KMT adds to robotic waterjet cleaning systems

KMT Robotic Solutions has added a number of new features to the company's robotic three-dimensional waterjet cleaning and surface treatment systems.

All KMT cleaning systems now include the Cleaningware program developed by the company for easy programming and operation of the systems and a new tool centre point (TCP) control.

KMT Robotic Solutions has also launched a cleaning programming tool option for the cleaning systems.

The easy-to-use Cleaningware software from KMT Robotic Solutions follows the ABB program standard and offers fast editing of operating programs with a number of software options such as 2D shape path generation.

The Cleaningware software enhances human-to-machine communication and allows the operator to adjust the water pressure to minimise wear on the flexible high-pressure tubes and hoses.

The TCP control combines a TCP adapter placed on the cleaning tool and the CtrltTool control program to easily check if the position of the TCP is correct.

With this feature, it is easy to check if the cleaning tool is damaged or if the TCP values are incorrect.

If the control pins do not match, corrective action must be taken before production/programming can start.

This ensures that the system does not clean with a damaged cleaning tool or incorrect TCP values, which will mean the robot will deviate from the programmed path.

The cleaning programming tool is attached to the robot cleaning nozzle for optical verification of the cleaning area during on-line programming.

The tool comprises a holder for the cleaning nozzle head and an eight-laser pointer, which allows the user to visualise the area to be cleaned.

Based on the company's Cutting Box systems for waterjet cutting and routing, the cleaning systems offer efficient, fast and accurate removal of a large range of surface coatings, greases and other substances without damage to metal surfaces and other substrates.

Typical applications include thermal barriers, dimensional spray, anti fretting plasmaspray, abradables, scale and oxides, paint, glues, rubber type coatings, carbonaceous deposits and even radioactive coatings.

KMT Robotic Solutions can supply customised systems based on the dimensions of the part to be machined, the number of parts to be cleaned, the required cycle times, the plant environment and to meet budget and running costs.

The cleaning systems can be used in many industries, from removing paint on fixtures used in curing ovens for automotive bodies and removing excess polyurethane and other plastics from injection mouldings to cleaning blades in refurbishment work on diesel turbines and aircraft jet engines.

The Cutting Box Blaster is a robotic turnkey cleaning system that can be equipped with a fixed table or rotating dial-tables for maximum flexibility.

It is a safe, ergonomic and clean system, easily accessed through clear sliding doors that give an excellent view of the cleaning operation.

The system can be equipped with one or two inverted robots, either fixed or on tracks.

It also offers the option of abrasive blasting using a mixture of water and sand within the same cell.

The Cutting Box 4by2 is a robotic turnkey system specially developed for low radiation environments within the nuclear power industry.

The Cutting Box 4by2 is equipped with an ABB IRB 4400 F robot (degree of protection is IP 67) in a standing configuration.

The robot is protected by a plastic cover to facilitate cleaning.

The part to be cleaned is placed on an index table.

An access door in the box wall allows the operator to change tools or make other adjustments without having to step inside the Cutting Box 4by2.

The cleaning jet in these systems is produced by forcing a fine jet of water at very high pressure through a multiple set of nozzles in a unit called a rotojet, mounted on the robot arm in the same way as a waterjet cutting head or routing head in other KMT Cutting Box designs.

The rotojet nozzles are mounted within a body that is rotated independently by a pneumatically driven motor.

This produces a 'cone'-shaped cleaning jet that, combined with the movement of the robot or the worktable, provides optimum coverage for cleaning a surface that is productive and flexible.

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