Cleaning Paint Jigs
Cleaning Paint Jigs
(OP)
Anyone have any ideas on how to clean paint jigs used in automotive paint booths?
I'm open to all ideas. Current way includes 36,000psi water spray and it destoys the jigs.
Thanks!
I'm open to all ideas. Current way includes 36,000psi water spray and it destoys the jigs.
Thanks!





RE: Cleaning Paint Jigs
RE: Cleaning Paint Jigs
Are there places where a lot of buildup can be tolerated, and others where dimensions have to be closely held?
RE: Cleaning Paint Jigs
The biggest reason for the cleaning is to reduce contamination in the paint booths when they re-enter with a new part. We've found that if the jigs are dirty (after 100 cycles) the contamination in the paint booths rises very quickly.
RE: Cleaning Paint Jigs
When too dirty - unwrap the plastic and put a new layer on.
Very little time, no water and sewage disposal, and low cost. If the wrap doesn't cover everything, you at least only need to clean a much smaller area.
RE: Cleaning Paint Jigs
abrasive blasting - sand, walnut shells, corn cobs, etc.
dry ice - solid phase CO2 shrinks and fractures plastics, sublimation helps separate the fragments from the substrate
thermal decomposition - thermal energy destroys/combusts hydrocarbon components of paint
plasma decomposition - photon energy destroys hydrocarbon components of paint
Of course, there are the mundane options of solvents and mechanical abrasion (3M Bristle Brush is a very nice product).
RE: Cleaning Paint Jigs
I'm interested in the dry ice and plasma decomposition? A lot of the jigs are alumnimum and the high pressure water just blows them apart!
As always, I'm open to all ideas!
RE: Cleaning Paint Jigs
RE: Cleaning Paint Jigs
RE: Cleaning Paint Jigs
RE: Cleaning Paint Jigs
The safety issues are legit, but the cycle time addition does not seem to even qualify as an issue. Wet sandblasting will lower your pressure requirement, but whatever process you're using will safety considerations of one type or another.
RE: Cleaning Paint Jigs
http://www.enviro-blast.com/index.htm
One equipment vendor for plasma (mainly semiconductor fab):
http://www.novellus.com/default.aspx
The fluidized bed suggestion from ornerynorsk is a good one.
RE: Cleaning Paint Jigs
Maybe the answer is too take more than 15 minutes and use a lower pressure spray.
Patricia Lougheed
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RE: Cleaning Paint Jigs
As for the added 9 seconds per bumper to clean jigs...that is a lot of time.
This is how I figure it:
(9 sec/bumper) x (2 bumpers/car) x 2,000,000 (cars/year) = (10,000 hrs cleaning jigs/year)
Figure in going hourly rate and it adds up very quickly.
As for sandblasting, we are realling looking at something that is not going to remove material from the aluminum itself. It is a delicate process to remove the paint quickly but without damaging the aluminum jigs.
They have to be aluminum for ergonimic reasons.
Adding a chemical process will add a whole other safety concern and evironmental impact.
RE: Cleaning Paint Jigs
Could you share a little more on how the jig interfaces with the bumper being painted? Would steel be acceptable for the jig, or is weight a genuine concern?
RE: Cleaning Paint Jigs
http://www.ecologicalcoatings.com/antistick.html
Failing that could you not have a vacuum moulded protective cover that could be replaced every so often, I see you said you have tried this and the heating was a problem but I am thinking of the sort of thing that oven ready meals come in.
RE: Cleaning Paint Jigs
Thanks to everyone!
RE: Cleaning Paint Jigs
RE: Cleaning Paint Jigs
You can buy a machine, rent a machine, or just have someone come in to do e service for you. Expect to pay about $200 an hour... but they can do a lot of cleaning in an hour's time.
Check out this guy in Michigan/Indiana.
www.nu-age.com
They do a lot with weld cells and dry ice cleaning.
RE: Cleaning Paint Jigs
These furnaces easily meet all emission standards.
http://www.pcpconline.com/
RE: Cleaning Paint Jigs
The one e-coat paint line I did in a previous life, the hanging fixtures were just plain old carbon steel that going through the dip tank would build up over time. They essentially had a whole second set of hangers, and would swap them out as they built up. I believe they used sand blasting or a furnace to remove any build-up.
James Spisich
Design Engineer, CSWP
RE: Cleaning Paint Jigs
RE: Cleaning Paint Jigs