FOCUS ON SURFACE FINISHING
Tooling is a deciding factor in applying the right finish . The right surface roughness can be achieved by using abrasive belts , brushes or rotary brushes . When aiming for a specific roughness , it is important to choose the right grit size for the abrasive , as well as the type of abrasive mineral . The coarser the grit , the rougher the surface . The minerals influence the amount of stock removal and the surface reflection .
A strong finish
A variety of finishes can be made by Timesavers ’ surface processing machines .
“ For products to be placed in every possible direction , a non-directional finish is needed that can be applied with our rotary brush technique , built into all of our RB series deburring machines . The ultimate finishing machines for sheets and coils are the 71 ( wet working ) and 72 ( dry working ) series . These can apply a no . 3 or no . 4 finish that are common for products designed for escalators , elevators and architectural buildings ,” Timesavers explained .
“ The hairline finish is mostly required in Asia , where it is used for escalators . Our machines are also able to produce a Duplo or Microlon finish , which are great for food processing equipment and the pharmaceutical industry ,” it added .
Rimex UK chooses Timesavers
Rimex Metals specialises in the manufacture of stainless-steel finishes . Its products are used across numerous sectors in various applications . This includes architectural metal finishes from Rimex ’ s DesignScape Collection which are suitable for stainless steel cladding , interior and retail design . The group was incorporated in 1959 and operates subsidiaries in Australia , Germany , the UK and the U . S .
Rimex ’ s stainless steel finishes have long been used by the elevator sector to provide
Measuring surface roughness .
durable , scratchresistant , anti-graffiti stainless steel products for lift doors , cabins and architraves . Other sectors include transport ; catering ; refrigeration and cold stores ; machinery and general OEM and engineering applications .
The latest addition to Rimex ’ s machine range is a custom-made Timesavers 72- series with a 1600 working width for hairline finishing .
“ We have been able to supply hairline products , but it wasn ’ t straightforward and we had to modify / reset existing machines to do it , which added time and cost . The decision to invest in a bespoke machine from Timesavers to achieve that finish has streamlined the whole process ,” said Nick Barnes , Sales Director , Rimex . While this investment in the hairline machine will assist exports to the Asian market , it is also expected to open up opportunities across other markets .
“ The Timesavers machine gives us the confidence that we can supply consistent quality from order to order . This consistency is vital as our products are in constant view across projects from elevators to building exteriors , so any discrepancy will be easy to spot ,” added Barnes .
Rimex ’ s hairline 72 series machine from Timesavers .
The right finish
Timesavers 31 series machine ( front view ).
In normal polishing and finishing , such as Rimex ’ s Satin products , the surface finish undergoes abrasion from a fast-moving abrasive belt and rotary brush in a Timesavers 62 series 1600 WWB machine . This gives a finish with short and varied ‘ scratched ’ surface .
With hairline , the material is polished and finished as normal , then passed through the 72 series hairline machine . Here , the abrasive belt is moving at a much slower speed of around 0.6-2 mm / min . while the material is passed beneath it . The effect is to create a continuous ‘ scratch effect ’ from one end of the sheet to the other .
This finish is seen as more aesthetically pleasing for internal architectural features , such as elevator doors and internal walls . To achieve this , the Timesavers machine is equipped with a harder than normal contact roller over which the abrasive belt passes . This ensures the correct ‘ aggression ’ on the material being finished as a harder roller ensures firmer contact with the material . The actual finish is then governed by the grit size on the abrasive belt , which can be quickly changed if required to meet customer requirements .
“ This hairline machine is the fifth Timesavers machine we have installed here over a 30-year period ,” confirmed Richard Watson , Production Director , Rimex . “ In that time , we have built an excellent relationship with the people at
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