Assemblers in many industries are discovering the benefits of adhesive bonding. Adhesives can join dissimilar materials, such as rubber and metal. Adhesives can create hermetic seals. They resist humidity, corrosion, vibration and fatigue. Adhesives also handle a wide range of temperatures. Some aerospace adhesives can withstand temperatures of 4 K to 400 F!
Joints assembled with adhesives distribute stress evenly over the entire bonding area. They’re also more cosmetic. There are no burn marks, as in spot welding, and there are no projections outside the joint, as with threaded fasteners or rivets. Compared with mechanical fastening or some welding techniques, the part tolerances for adhesive bonding are more forgiving.
Of course, assemblers will be unable to reap the benefits of adhesive bonding if the dispenser can’t get the material from the pail to the parts. Here’s a look at the latest equipment for dispensing adhesives and sealants.
Meter, Mix and Dispense
The LiquidFlow 30M is a meter, mix and dispense system for two-part adhesives. It has a high-precision gear pump system for low- to midrange dispense rate applications where controlled and continuous material flow can be a real benefit. It has a modular design so engineers can adapt the machine to each application. Each metering pump is driven independently by an inverter motor, which allows accurate flow-rate control and pulsation-free dispensing. The mixing ratio can be varied from 1-to-1 to 100-to-1. Maximum flow rate is 2.1 liters per minute, depending upon material viscosity and pump size. The machine stores 50 shot sizes, flow rates and mix ratios. Options include electric agitation for material reservoirs and digitally controlled heating for reservoirs, pumps and hoses. See this company at The Assembly Show South April 4-6 in Nashville.
Meter Mix Systems US Inc.
Robotic Dispensing System
The Delta 8 is a flexible robotic dispensing system that is ideal for conformal coating, potting, gasketing and other applications. Designed for maximum flexibility, the system features a robust overhead three-axis motion platform suitable for inline or batch operations. System repeatability is ±25 microns. The system features closed-loop process control and an onboard PC for unlimited program storage. The system can be equipped with an optional servo-controlled fourth axis of motion for tilting and rotating the dispensing valve. See this company at The Assembly Show South April 4-6 in Nashville.
PVA
Jet Valve Is Easy to Maintain
The DELO-DOT PN5 jet valve can dispense dots of adhesive at a frequency up to 300 hertz. This pneumatic jet valve is easy to use and features tool-free maintenance of its fluid system. Its compact design allows for easy integration into production systems. Noncontact dispensing prevents collisions between the valve and the component. High-viscous materials and difficult media can be dispensed accurately, precisely and reliably. The valve offers interchangeable nozzles with different diameters, as well as an adjustable plunger stroke. The valve can dispense drops of adhesive in the nanoliter range. The valve’s plunger is mainly made of ceramic and carbide. It is suitable for prolonged use, even with complex materials. When the plunger wears out at the end of its life cycle, only the nozzle and fluid plunger need to be replaced. No special tools are required since the fluid system can be easily removed via the bayonet lock. The actuator has a lifetime of more than 1 billion cycles. See this company at The Assembly Show Oct. 24-26 in Rosemont, IL.
DELO Industrial Adhesives LLC
Modular Dispensing Pump
The vipro-PUMP has a modular design. The separable rotor assembly allows fast installation and removal of components, which speeds up service and maintenance, reduces downtime, and minimizes spare part and operating costs. In addition, variable rotor and stator materials ensure optimum dispenser performance. For example, a ceramic rotor and stator are ideal for abrasive media, while a plastic rotor is used for standard adhesives. An enlarged pump inlet minimizes pressure loss, improves material flow and allows easy attachment and detachment of the hose supply. Two larger, modular bleed openings ensure a user-friendly and clean bleeding process and ultimately help to guarantee dosing with no air bubbles. The new stator design has an anti-rotation device and a defined non-positive connection to allow easy and intuitive assembly. See this company at The Assembly Show Oct. 24-26 in Rosemont, IL.
ViscoTec America Inc.
Modular Jet Dispensing Valve
The S Jet Superior modular dispensing valve is versatile. The connection of the valve drive and the dosing needle via a ring spring limits the media contact to the dosing unit. This can be replaced quickly and at will. The modular valve is ideal for dispensing abrasive media with short processing times. Frequencies of up to 1,000 hertz with a service life of more than 1 billion cycles are possible without maintenance thanks to the piezo drive. The exchangeable dosing units print dots or lines between 50 and 3,000 microns wide. In addition, heat-conducting plates can be attached to ensure temperature control of the media. See this company at The Assembly Show Oct. 24-26 in Rosemont, IL.
Marco
Benchtop Dispenser
The Autobonder 2101 benchtop time-pressure dispensing system accommodates a wide range of materials. The programmable controller provides manual and timed modes. Air pressure is adjustable, and vacuum “pull-back” ensures drip-free dispensing. Manual mode overrides the timer and gives complete control of dispensing to the operator via a foot switch. In timed mode, the controller opens the valve for a set interval of time. The timer can be set from 0.01 to 99.99 seconds. A 30-cc syringe is standard, but other sizes are available. The dispenser comes in two models: 0 to 30 psi or 0 to 100 psi. See this company at The Assembly Show Oct. 24-26 in Rosemont, IL.
Hernon Manufacturing Inc.
Mixing Nozzle Is Efficient
The Xemex mixing nozzle for two-component adhesives is produced with additive manufacturing. Its optimized insert geometry allows seven elements to provide better mixing than 32 or more square or helical mixing elements. The nozzle’s shorter length reduces material waste by up to 75 percent. The nozzle is compatible with a range of mix ratios, including 1-to-1, 2-to-1, 4-to-1 and 10-to-1. It has a bell connection for use with most cartridge and meter-mix systems. It has a stepped nozzle tip for adjusting outlet diameter and bead profile. Hydrophobic PETG inserts are ideal for moisture-sensitive formulations.
Re Mixers Inc.
