Automated bandsawn plywood cladding prime and paint machine

Abstract or Summary

This design report proposes a solution for an automated linear paint spraying machine of band-sawn finish plywood sheets for TRICLAD, a Hamilton-based company looking to increase their output and quality control. The company wanted a solution that was cost-effective, environmentally-friendly, and where possible, New Zealand made. There were already several automated spray-painting machines on the market, but none that TRICLAD felt suitably met their needs. The first part of this process looked into current systems available on the market and alternative ideas for paint application. As a result of this scoping process, it was decided that the base idea was to be a traditional type design, adjusted to meet the specific needs of TRICLAD. The design is illustrated in Figure 1 below. Due to cost and scale issues, a prototype was not built, but the proposed design may be prototyped in future. The proposed design employs mainly off-the-shelf items, for cost-efficiency reasons, and has been developed with flexibility and future add-ons in mind. From here, this design could be handed onto an automation company to refine and produce for use by TRICLAD. The design used a range of ISO standard parts to ensure the accessibility of raw materials and components. The 304 stainless steel was selected as the core material. Compared to mild steel, stainless steel reduced the production time by saving processes such as coating and treatments. The frame of the machines can be either welded or bolted. The modular subcomponents are bolted for the ease of future maintenance.