Fitness test for polishing processes
Optimising sanding and polishing processes with the Menzerna fingerprint method
Is your polishing process optimal with respect to quality and productivity?
To answer this question, comparative polishing tests have to be carried out while recording measurements under controlled conditions. Precisely this is often difficult to accomplish in the course of production. We analyse and optimise your sanding and polishing processes on the basis of measurement data and help you identify potential for improvements.
The Menzerna fingerprint method
- With Menzerna’s fingerprint process, shine and cycle time can be precisely determined under different conditions.
- A variety of polishing processes can be compared with one another in a very short time with variations in parameters and consumable materials.
- This makes it easy to discern possibilities for improvement.
- All insights are based on reproducible measurement data.
- With Menzerna’s fingerprint process, industrial companies can systematically tune their polishing processes to their output.
- The series of tests are based on standardized samples, which greatly simplifies sample sourcing.
- It generates no tool, palletization, or programming costs.
- After a series of tests has been completed, the result is insight into the optimal process settings according to the objectives of the project (polishing time, downforce, tools, and polishing agents).
Menzerna provides answers: The “fingerprint process” allows inline measurement of all relevant parameters during polishing. This makes it possible for the first time to determine and optimize differences in performance among various sanding and polishing agents and different process settings. Even what appears to be the best process still harbours potential for improvements and cost reductions.
The Menzerna fingerprint method helps identify this potential. Even with low scrap rates, cost reduction potential can still be identified by optimising individual process parameters. The Menzerna fingerprint method makes it possible to only vary the factor being investigated out of numerous process parameters such as the material, cycle time, polishing paste, polishing tool, rotation speed or contact pressure while all other factors are kept constant. Thanks to the latest measuring technology of the robot cell in the Menzerna technical centre, a lot of data can be read directly while the test series are being conducted.
The Menzerna fingerprint process enables:
- Measurement of differences in performance between polishing compounds and tools
- Development of A-Z optimized polishing processes, through incremental examination of all relevant parameters
- Determination of the maximum achievable surface quality
- Improvement of shine, error statistics, and cycle and processing time
- Clarification of optimal process settings for new materials or geometric profiles
- Optimized temperature profiles during the polishing process, ablation rates, and comparison between solid compound and emulsion
- Various additional applications are conceivable with this process