Application: Apply small quantities and coat fine details using airbrush technology
What this application is about
Various wet-spray processes are suitable for industrial application. Depending on the medium, component geometry, batch size and quality requirements, application can take place with a manual paint spray gun, a coating gun, an automatic spray gun or within a painting and coating system.
What the coating must achieve in the process
The application mainly concerns plastic, metal, wood, glass, ceramics and composites. The required effect occurs only when coating material, substrate, layer thickness and subsequent drying or curing fit together. The spraying process must therefore be adapted to the concrete material system and the real production conditions.
Alongside surface quality, material consumption, cleaning effort, system availability and reliable repeatability also matter. A sound technical solution therefore combines controlled atomisation with a stable material supply that is easy to regulate.
Challenges in spray application
Even small fluctuations in material pressure, viscosity, distance or movement control can change the coating visibly or functionally. Typical requirements include:
- very low and evenly dosed quantities of material
- clean contours and soft transitions
- Fast color or material change
- low material loss with small approaches
- good handling for detail and rework stations
- Reproducible results for samples and small series
Controlling small quantities of material reliably
In airbrush and small quantities applications, even minor changes in viscosity, nozzle cross-section and air pressure influence the spray pattern. The material path should be as short as possible, so that little residual material is produced and colour or media changes can be carried out quickly.
For samples, retouchings and small components it is also important that round beam, application quantity and spray distance can be finely adjusted. For recurring serial tasks, the same process can be reproducibly automated with a compact automatic spray gun.
- small, precisely doseable quantities of material
- fine nozzles for details and narrow spray pattern
- fast change of colors and media
- low dead volume and easy cleaning
- Stable compressed air and material supply
Krautzberger application technology for this application
Krautzberger treats application and material supply as a connected system. Depending on the task, manual and automatic spray guns, suitable air and material nozzles, material pressure tanks, diaphragm pumps, pump and lifting stations, and material pressure regulators can be combined.
In automated processes, spray guns can be integrated into mounts, lifting devices, axes or robots. Material changeover valves and flushing equipment support applications with several colours or media. The specific selection depends on viscosity, solids content, application quantity, cycle time and component geometry.
For fine surface finishes, various XLINE nozzle combinations and spray patterns are available. With highly viscous, abrasive or sedimenting media, sufficiently large flow cross-sections, suitable material combinations, agitators and pressure-stable delivery become more important.
The focus is on compact manual spray guns or fine spray guns, small flow or material cups, finely tuned nozzle combinations and, if necessary, material pressure vessels for a constant material flow. The technically and economically suitable combination is selected for the specific medium, components and required production output.
Typical components and areas of application
The application is used in different industries and component groups. Typical examples are:
- Sample parts and colour patterns
- Models, prototypes and design studies
- Decoration and marking work
- Small housings and technical components
- Repairs and local post-coatings
- Watch, jewelry and luxury components
From manual application to automated installation
For individual parts and frequently changing colors, a manual workplace is usually the most economical solution. For repeatable spray patterns or small series, the spray gun can be guided on a bracket, lifting device or simple automation.
In addition, component feed, extraction or ventilation, cleaning, media change and accessibility for maintenance work must be taken into account during the system integration. This keeps the process stable not only in the pattern run, but also in everyday production.
Advantages of a coordinated spray solution
- precise application of small quantities of material
- low cleaning and material costs
- Flexible adaptation to different media and components
- good control over spraying and transitions
- suitable for sampling, small series and rework
- Scalable from manual workstation to partial automation
Application trials at the Krautzberger technical centre
Liquid media and coating materials with similar names can differ considerably in viscosity, solids content, solvent base, wetting and drying. A reliable choice of spray gun, nozzle and material supply should therefore be made using the original material and a representative component.
Nozzle, quantity of material, air pressure, distance and movement guidance are matched by the specific medium and the desired level of detail.
On this basis, the spray pattern, material quantity, pressure, distance, movement and cleaning sequence can be defined. The result is an application solution suited to the medium, the geometry and the intended production process.
Related products
All products
Matching solution for your process
Looking for a spray gun, an automatic spray gun or a complete material supply for this process? Krautzberger helps you select and design suitable spray technology, nozzle configurations, delivery and regulation.
Contact Krautzberger to discuss your medium, component, production volume and desired result. Together, we assess how the process can be implemented safely and economically.
Industries for this application
Whether for plastic, leather or wood: Small surfaces and changing media require a fine dosage and a controllable spray pattern. Depending on the surface, it is about patterns, fine decors or local rework.
