Reversing unit realizes high output two-sided deburring in one pass

Where double-sided deflashing operations with obvious edge rounding previously required a second pass through the deflashing machine, Q-FIN's latest Q2S reversing unit cleans up the inherent time and productivity losses. A single pass completes the entire cycle, which runs in batches and makes all the difference especially when machining larger pieces or significant piece volumes.

The company ASK Romein is one such example. Its facility in Roosendaal (NL) produces between 25,000 and 30,000 tons of steel on an annual basis. The company processes large steel structural parts and resolutely chose an F1200 deflashing line with Q2S reversing unit. 

Matty van Dongen is technical director at ASK and explains the decided choice: "The choice of this deburring line from Q-Fin was based on four main arguments, namely the machine reliability and safety, the people behind the machine, the health of our own people, and finally the constant output quality of this machine." 

The Q-FIN installation provides extraction at the source so that dust can never enter the work area. ASK Romein also works in a market segment where clients demand a high level of finishing. As standard, this is a P2 or a P3 level, where a radius of between 1 and 3 millimeters is demanded. 

Van Dongen: "With this machine, the deflashing quality can be kept constant, and we also notice an increase in productivity because the entire machining cycle requires only a single pass anymore."

Not an obvious one, considering the technological basis of the Q-FIN dispensers. After all, these apply a unique bowl brush system.

The large Q-FIN deflashing machines operate with four bowl brushes that oscillate transversely across the continuous product. This allows for large downward pressure forces on the pieces, achieving up to five times the cadence of competing machine builders for the same rounding quality. This same brushing principle also simultaneously allows the machines to machine only one side per pass. This follows Q-Fin's GrindingPower philosophy. 

When a customer requires a significant radius on both sides of the product, the product must be turned over, and presented to the deburring machine for a second pass. Increasingly, customers are opting for a return conveyor, a set of two powered conveyors that return the product to the infeed side of the machine, allowing a single operator to operate the machine without having to walk to the rear of the machine each time. The operator then only needs to turn the products over.

Only, for companies that have really large volumes of pieces that also require a larger rounding radius as part of subsequent powder coating, or work with large or heavy pieces, this is not feasible. 

These companies want the operation realized in a single throughput, and to that end, Q-Fin's Q2S reversing unit was developed. The complete line consists of a powered feed conveyor that supplies the first F1200 machine with product. This is followed by the reversing unit, which clamps and reverses the entire batch, followed by the second F1200 which takes care of machining the other side. Finally, there is the driven output table, which disposes of the batch after machining. The entire line operates on a batch basis, is internally synchronized and operates at one speed. 

For the operator, the operation is therefore particularly elegant, since after placing the batch on the infeed conveyor, a single start signal already activates the cycle. This is sufficient to send the entire batch through the street. Furthermore, one only needs to unload the discharge table, and then place a new batch on the infeed. In this way, one can generate an enormous output with one man. The first three customers in the Netherlands are now working with this system to their full satisfaction.   

Q-FIN can be visited during EuroBLECH in Hall 12, at booth H93.