9362151 Podany A new high resolution paint spraying technology suitable for industrial, robotic applications is to be investigated. This technology would facilitate the automated application of uniform coatings for decorative and functional painting as well as eliminate tedious manual mask and spray techniques currently used in industry. The project will investigate the use of an applicator as a precision paint spraying or coating device for robotic applications and will have as its objectives the development of a model of the applicator suitable for computerized robot path planning. Specific objectives are the characterization of the applicator's spray pattern, volumetric spray characteristics, spray velocity, and resulting coating characteristics, i.e. thickness and uniformity, as functions of atomization and fluid pressure, the nozzle, electronic control of the coating feed, and geometric parameters such as applicator distance, angle, and velocity. This applicator would reduce industry costs and environmental hazards while the precise, uniform application of functional and decorative coatings would allow the automation of certain manual, tedious coating tasks previously thought difficult, if not impossible, to automate.
