Dispensing systems cost 25% less
Original article date: March 2000
New equipment being introduced by Loctite for metering and dispensing fluids and pastes includes systems which cost at least 25% less than systems previously available. Alan Quinn braved the A1 to take a look.
The need to improve quality, increase productivity and reduce waste has combined with Health and Safety regulations to drive manufacturers towards the use of dispensing and metering equipment. Whether manually actuated or automatically controlled, dispensing equipment ensures that a specified amount of fluid or paste is placed in a defined position with a consistent and repeatable accuracy. Operators do not touch the applied products, workplaces remain clean and the potential for misuse of the products is minimised.
And the complete control of the application ensures that, compared with manual methods, product savings can be as high as 50%. And you can add to this the ability of dispensing equipment to maintain the application of assembly fluids at speeds which are beyond human capabilities.
Loctite’s new integrated semi-automatic system, which will apply consistently accurate doses of ink, oil, paint, flowable greases and solder pastes, costs (UK pounds)882. A comparable system would previously have cost more than (UK pounds)1500.
You get a free-standing unit which simplifies air and fluid supply lines by combining reservoir and controller. An integral pressurised reservoir system uses an infinitely variable electronic control to dispense quantities as small as 0.003ml. Features include a lockable 0 to 4 bar pressure regulator with analogue gauge, 0.04 to 99.9s digital timer, automatically vented tank and an applicator holder. A variety of precision dispensing valves is availalable, and there is the option of a digital low-level alarm.
Loctite’s range also includes manual systems. The simplest product uses a hand pump which is screwed to standard bottles. It provides roving service engineers, fitters and maintenance staff with a portable dispenser applying 0.01 to 0.1ml quantities of anaerobic adhesives and sealants having viscosities of up to 1000mPas.
Other manually-operated dispensers include single and double cartridge guns fitted with pressure regulators to enable the user to control flow rate, and quick pressure relief mechanism. Also available are pneumatic versions of these cartridge guns, for 315ml cartridges and 310ml and 570ml sachets, which will auto-mix two-pack products.
Precision beading
Another air-operated manual unit is the basic ‘integrated’ dispensing system. This was developed for precision beading, potting and free-running deposits. It is available in low and high pressure versions, enabling users to apply thin liquids or high viscosity pastes with extreme control and accuracy. It has adjustable gauge and lockable pressure regulator, and is supplied with either the patented Varidrop or hand-held applicator valve.
The Loctite syringe dispense system is also simple in concept. Two versions – analogue and digital – have been developed for use with refillable 10ml syringes. Both use pressure/time control to dispense dots, drops or small continuous beads, have anti-drip suck-back, can apply products varying from water-thin to paste, and are claimed to increase productivity by 60% whilst reducing waste by 30%. Both semi- and fully-automatic systems are available with separate reservoirs and controllers, for use where it is desirable that the controller is situated some distance from the liquid supply or application.
Features of the semi-automatic modular system include a regulator to prevent air pressure fluctuation, combined power and air on/off switching, digital pressure read-out with electronic monitoring, fluid level sensor and a variety of dispense valves. Additional features of the fully-automatic modular system are an independent, programmable single or two-channel controller, and multi-function control of valves and peripheral equipment. A PLC interface lets you integrate the system into automated production lines.
The new equipment also features standard UV curing systems which range from the simple to the sophisticated. They provide the correct UV light source to match the characteristics of the adhesive or coating to be irradiated and the cure requirements of light intensity and length of exposure.
- Loctite UK
March 2000