Surface World June 2019 Surface World June 2019 | Page 61

The applicator of the
EcoPaintJet does not
generate any overspray
at all, so that it dispenses
altogether with the need
for masking the car body.
hardly visible holes with a diameter of
approx. one tenth of a millimeter. They are
used to apply paint to the car body surface
in parallel jets from a distance of 30
millimeters.
The applicator is the centerpiece of the
perfectly designed EcoPaintJet system.
This also includes the EcoRPL 133i painting
robot, which moves the applicator without
any vibration. A measuring system, equipped
with sensors, provides maximum precision.
It takes a 3D measurement of the area to be
painted and sends the data to the control
software. This continuously calculates along
which path the applicator must be moved
over the surface to achieve an optimum
paint finish – this is called automatic path
generation. It also determines how the
applicator must turn plus the speed required
to apply exactly the right amount of paint.
According to Dr. Lars Friedrich, responsible
for Application Technology on the Dürr
Systems AG Board of Management:
“This high-tech process enables the
automotive industry to fulfill customers’
specific requirements faster while ensuring
top quality. There is great interest in the
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market, as we are offering real added value
with this new technology.”
The EcoPaintJet is currently being tested at
several carmakers’ sites. In the meantime,
Dürr is already working on a further
development of the technology, which
can also paint more complex geometries.
This enhanced version, known as EcoPaintJet
Pro, enables each hole in the nozzle plate
to be opened and closed individually.
This offers even more possibilities for product
customization. In the future, the automatic
application of lettering and logos should
also be possible – similar to a digital printer.
Visit: www.durr.com
Around 50 hardly visible
holes on the nozzle plate
are used to apply paint
to the car body surface
in parallel jets from a
distance of 30
millimeters.
JUNE 2019
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