Air knife ensures machined work pieces move to next stage totally dust
free
Mitras Automotive is using a blower-powered nozzle cleaning system,
supplied by ACI, which ensures that machined components move to the next
manufacturing stage totally free of dust and debris. The ACI system is
powered by a 22kW radial blower that is housed in an acoustic enclosure,
mounted on the roof of the machining chamber. The blower feeds air to two
reciprocating nozzles, each of which delivers air through five flexible
nozzles, adjusted so that they reach every recess in the work piece.
Prior to the installation, Mitras line workers used to vacuum clean the
dust manually, but there was always some residual debris that triggered a
laser safety scanning system when disturbed at the next work station. The
blower system is so thorough that this problem has now completely
disappeared and production rate has improved some 15% since the false
triggering stopped.