System for adjusting, pre-stressing and compacting paint by hammering and corresponding process.
The system addresses issues of media embedding and masking in surface treatment by using a robotic arm with tungsten carbide tips for efficient, automated paint compaction, ensuring effective and cost-effective treatment of complex parts.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2023008647
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-08-10
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-16
- Estimated Expiration
- 2043-08-10
AI Technical Summary
Existing methods for surface treatment, such as shot blasting and hammering, face issues with media embedding, encrustation, masking requirements, and inefficiencies in treating hard-to-reach areas, leading to potential damage and increased processing time and costs.
A system and method utilizing a hammering tool with tungsten carbide tips vibrated by a robotic arm for precise surface compaction, allowing for localized treatment without masking, minimizing media encrustation, and enabling efficient processing of complex shapes.
The system achieves effective paint compaction with sacrificial properties, avoiding media encrustation and reducing processing time and costs by enabling automated, precise, and repeatable treatment of complex parts.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: System for adjusting, pre-stressing and compacting paint by hammering and corresponding method. technical field
[0001] The invention has as its technical field the tools for adjusting, compressing or compacting for local touch-ups. Previous techniques
[0002] Spraying media is used for many applications such as stripping, cleaning / stripping of polluted surfaces (oxidized or corrosion products), compressing mechanically stressed surfaces to delay the initiation and propagation of cracks, compacting inorganic paints with aluminum pigments to give them a sacrificial anode character allowing the protection of steel surfaces against atmospheric corrosion phenomena.
[0003] The compression results from the conversion of the kinetic energy of the projected media into plastic deformation upon impact against the surface to be treated.
[0004] Shot blasting with media projection, such as sandblasting or media projection for paint compaction, can leave media residues embedded on the surface of the treated part or coatings. These residues can have detrimental effects on:
[0005] - The mechanical properties of the substrate in the case of media inlays Hard abrasives (e.g., corundum) can generate fatigue reduction and decrease the endurance limit.
[0006] - The galvanic coupling effects between the embedded media and the material of the treated part (for example, steel balls embedded on titanium substrates)
[0007] - The release of hard particles in the case of painted parts aluminium with inorganic binder and compacted by media projection (e.g., corundum) may compromise the functional integrity of certain parts of a sub-assembly of the turbomachine located downstream of the treated part.
[0008] These various encrustation phenomena resulting from shot blasting by projection of media generally require chemical or mechanical decontamination operations, or strategies to trap the encrusted media in order to prevent their release (for example, application of paint in two layers to trap the media on the surface of the first layer).
[0009] Sometimes, when shot blasting is performed on hard-to-reach areas or for rework, it may be necessary to re-blast a section. Re-blasting a small area requires protecting the rest of the part, where shot blasting cannot be repeated to avoid over-blasting areas that have already been properly treated. This masking step is often a lengthy, tedious, and delicate operation. This operation can also lead to the appearance of new defects during handling or when masking is difficult.
[0010] There is a need for a device that allows local shot peening without masking.
[0011] There is also a need for a shot peening device and method that minimizes the risk of media embedding.
[0012] Finally, there is a need for a sacrificial paint compaction device and method that minimizes the risks of hard media encrustation.
[0013] A response to these needs can be found in hammering.
[0014] Local hammering makes it possible to compress the surface of a part to be processed with a tool.
[0015] The local hammering tool comprises a head having at least one tungsten carbide tip, the tips being vibrated by means of a portable device so as to impact the surface to be treated and introduce residual compressive stresses. The tool may be flexible. Hammering also allows for a compaction operation of the paint layer, so as to bring the metallic particles on the surface into contact, making the paint layer dense and electrically conductive, without degrading the physical integrity and cosmetic appearance of the paint. Through hammering, the paint acquires its sacrificial properties.
[0016] However, hammering is a manual process which could not be used to treat an entire part, both from an economic point of view and from the point of view of the processing time.
[0017] Similarly, when performing local compaction in hard-to-reach areas for media projection, or when performing local touch-ups on inorganic binder aluminum paints requiring compaction, the local touch-up necessitates prior sanding of the defect area, followed by reapplication of the paint to the repaired area and a subsequent compaction operation after curing to allow the paint to express its sacrificial nature. This is especially true for new inorganic binder aluminum paint systems compliant with REACH regulations. This compaction operation is therefore absolutely essential. Similar to shot blasting, local paint compaction by hammering is difficult to perform due to the need to protect already painted areas. These numerous manipulations are a source of paint damage on other areas of the part. In addition, the presence of hard media encrustations on the surface of the locally compacted area necessitates the application of a second coat to trap the compaction media and prevent its release, or alternatively, the use of a media that does not leave encrustations on the paint surface, allowing for a single-coat application of these mineral-bound aluminum paints.
[0018] There is therefore a need for a device and a local compaction process which leaves no media encrustation on the surface and does not require the complete masking of the retouched part, from both an economic and industrial point of view.
[0019] There is also a problem regarding the need to carry out decontamination after shot blasting or compaction in order to guarantee the integrity of the treated part.
[0020] Another problem is the processing of an entire part and / or touch-ups in hard-to-reach areas.
[0021] Finally, there is a problem regarding the processing time or the cost of hammering parts in their entirety.
[0022] There is also a problem with the repeatability of a manual process and subject to the dexterity of the operator. Description of the invention
[0023] The invention relates to a paint adjustment, prestressing and compaction system comprising at least one hammering tool, a support configured to hold a part to be treated and at least one robotic arm designed to be connected to each of said hammering tools, each hammering tool comprising at least one point designed so as to be able to be set into vibration by a vibration device, the system further comprising computing means capable of executing all or part of a process and manual controls designed to be used by an operator, the adjustment and prestressing system making it possible to compress at least part of the surface of the part to be treated.
[0024] The hammering tool may include at least two points, the ends of at least two points being aligned.
[0025] The points can be arranged on a hammering tool so as to form at least one line.
[0026] The points can be arranged on a hammering tool so as to form at least one pattern.
[0027] The pattern can be a square, a rhombus, a prism, a circle, an ellipse or a regular polyhedron.
[0028] In a line or pattern, every other point can be shifted laterally in a predefined direction and with a predefined offset.
[0029] The invention also relates to a method for adjusting, pre-stressing, and compacting paint by hammering a part to be treated with at least one hammering tool included in a system for adjusting, pre-stressing, and compacting paint as described above, comprising the following steps:
[0030] a. The part to be treated, at least one surface of which is to be treated, is placed on the support of the compression or compaction system by hammering,
[0031] b. On a computer model corresponding to the part to be treated, at least one area of the computer model is defined corresponding to at least one surface of the part to be treated,
[0032] c. For each area of the computer model,
[0033] i. at least one hammering tool connected to a robotic arm is brought close to the surface of the workpiece,
[0034] ii. The hammering tool is kept in contact with the surface of said part without applying any force,
[0035] iii. the point vibration device is activated,
[0036] iv. then a scan of the surface to be treated is performed,
[0037] d. when all areas of the computer model are processed, at least one robotic arm is folded back and the part is removed from the support of the hammering compression system.
[0038] To define at least one area of the computer model corresponding to at least one surface to be processed, the following steps can be carried out:
[0039] a. A camera connected to a robotic arm is used to inspect the part to be treated and to identify the location of at least one surface to be treated, then
[0040] b. at least one area of the computer model is defined corresponding to at least one surface to be processed identified as a function of the position of the robotic arm and the field of vision of the camera.
[0041] The camera can either be arranged on a dedicated robotic arm, or included in a separate camera tool interchangeable with a hammering tool carried by the same robotic arm for visual inspection and hammering, or present on at least one robotic arm or on at least one hammering tool.
[0042] Alternatively, we can define an area of the computer model corresponding to the surface to be processed corresponding to the entire surface of the part.
[0043] Several robotic arms can be used simultaneously in order to process several surfaces of the same part at the same time.
[0044] At least one surface to be treated may be located inside the room.
[0045] All or part of the steps can be carried out by an automated system or by an operator.
[0046] Another object of the invention is a booth equipped with a paint adjustment, pre-stressing and compaction system, configured to carry out the paint adjustment, pre-stressing and compaction process as described above, the booth being further equipped with soundproofing means and means for extracting and filtering air inside the booth.
[0047] The hammering adjustment and prestressing system and the associated process have the advantage of allowing the compression of complex shaped parts over the entire surface or locally, in particular convex or concave parts, which cannot be treated by rotogrenaillage (“flapping” in English).
[0048] The hammering adjustment and prestressing system and the associated process also have the advantage of being particularly suitable for carrying out paint compaction of aluminum paints with inorganic binder. Brief description of the drawings
[0049] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0050] - Figure [Fig. 1] illustrates a system for compressing or compacting painting by hammering according to a method of execution
[0051] - Figures [Fig.2a], [Fig.2b], [Fig.2c] and [Fig.2d] illustrate different arrangements points on a hammering tool 1,
[0052] - Figure [Fig.3] illustrates a system for compressing or compacting painting by hammering comprising three hammering tools, and
[0053] - Figure [Fig.4] illustrates a system for compressing or compacting hammering painting treating the internal surface of a part. Detailed description
[0054] Figure [Fig. 1] illustrates a system for compressing or compacting paint by hammering, comprising a tool 1 equipped with at least one tungsten carbide tip 2. The tool 1 allows for the compression or compaction of paint on all or part of a part 3.
[0055] Each tungsten carbide tip 2 can be vibrated by an auxiliary device in accordance with the prior art. The tips 2 are arranged perpendicularly to a lateral surface of the object and are vibrated in the same direction. Such an arrangement of the tips 2 is particularly advantageous when combined with maintaining a constant distance between the tool 1 and the surface of the workpiece 3. All the tips 2 of the tool are then in contact with the surface being machined in the same way.
[0056] Part 3, comprising at least one surface to be treated, is placed on a support of the paint compression or compaction system by hammering. The support provides a reference position for part 3. In some embodiments, the support allows rotation of part 3.
[0057] The tool 1 is fixed to a robotic arm 4 by at least one joint, the robotic arm 4 being connected to an enclosure 5. Such a robotic arm 4 provides at least six degrees of freedom for positioning the tool 1 relative to the workpiece 3. In a particular embodiment, the joint or the arm is designed so that the tool 1 is interchangeable, either with another hammering tool 1, or with a camera tool enabling the acquisition of images or videos of the surface of the workpiece 3 and their transmission to the system operator for viewing and referencing. In another particular embodiment, a hammering tool 1 or the robotic arm is equipped with a camera enabling the acquisition of images or videos of the surface of the workpiece 3 and their transmission to the system operator for viewing and referencing.
[0058] Figures [Fig.2a], [Fig.2b], [Fig.2c] and [Fig.2d] illustrate different arrangements of the tungsten carbide tips 2 on a hammering tool 1.
[0059] The tool 1 illustrated in Figure [Fig.2a] comprises four aligned tungsten carbide tips 2.
[0060] The tool 1 illustrated in Figure [Fig.2b] comprises eight tungsten carbide tips 2 arranged in two parallel lines, the tips 2 of one line being arranged at the level of a tip 2 of the other line.
[0061] The tool 1 illustrated in Figure [Fig.2c] comprises five tungsten carbide tips 2 arranged in a line with a lateral offset of one tip 2 out of two, the offset being constant.
[0062] The tool 1 illustrated in Figure [Fig.2d] comprises four tungsten carbide tips 2 arranged in a diamond shape.
[0063] The tools 1 illustrated in Figures [Fig. 2a], [Fig. 2b], [Fig. 2c], and [Fig. 2d] allow for the processing of parts with varying surface areas and different aspect ratios. The configurations shown here are purely illustrative, and other configurations, for example with circular, elliptical, or polyhedral patterns in one or more rows, also form part of the invention.
[0064] Figure [Fig. 3] illustrates a compression or compaction system by hammering comprising three tools la,lb,lc each equipped with at least one tungsten carbide tip 2 and each connected to a robotic arm 4a,4b,4c. The three tools la,lb,lc process the same workpiece 3 simultaneously.
[0065] Figure [Fig.4] illustrates a system for compression or compaction by hammering comprising a tool 1 equipped with at least one tungsten carbide tip 2 and connected to a robotic arm 4.
[0066] The tool 1 enables the compression, or paint compaction, of a concave part 3 with a large aspect ratio, from the inside, particularly when the part 3 is a hollow part produced by extrusion or spinning into a complex shape, for example, convex or concave. As in previous embodiments, the robotic arm 4 has six degrees of freedom so that it can move relative to the part 3 while maintaining an optimal distance between the tool and the internal surface of the part 3.
[0067] The robotic arm 4 then allows the tool 1 to be moved longitudinally in the part and rotated so that the tungsten carbide tips 2 can follow the inner wall of the part 3.
[0068] The robotic arm 4 can also move the tool 1 so as to make it follow a trajectory, possibly of complex shape, contained in at least one plane intersecting an axis collinear with the extrusion or spinning direction of the part 3. The tool 1 can thus process the entire internal surface of the part 3. A rotation of the tool 1 can be applied as the trajectory is followed so that the tips 2 remain in contact with the internal surface of the part 3 with an angle essentially normal to said internal surface. The rotation can be applied to the support of the part 3 or to the tool 1.
[0069] The corresponding paint compression or compaction process comprises the following steps:
[0070] During a first step 11, the part 3, at least one surface of which is to be treated, is placed on a support of the paint compression or compaction system by hammering.
[0071] In a second step 12, the operator identifies the location of at least one surface to be treated. Alternatively, the entire surface of the part is identified as a surface to be treated. In some embodiments, the identification can be carried out after visual inspection.
[0072] In a third step 13, the area of the computer model corresponding to the surface to be processed is defined. This is made possible by the fact that each robotic arm is equipped with a motion-tracking positioning system, of the inertial type. The position of the camera's field of view or the position of the tool is identifiable on a computer model of the part 3.
[0073] During a fourth step 14, the robotic arm equipped with the camera tool is folded up and a new robotic arm equipped with a hammering tool 1 is controlled by the operator.
[0074] Alternatively, the camera tool connected to the robotic arm 3 is replaced by the hammering tool 1.
[0075] Still during the fourth step 14, the hammering tool 1 is brought in relation to the first of the surfaces to be treated.
[0076] For the surface to be treated, the tool 1 is brought close to the surface of the part 3 and then the tool 1 is held at a predefined distance from the surface of said part 3. In a preferred embodiment, the predefined distance is such that the tip of the points rests effortlessly on the surface of the part to be treated.
[0077] In a fifth step 15, the device that vibrates the tips 2 is activated, and then the operator commands the scanning of the surface to be treated at a predefined speed and in a predefined scanning mode so as to scan the entire surface to be treated, ensuring overlap between the different scanned areas. In one embodiment, the scanned areas can be identified by superimposing the model of the part and the identified surface to be treated. The scanning mode can be, for example, a serpentine movement, a strip scan, or a concentric spiral movement from the edges of the surface to be treated towards the center.
[0078] The fourth step 14 and the fifth step 15 are reproduced for each surface to be treated of part 3.
[0079] In a particular embodiment, the surface to be treated is located inside part 3, as illustrated in Figure [Fig. 4]. The fourth step 14 then comprises an insertion step of the tool 1 into part 3. It should be noted that part 3 is shown in cross-section in Figure [Fig. 4].
[0080] In another particular embodiment, several arms, as illustrated by figure [Fig.3], are used simultaneously by one or more operators in order to process several surfaces of the same part at the same time.
[0081] Regardless of the embodiment, when all surfaces to be treated are treated, the robotic arms 3 are folded back and the part 3 is removed from the support of the paint compression or compaction system by hammering.
[0082] In another embodiment, the fourth step 14 and the fifth step 15 are carried out automatically by an automated system, depending on the area of the part delimited during the visual inspection.
[0083] The paint compaction system and the corresponding process make it possible to densify the coating and make it electrically conductive in order to obtain the high-performance anodic sacrificial properties to combat corrosion.
[0084] The paint compaction system and the corresponding process make it possible to avoid any encrustation.
Claims
Demands
1. An inorganic binder aluminum paint fitting, prestressing and compaction system comprising at least one hammering tool (1), a support configured to hold a workpiece (3) and at least one robotic arm (4) designed to be connected to each of said hammering tools (1), each hammering tool (1) comprising at least one tip (2) designed so as to be able to be set into vibration by a vibration device, the system further comprising computing means capable of executing all or part of a process and manual controls designed to be used by an operator, the fitting and prestressing system enabling compression of at least a part of the surface of the workpiece (3).
2. System for adjusting, pre-stressing and compacting aluminum paint with an inorganic binder according to claim 1, wherein the hammering tool (1) comprises at least two points, the ends of at least two points (2) being aligned.
3. System for adjusting, pre-stressing and compacting aluminum paint with an inorganic binder according to claim 2, wherein the points (2) are arranged on a hammering tool (1) so as to form at least one line.
4. System for adjusting, pre-stressing and compacting aluminum paint with an inorganic binder according to claim 2, wherein the points are arranged on a hammering tool (1) so as to form at least one pattern.
5. System for adjusting, pre-stressing and compacting aluminum paint with an inorganic binder according to claim 4, wherein the pattern is a square, a rhombus, a prism, a circle, an ellipse or a regular polyhedron.
6. System for adjusting, pre-stressing and compacting aluminum paint with an inorganic binder according to claims 3 to 5, wherein, in a line or pattern, one tip (2) out of two is laterally offset in a predefined direction and with a predefined offset.
7. A method for adjusting, pre-stressing, and compacting inorganic-bonded aluminum paint by hammering a workpiece (3) with at least one hammering tool (1) included in a adjustment and preload system as claimed in claims 1 to 6, comprising the following steps: a. The part to be treated (3), at least one surface of which is to be treated, is placed on the support of the compression or compaction system by hammering, b. On a computer model corresponding to the part to be treated (3), at least one area of the computer model is defined corresponding to at least one surface to be treated of the part (3), c. For each area of the computer model, i. at least one hammering tool (1) connected to a robotic arm (4) is brought close to the surface of the workpiece (3), ii. The hammering tool (1) is kept in contact with the surface of said part (3) without applying any force, iii. the point vibration device (2) is activated, iv. then a scan of the surface to be treated is carried out, d. When all areas of the computer model are processed, at least one robotic arm (4) is folded up and the part (3) is removed from the support of the hammering compression system.
8. A method for adjusting, pre-stressing and compacting aluminum paint with an inorganic binder according to claim 7, wherein, to define at least one area of the computer model corresponding to at least one surface to be treated, the following steps are carried out: a. A camera connected to a robotic arm (4) is used to inspect the part to be treated (3) and to identify the location of at least one surface to be treated, then b. at least one area of the computer model is defined corresponding to at least one surface to be processed identified according to the position of the robotic arm (4) and the field of vision of the camera.
9. A method for adjusting, pre-stressing, and compacting inorganic-bound aluminum paint according to claim 8, wherein the camera is either mounted on a dedicated robotic arm, or included in a separate camera tool and interchangeable with a hammering tool carried by the same robotic arm (4) for visual inspection and hammering, or present on at least one robotic arm or on at least one hammering tool.
10. Fitting and preloading method according to claim 7, wherein a zone of the computer model corresponding to the surface to be treated is defined, corresponding to the entire surface of the part (3).
11. A fitting and pre-stressing method according to claim 7 to 10, wherein several robotic arms (4) are used simultaneously in order to process several surfaces of the same part (3) at the same time.
12. A method for adjusting, pre-stressing and compacting aluminum paint with an inorganic binder according to claims 7 to 11, wherein at least one surface to be treated is located inside the part (3).
13. A method for adjusting, pre-stressing and compacting aluminum paint with an inorganic binder according to claims 7 to 12, wherein all or part of the steps are carried out by an automated system or by an operator.
14. Cabin equipped with a system for adjusting, pre-stressing and compacting aluminum paint with an inorganic binder, configured to carry out the process of adjusting, pre-stressing and compacting paint according to any one of claims 7 to 13, the cabin being further equipped with soundproofing means and means for extracting and filtering air inside the cabin.