iTSSe TSS A D V A N C E D M A T E R I A L S & P R O C E S S E S | A P R I L 2 0 2 1 4 1 iTSSe TSS 7. Spools and threaded guides in the textile industry 8. Hip, knee, and dental implants in the medical industry 9. Sputtering targets and other components in the semiconductor industry The Axial III Plus supplements these applications with its compact, light, and user-friendly design. Its compactness enables the spraying of internal bores as small as 10-in. in diameter (assuming a 3-in. stand-off distance). The torch is also easier and safer to usewith complex part geometries and coating around tight radii. This may unlock more opportunities and further expand the list of applications. Moreover, its low mass, minimized number of parts, and optimized features simplify assembly, disassembly, handling, and maintenance. The time and effort saved here can add up and be of significant value especially in a production process when frequent replacing and maintenance of components such as nozzles, cathodes, anodes, and convergences is required. CONCLUSION Axial injection has several proven advantages over radial injection and thus appears to be the future of feedstock injection technology. The plasma spraying process in general has enabled technology in a wide range of industries, but to tap into the fullest potential of applications, continual innovation in the torch is necessary. The Axial III Plus is one step forward in this process. ~iTSSe For more information: Ash Kamble, product development engineer, EIT, Northwest Mettech Corp., 19335 96th Ave., Vancouver, BC, Canada, +1 778-891-7407, ash.kamble@mettech. com, www.mettech.com. References 1. Northwest Mettech Corp. Axial III Core Technology. (n.d.). https://mettech.com/coating-technology/axial-III-core- technology.php. 2. A. Ganvir, “Microstructure and Thermal Conductivity of Liquid Feedstock Plasma Sprayed Thermal Barrier Coatings,” Licentiate Thesis Production Technology, University West, No. 9, p 19-20., 2016. 3. F. Miranda, et al., Atmospheric Plasma Spray Processes: From Micro to Nanostructures, 2018, doi: 10.5772/ intechopen.80315. 4. P.L. Fauchais, et al., Thermal Spray Fundamentals: From Powder to Part, New York, 2014, doi: 10.1007/ 978-0-387-68991-3. 8 TABLE 1 — SUMMARY OF IMPROVEMENTS Feature A3M600 A3+ Improvement Length (inches) 23.6 6.1 74% reduction Mass (pounds) 15.75 6.70 57% reduction Average Assembly/ Disassembly Time (min:sec) 5:21 2:28 54% reduction Number of Parts 81 64 21% reduction Jet Back Pressure (psi) @ 250 slm 27 20 26% reduction Table 1 summarizes and quantifies changes to the design, parameters, and ergonomics between the two torches. COATING QUALITY The scope of this project was to repackage the torch in a smaller, lighter, and more ergonomic unit to address the aforementioned limitations. Because the parameter-related internal anatomy of the torch was virtually unchanged, the coating quality between the two torches is almost identical. The next stage of development is to optimize the design of parameter-related components such as nozzles, cathodes, anodes, and convergences to produce better quality coatings as per industry demand. POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS Plasma spraying is the most versatile thermal spray process with very few limitations on sprayed materials as well as substrate material, size, and shape[3]. The coating quality, characterized by density, uniformity, and reproducibility, is in general higher than that obtainedwith flame spraying[4]. These benefits, along with those brought about by axial injection such as high deposition efficiency and throughput, make axial plasma spraying a valuable investment for producing industrial coatings. Some applications of plasma sprayed coatings include[4]: 1. Combustion chambers and turbine blades of airplane engines 2. Cylinder bores, piston rings, valves, conrods, and exhaust parts of automotive engines 3. Shifter forks, gearbox, and clutch discs of transmissions 4. Brake discs of road vehicles 5. Impeller blades of mixers or pumps 6. Rollers in the paper and printing industry 9 FEATURE
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