The Most Important Investment in Your Product's Final Finish.

The gun is the most critical tool in any spraying equipment system. The main types are: 1. Conventional Air Spray: Uses high-pressure air to atomize paint. It offers fine control but has very low transfer efficiency (20-40%). 2. High-Volume, Low-Pressure (HVLP): Uses a high volume of low-pressure air for softer atomization, improving transfer efficiency (40-65%). 3. Airless: Uses high hydraulic pressure to atomize paint without air, ideal for fast application of heavy coatings. 4. Air-Assisted Airless: A hybrid that uses hydraulic pressure for atomization and a low-pressure air cap to shape the pattern, offering speed and quality. 5. Electrostatic: The most efficient type, which applies an electrical charge to the paint, dramatically increasing transfer efficiency (60-95%). TIMS COATING can integrate the ideal gun technology for your specific needs.

The nozzle tip is a small but incredibly important component of your spraying equipment. Choosing the right one is critical for a good finish. Nozzle tips are identified by a three-digit number, like "517". The first digit ("5") when multiplied by two gives you the spray fan width at 12 inches away (a 10-inch fan). The last two digits ("17") indicate the orifice size in thousandths of an inch (0.017"). You should choose a fan width that is appropriate for the size of the part you are spraying. You should choose an orifice size based on the viscosity of the material you are spraying—thicker materials like primers require a larger orifice, while thinner materials like stains require a smaller one.

Finishing wood products requires specialized spraying equipment due to the nature of the substrate and the coatings used. The application is often done on a "flatline" system, where parts move on a flat belt conveyor. The spray guns are typically mounted on a reciprocator that moves back and forth over the conveyor. Because wood coatings often cure very quickly, the fluid delivery systems must be designed to handle catalyzed or fast-flashing materials. Most critically, the curing part of the spraying equipment is often an infrared (IR) or ultraviolet (UV) oven, which can cure the coatings in minutes or even seconds with minimal heat, preventing damage to the wood.

The choice between robotic and manual spraying equipment comes down to volume, complexity, and quality requirements. Manual spraying is ideal for low-volume, custom work where flexibility is key. However, it is inherently inconsistent. Robotic spraying provides absolute repeatability. A robot will follow the exact same path, at the exact same speed, with the exact same trigger points on every single part. This leads to a more uniform finish, reduced material waste (often a 15-30% savings over manual spraying), and higher throughput. For any medium- to high-volume production, a robotic spraying equipment system from TIMS COATING will provide a rapid and significant return on investment.