|
| Revision
Date: |
8/03
|
| Process
Codes: |
Navy/Marines: IND-005-00, IND-005-01, IND-005-02,
IND-005-03, IND-005-04, IND-006-00, IND-006-04; Air Force: PA01, PA02, PA03, PA04, PA05, PA07, PA08; Army: PNT
|
| Usage List: |
Navy: Medium/High; Marines: Medium/High; Air Force: Medium/High; Army: Medium/High
|
| Alternative For: |
Spray painting applications
|
| Compliance Impact: |
Medium
|
| Applicable
EPCRA Targeted Constituents and CAS Numbers: Acetone
(CAS: 67-64-1), n-Butyl alcohol (CAS: 71-36-3), Methyl ethyl ketone (CAS: 78-93-3), Toluene (CAS: 108-88-3),
and Xylene (CAS: 1330-20-7)
|
|
| Overview: |
The LaserTouch® targeting device, marketed by Laser Touch and Technologies, LLC (LT&T), is an innovative production or training tool that aids the painter in maintaining the proper gun-to-target distance. Operating the spray gun at the same distance across the entire surface being coated increases the application transfer efficiency (TE), minimizes film thickness variations, and improves the finish quality.
The LaserTouch emits two laser beams onto the target, which can be set by the painter to converge into a single point at any distance between 1 and 36 inches.
The appearance of two points provides the painter with a visual indication that adjustments must be made to return to the pre-set distance. Variations in the angle at which the gun is held relative to the target surface will cause the points to "bleed" or blur to one direction. The lasers also can be used to gauge overlap and target complex shapes or edges. The LaserTouch attaches to nearly any spray gun using a model specific or universal bracket (obtainable from LT&T). The device weighs 3 1/8 ounces, runs on a replaceable 3.6V Lithium battery, and operates at temperatures from 5 to 40 °C (41 to 104 °F).
In spray painting applications, TE is the ratio of the amount of material that is applied to the targeted surface vs. the amount of material that is sprayed towards the target. For example, if an application process exhibits a TE of 65%, then 65% of the sprayed material will be applied to the surface, and 35% of the material will be lost to overspray. The TE of manual spray painting applications is greatly influenced by the skill of the individual painter. The LaserTouch was designed to improve the painter's skill level as a training aid and reduce the painter's variability on the production line. The LaserTouch provides painters with the means to assess their spray technique in "real-time", allowing them to make immediate corrections.
The LaserTouch helps a painter maintain the proper gun to target distance, as well as the proper gun angle and application technique. The LaserTouch, therefore, helps the painter reduce variability in film thickness, overlap, overall coverage, and unnecessary spraying. These factors, in turn, decrease paint usage, decrease waste generation, reduce the need for re-work, and reduce the overall production time.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Program's Coatings and Coating Equipment Pilot (CCEP) conducted verification tests on the LaserTouch in May 2000. The ETV CCEP verified that the LaserTouch could increase a painter's TE by an average of 11% relative to a baseline sprayed without the use of the LaserTouch. The device helped painters improve the gloss and visual appearance of the test panels, while maintaining the same film thickness. The ETV CCEP also determined that the LaserTouch reduced each individual painter's variability in TE and gloss.
|
| Compliance Benefit: |
Use of the LaserTouch results in the following compliance benefits:
- Reduced volatile organic compound (VOC) and hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions, which are regulated by federal, state, and local regulations including the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs) (40 CFR 63).
- Reduced generation of coating waste and cleaning solvents that may need to be handled and disposed as hazardous waste under 40 CFR 260 and related sections.
- Reduces occupational exposures that are regulated under 29 CFR 1910.
The compliance benefits listed here are only meant to be used as general guidelines and are not meant to be strictly interpreted. Actual compliance benefits will vary depending on the factors involved, e.g., the amount of workload involved.
|
| Materials Compatibility: |
No materials compatibility issues were identified.
|
| Safety and Health: |
The LaserTouch lasers meet all Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements for Class III A lasers, and operators are not required to wear any special protective eyewear while operating the device. However, certain materials or surfaces may reflect the lasers more than others, and eye protection should be considered when working with these highly reflective surfaces. In addition, proper safety procedures should be followed. For instance, do not look directly into the lasers and do not point the device at another person's eyes or face.
Consult your local industrial health specialist, your local health and safety personnel, and the appropriate MSDS prior to using the tests.
|
| Benefits: |
- Reduced environmental impact associated with hazardous solvents and hazardous waste generated for disposal.
- Increase in the application's TE.
- Improvement of the finish quality.
- Reduction of re-work.
- Improved health and safety working conditions and decreased health-related costs resulting from improved efficiency.
- Reduced manufacturing costs as a result of less raw material usage and less re-work.
|
| Disadvantages: |
- Painters will require maintenance and operational training.
- The device will add a small amount of additional weight to the spray gun, which may increase the rate of fatigue in manual painting applications.
|
| Economic Analysis: |
Capital costs: The LaserTouch device costs approximately $799. The mounting brackets and spare batteries can be ordered from LT&T at an additional cost.
Operating costs: The LaserTouch device operates on a single, replaceable Lithium battery. The battery costs $4 and lasts approximately 60 hours.
Payback period: Assuming a baseline TE of 65% and a relative improvement of 11%, the LaserTouch could increase the application efficiency to 72%. Therefore, for every 100 gallons of material applied, 15 gallons less material are sprayed. Assuming a material cost of $100 per gallon, the LaserTouch would save $1,500 for every 100 gallons of material applied.
|
| NSN/MSDS: |
None identified.
|
| Approving Authority: |
Appropriate authority for making process changes should always be sought and obtained prior to procuring or implementing any of the technology identified herein.
|
| Points of Contact: |
For more information
|
| Vendors: |
This is not meant to represent a complete list, as there may be other suppliers of this type of equipment.
Laser Touch and Technologies, LLC
1005 Peoples Square
Waterloo, IA 50702
Phone: (800) 706-0053 or 319-287-6181
FAX: (319) 287-6207
E-mail: Lasertouch@LT-T.com
URL: www.LT-T.com/
|
| Sources: |
Laser Touch and Technologies, LLC, December 2002.
Concurrent Technologies Corporation. Environmental Technology Verification Report: Laser Touch and Technologies, LLC - LaserTouch® Model LT-B512. May 2000.
|
| Supplemental: |
Figure 1. LaserTouch Device for Paint Spray Applications 
|