Indexing Turntables are among the most common equipment to automate your blast operation. Their design has certain inherent features that promote versatility, ease and economy of operation. Such machines are often classified by their main table size, quantity of nozzles, and type of media propulsion, i.e. suction and pressure.
Empire TT Indexing Turntable Machines are manufactured in three standard versions, TT-20 (20″ diameter), TT-36 (30″ diameter) and TT-48 (48″ diameter). Our focus for discussion here is the smallest of the range, TT-20.
The TT-20 was designed with the goal of providing a cleaning or peening solution with all the versatility of an indexing turntable machine, all in a very compact footprint. The TT-20 is available to you with either four suction or pressure nozzles, as required by your application. The tenacity of your cleaning application, or the intensity requirements of your shot peening application will determine the choice of media propulsion.
As with all indexing turntables, in the TT-20 loading/unloading of parts takes place under the cover of blasting.
The engineers at Empire place special emphasis on your individual requirements, whether it be space constraint in your plant or a special technique in your manufacturing process requiring the inclusion of additional process control components in the TT-20. In the current example (see insert), the TT-20 performs a critical peening operation on aerospace components requiring a vibratory classifier, multiple outlet pressure vessel and dust collector, all in a very compact footprint in order to fit customer’s existing plant layout and constraints.
Industry and Applications:
- Medical : A relatively recent adopter of blast cleaning and shot peening processes leaves our customers in the medical industry with very limited space availability. With a minor table modification to the TT-20, it can be upgraded to a 12 station configuration, producing two cleaned or peened medical component with every index of the main table.
- Aerospace: When processing of small blades with vent / cooling holes, the TT20 provides a pressurized part rotation station that blows air up through the blade to and prevents media from staying lodged in critical internal areas. In the absence of such an arrangement, the blast media has a tendency to clog the holes resulting in a scrap part.
- Automotive: Small transmission components
- Friction parts
- Cylinders for airbags
- Brake rotors
TT-20 features:
System includes:
– Cabinet
– Work handling (main table & satellites)
– Media Storage hopper
– Media reclaim
– Make Up hopper
– Dust Collector
Blast capabilities
– Three (3) blast stations provide excellent coverage
– 4 to 8 suction blast nozzles
– 2 to 6 Pressure blast nozzles
– 6 or 12 station satellites
– 1 or 2 part index (depends on part sizes)
Other features:
– Tight footprint ideally suited to work in a cell
– Systems PLC permits versatility of operation
– Vertical sliding work doors seal the blast operation for dust and noise
– Faster cycles due to smaller turntable (Quicker index time)
– Ease of accessibility for maintenance
– Urethane ducting (optional item) helps reduce foot print
– Easy part loading and unloading from the front
Makeup hopper:
The blast system is regularly replenished using an automatic Make-up Hopper. This hopper adds virgin media to the system whenever the storage hopper runs low on media. This controlled replenishment helps maintain proper operating mix resulting in a consistent part finish.
Safety:
The TT20 offers many safety features including:
– Light curtains at load/unload station
– Door safety interlocks
– Door locks (if needed)
– Vertical sliding doors
As with all automated Empire systems, the TT-20 is completely tested with abrasive, with customers in attendance with their production parts, prior to shipment. This ensures trouble-free installation and quick start-up at the installation site.
Contact Empire to learn how the TT-20 or one of our suitable systems for your application can add to the profitability of your operation If unsure, why not visit our demo facility in Langhorne, PA to process your components in one of our several demo machines?