Posted to News on 24th Jan 2025, 14:00
Automation expertise for aerospace temporary masking
When a leading UK aerospace company commissioned Astech Projects to build a bespoke Automated Masking System to mask complex areas of aircraft components to avoid precious metal coverage during the manufacturing process, it turned to Intertronics.
"The system was required to have the capability to mask 14 component variants, while offering the functionality to add additional variants in the future," explained Craig Hamilton, Business Development Manager at Astech Projects.
Part of Schauenburg International group of companies, Astech Projects is a supplier of robotics and automation solutions to the advanced manufacturing and regulated industries including pharmaceutical, medical device, consumer healthcare, chemical, aerospace and automotive. It builds systems from concept to completion on a custom basis, and can turn their hands to any application not currently available in the market.
"The main drivers behind the project were to accurately and repeatably mask the component," said Baseley. "The final result dispenses to an accuracy of 100 microns, a great achievement. Astech Projects' bespoke system offers the client a significant labour saving and increases throughput, with the client now channelling 60% of its components through the system."
The solution
Together the team came up with a fully automated system which incorporates a 3-axis cartesian robot and two 6-axis robots working in sync according to one robot program. It also includes a high-definition vision system, masking dispensing system and UV curing station.
On a batch-by-batch basis, the system can correctly identify and orientate 14 types of part against the preeflow eco-PEN450, which accurately dispenses the Dymax 717-R SpeedMask product.
The part is then taken to a curing chamber, where it is illuminated with high intensity UV. Once the process is complete, the component is returned to its original input location. The process repeats itself until the entire batch of components has been processed.
"Intertronics is an extremely knowledgeable company, providing Astech with vital coatings expertise. Intertronics was a great partner for this project and we look forward to working together in the future," concluded Hamilton.
