Patent Application
20230058272
The present matter described herein, in general, relates to coating apparatus. More particularly, the present subject matter relates to an angle grid coating apparatus.
Surface coating techniques are used to improve properties of a substrate such as hardness, corrosion resistance, heat resistance surface porosity etc. Numerous methods can be used to coat a surface coating. The thermal spray technique is widely used to apply a coating onto a substrate material. In the thermal spray technique, molten or semi-molten droplets or particles of the coating material are sprayed onto the substrate materials.
The existing thermal spray coating techniques require a specialized thermal spray gun, a programable robot, and a spray booth work environment. Thus, the existing traditional technology of thermal spray employs expensive equipment and feedstock powders. The coating formed by the thermal spray method has a relatively low adhesion strength; especially on small substrates and substrates of small curvature. Furthermore, using the thermal spray method applies a coating of variable materials quality and is not appropriate for forming coatings onto hard substrates such as glass. Thus, there is a need for a coating technique that are cost effective and technically viable for coating hard materials that are difficult to surface prepare by the traditional roughening methods
Before the present angle grind coating apparatus and method thereof is described, it is to be understood that this application is not limited to a particular angle grind coating apparatus, as there may be multiple embodiments, which are not expressly illustrated in the present disclosure. It is also to be understood that the terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing the particular implementations, versions, or embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present application. This summary is provided to introduce aspects related to an angle grind coating apparatus. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter nor is it intended for use in determining or limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In one aspect, an angle grind coating apparatus is disclosed. The angle grind coating apparatus comprising a workpiece holder assembled for holding a tool material and the workpiece holder is assembled over a base provided with a stabilizing fixture. Further, the workpiece holder has a tensioned spring to apply an upward thrust force to the tool material. The angle grind coating apparatus further comprises a grinding wheel mounted perpendicular to the workpiece holder to enable grinding of the tool material. The tool material is fixed in front and just below the grinding wheel to align the fixture with the grinding wheel. Further, the angle grind coating apparatus comprises an angle grinder to enable rotation of the grinding wheel over the tool material at a predefined Rotations Per Minute (RPM), such that rotation of the grinding wheel generates a stream of swarf particles from the tool material. The stream of swarf particles is deposited over a target surface fixed at a pre-set standoff distance from the angle grind coating apparatus.
In one aspect a method providing coating material is disclosed. The method comprises applying, through a spring, an upward thrust force over a tool material, and the tool material is fixed in a workpiece holder of an angle grind angular coating apparatus. The workpiece holder further is assembled over a base provided over a fixture. The coating material is provided by, grinding of the tool material that is mounted perpendicular to the workpiece holder. The tool material is fixed in front and just below of the grinding wheel aligning the fixture with the grinding wheel. Furthermore, the method providing coating material comprises enabling, through an angle grinder, a rotation of the grinding wheel over the tool material at a predefined Rotations Per Minute (RPM), such that rotation of the grinding wheel generates a stream of swarf particles from the tool material. The stream of swarf particles is to be deposited over a target surface fixed at a pre-set standoff distance from the angle grind angular coating apparatus.
The foregoing detailed description of embodiments is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the present subject matter, an example of construction of the present subject matter is provided as figures; however, the present subject matter is not limited to the specific angle grind coating apparatus and method thereof.
Some embodiments of this disclosure, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail. The words “comprising”, “including”, “containing”, “consisting”, and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items. It must also be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Although any systems and methods similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the present disclosure, the exemplary angle grind coating apparatus and method thereof is now described. The disclosed angle grind coating apparatus and method thereof are merely examples of the disclosure, which may be embodied in various forms.
Various modifications to the embodiment will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the present disclosure for a process of an angle grind coating apparatus and method thereof is not intended to be limited to the embodiments illustrated but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.
The existing surface coating technologies such as thermal spray technologies may not be effective for coating ceramic surfaces such as glass, ceramics and acrylic. These surfaces are difficult to roughen effectively. The present subject matter overcomes a problem of an efficient method for surface coating of such materials.
Referring now to
In an embodiment, the angle grind coating apparatus 100 comprises a grinding wheel 114 mounted perpendicular to the workpiece holder 102 for enabling grinding of the tool material (workpiece) 104. The tool material (workpiece) 104 may be fixed in front of the grinding wheel 114 and just below the grinding wheel 114 to align the fixture 108 with the grinding wheel 114. Further, the grinding of the tool material (workpiece) 104 may be controlled by adjusting at least one of a spring stiffness, alignment of the fixture 108, and rotational speed of the grinding wheel 114. Further, a safety plate 122 may be located on top of the grinding wheel 114.
In an embodiment, the angle grind coating apparatus 100 further comprises an angle grinder 116 that may enable rotation of the grinding wheel 114 over the tool material (workpiece) 104 at a predefined Rotations Per Minute (rpm). The RPM of the grinding wheel 114 may be in a range of operation up to 10,000 RPM.
In an embodiment rotation of the grinding wheel 114 may generate a micrometre sized stream of swarf particles 118 from the tool material (workpiece) 104. The generated stream of swarf particles 118 may be deposited over the target surface fixed 120 at a pre-set stand-off distance from the angle grind coating apparatus 100. The target surface may be selected from one of a metal substrate, a polymer substrate or a ceramic substrate. The coating of the stream of swarf particles 118 may be controlled by adjusting the stand-off distance and impact angle of the stream of swarf particles 118 generated due to grinding. The swarf particles deposited 130 may have shape comprising spherical, needle or platelet morphology. The shape of swarf particles deposited 130 may depend on a set of grinding variables.
In an embodiment the set of grinding variables comprises stand-off distance between the work piece 104 and the substrate, rotational speed of angle grinding disk, spring stiffness of the spring in the infeed holder, feed rate of tool material (workpiece) 104, flow rate of the swarf particles 128, and trajectory of a swarf particles stream.
In an embodiment, the angle grind coating apparatus 100 further comprises a handle 124 provided over the angle grinder for holding the apparatus. The angle grind coating apparatus further comprises a links 126 connected to each of the fixture 108 and the angle grinder. The links 126 are provided for the assembly of the cylindrical shaped workpiece holder 102, spring 110 and the base plate 106 to fixture 108. The links 126 may hold the assembly together and position at a proper location.
Now referring to Table 1, a set of grinding variables for different substrates such as aluminium, acrylic and glass is shown. As observed from the table 1, the stand-off distance is lower for aluminium and the stand-off distance is higher for glass. However, the rotation of the speed for these examples is maintained constant for all the substrates, although the RPM can also be a variable. The swarf particles 128 are deposited onto the substrate surface at a high impact speed and elevated temperature. In the process of coating, the temperature of the substrate at the start of the process is maintained at room temperature and the temperature of the substrate increases due to the impact of the swarf particles 128 that may be removed from the tool material (workpiece) 104. The increase in temperature during the coating process is proportional to the grinding time and the process variables.
In an example embodiment, heated swarf particle from low carbon steel, formed by the angle grind coating apparatus 100 may be achieved by controlling the operating parameters as mentioned in Table 1. The substrate used for coating may comprise one of a metal or a non-metal. The coating thickness may be achieved by repeated passing of the swarf particles 128 across the substrate. The angle grind coating apparatus 100, which may also be operated in a manual or robot-controlled fashion, deposits coating on contoured materials since it can be angled in many directions due to high versatility derived from a small equipment profile.
Now referring to
Referring to
Referring now to
At block 502, the upward thrust force over the tool material (workpiece) 104 fixed in the workpiece holder 102 of the angle grid coating apparatus 100 may be applied through the spring assembled 110.
At block 504, the grinding of the tool material (workpiece) 104 may be enabled through the grinding wheel 114 mounted perpendicular to the workpiece holder 102.
At block 506, the rotation of the grinding wheel 114 over the tool material (workpiece) 104 at the predefined Rotation Per Minute (RPM) may be enabled though the angle grinder.
Details of the method 500 are similar to details of the angle grind coating apparatus 100 and hence are not repeated for the sake of brevity.
Exemplary embodiments discussed above may provide certain advantages. Though not required to practice aspects of the disclosure, these advantages may include those provided by the following features.
Some embodiments of angle grind coating apparatus 100 may provide the cost-effective method 500 for substrate coating.
Some embodiments of angle grind coating apparatus 100 may enable coating on to metal, polymer, and ceramic surfaces; or a surface that is a combination of these materials.
Some embodiments of the angle grind coating apparatus 100 may provide a portable equipment that may be lightweight and compact in size.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202111037717 | Aug 2021 | IN | national |
The present application claims benefit from Indian Pat. Application No. 202111037717 filed on 19 Aug. 2021 the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
