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Spray Finishing Made Mobile
In this case study, Air Power Account Manager Austin Lambright helped this customer eliminate pain points in their finishing process, allowing them to save time and money in production costs.
CHALLENGE
The customer has a 90ft DOD aircraft that is coated with a very short pot life, a very expensive material. Because of the short pot life, several painters would have to mix an individual pressure pot and all spray the plane at the same time. This caused a lot of waste in material and was time-consuming.
AIR POWER SOLUTION
By using a mobile cart with a large Graco EnduraFlo 4:1 diaphragm pump, we are able to feed 4 painters with one central paint vessel. This not only cuts down on a lot of waste, but also simplifies the prep and clean up process, ultimately saving money both in material cost, maintenance, and production time. An all-around process improvement.
RESULTS
The customer drastically improved production process time, labor hours, and material savings in their paint process.
Filling Station with Timed Dispense System
In this video, Air Power Account Manager Aaron Osborne walks you through this Lubricant Dispense Station. The customer needed to pre-fill cartridges so the operator could utilize it in a manual application for the day shift. Air Power proposed a solution that combines a Loctite Timing and Pressure Dispense System with a Graco Husky Pump. This Filing Station solution reduces down fluid pressure and allows for multiple cartridges to be filled and stored. When the operator needs a cartridge s/he grabs from filling station and attached is bench side dispenser for accurate dispense into the end product.
Improving Your Electrostatic Process
Improving Your Electrostatic Liquid or Powder Coating Process
In this video, Air Power Specialist Travis Stirewalt and Account Manager Eddie Rhodes, share tips about improving your electrostatic process. Learn how to improve your electrostatic process with expert advice for powder coaters and liquid painters. Discuss best practices that help you put more powder or paint on your parts and less in your filters or the paint booth floor. What does this mean for you? Higher transfer efficiency and less paint (money) wasted by increasing your first pass transfer efficiency. Video from the Air Power, Inc. Chattanooga Branch.
Troubleshooting with Graco
Troubleshooting with Graco
Air Power along with the help of the Graco Team, organized a troubleshooting training event. Our team spent time learning all of the Graco pump quick fixes that they can use in the field to solve issues for customers on the spot. With this training, our Account Managers can save customers time and money in service and repair costs. Thanks to the Graco team for their support!
Pumps – Cost of Ownership
Choosing the right pump for your process can be difficult. There are a lot of measures that need to be taken into consideration. One of the most important deciding factors is cost of operation.
Graco Diaphragm Pumps
Graco designs and builds a wide range of equipment designed to handle industrial fluids such as inks, colorants, paint, abrasives, corrosive, shear sensitive, gas entrapped and more. They also design and build custom products for customers with unique requirements. Graco’s double diaphragm pumps are designed for chemical transfer applications. Their chemical transfer pumps come in pneumatic and electric options, with many flow rates and sizes. Both metal and plastic housings can easily handle corrosive and abrasive fluids. They design and build the Husky double diaphragm pumps to hold in the harshest working environments. The best materials and the highest quality standards results in pumps that are built to last.
Graco Husky Double Diaphragm Pumps
The Husky double diaphragm pumps are manufactured with your productivity in mind – providing you with one of the most reliable and efficient pumps in the market. Each membrane pump is thoroughly tested before it leaves the factory.
Husky Air Operated Double Diaphragm
Designed with fewer parts than competitive pumps, Graco’s air operated double diaphragm pumps features our stall-free, low pulsation air valve, which is externally accessible—ensuring rapid changeovers and minimum downtimes.
Advantages of the Husky Air Operated Diaphragm Pumps
- Rugged construction – Resists corrosion for reliable performance and long life
- Designed to last – Heavy duty design offers long life, increased productivity and lower overall cost of ownership
- Flow rates and sizes – up to 300 gpm (1135 lpm) / port sizes ranging from ¼” to 3” in NPT, BSP, and flange options.
- Easy maintenance – The Husky has fewer parts than industry peers, the complete air valve is externally accessible so it can be serviced fast and easy without removing the pump.
- Modular air valve – Stall-free, low pulsation air valve provides smooth and rapid changeover for increased efficiency and minimizes down time
Husky Electric Operated Double Diaphragm Pumps
Graco’s electric double diaphragm pumps (EODD) are ideal for applications that require low pulsation and a smooth flow. The energy efficient electric drive reduces energy consumption up to 5x compared to traditional air operated diaphragm pumps. Each pump is ruggedly constructed to resist corrosion and deliver a long, trouble-free product life.
Advantages of the Husky Electric Operated Diaphragm Pumps
- Durable Pump Technology handles slurries and abrasives all without damage to the pump
- Fluid section is fully customizable allowing user to create the pump you need with multiple material offerings for manifolds, seats, balls, and diaphragms.
- Diaphragm pump is self-priming, runs dry and requires no rotating or moving of fluid seals
- Electric Drive reduces energy consumption and operating costs
- Provides increased pump control and accurately meters fluid
Contact your Air Power Representative today to find out how you can revolutionize your process with Graco Double Diaphragm Pumps!
Source: graco.com
Which Pump?
How Does An Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pump Work?
An air operated diaphragm pump is a type of positive displacement pump that uses compressed air as a power source. The compressed air is shifted from one chamber to the other by a linked shaft that allows the chambers to move simultaneously. This back-and-forth motion, forces liquid out of one chamber and into the outlet manifold, while filling the opposite fluid chamber via the inlet manifold. Upon changeover, the fluid section that was filled on the previous shift empties into the outlet manifold and then fills the opposite chamber via the inlet manifold. The rapid changeover allows for reduced pulsation at the outlet.
How to Select an Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pump?
Choices are endless when selecting the correct air operated double diaphragm pump (AODD). Aluminum? Stainless? Why Plastic? Different chemicals require different pump components which are critical in determining the best pump solution for the application. Not all applications are the same and neither are the pumps. Check out some general information regarding the construction of Graco AODD Pumps.
Increase Transfer Efficiency
Challenge
Customer was looking to improve transfer efficiency on their automated spindle machine spraying primer on various size metal housings. The existing system utilizes one spray gun set a considerable distance from the parts. This causes excessive overspray and waste. Customer also wanted to go from using 55 gallon drums to 5 gallon pails due to settling and solvent flash off in the primer. The 55 gallon drum sits for around 4 months. The viscosity needed to be regularly checked and adjusted.
Air Power’s Solution
Equipment utilized – Graco fixed automatic spray guns coupled to a Graco dual regulated pressure pot with agitation. All controlled via an Air Power custom designed pneumatic control panel for system optimization and performance.
Air Power, Inc. proposed replacing their single gun setup with two guns. These guns will be mounted on mounts that can be adjusted to effectively cover the various size parts. This will minimize the amount of overspray and improve the transfer efficiency of the system. The controls for this system will be contained in a centralized control box. Fluid supply will utilize a 5 gallon pressure tank. This will allow the operator to place a 5 gallon bucket of primer into the tank. This system will be enclosed to minimize solvent flash off. This will help improve the consistency of the coating as it will not need to be constantly adjusted. The paint supply will also be exhausted in roughly a week now. This will allow fresh primer to be sprayed, also improving consistency.
Results
- Customer experienced increased transfer efficiency which saved them money by minimizing the amount of overspray and waste. It also reduced the amount of filtration they were purchasing due to the reduced overspray saving them time and money.
- Customer reduced solvent flash off due to the switch from 55 gallon to 5 gallon pail saving the operator time from adding additional solvent to the 55 gallon drums.
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