , welding , palletising and many other applications ; as well as “ Made in Europe ” robots . n
www . yaskawa . eu . com
56 | ismr . net | ISMR December 2023 / January 2024