As a plant foreman or manager, you might have experienced problems with handling metal parts of particular sizes or shapes during sanding operations. Several equipment options exist to help your teams sand small or large sheets or pieces of steel. But what about box-shaped parts that have a larger volume?
The EBP enclosure box stroke belt polisher is specially designed for sanding the welded edges and polishing the stainless steel or aluminum surfaces of various 3D parts such as electric boxes or cabinets, seat bases for ten-wheelers, sinks for the food industry, vats for the maple syrup industry, etc.
In this article, we propose you to discover the features and advantages of the EBP for the optimisation and the profitability of the production of all types of metallic enclosures. You will also find out that this equipment is a precious ally in terms of the ergonomy, the comfort and the security of your workers.
Having more than thirty years experience in the industry, I know the operational, the financial and the human stakes that punctuate your daily life. As such, I will take the time to answer the questions I am most frequently asked regarding the costs associated with the purchase of an EBP as well as concerning the difference between it and another Doucet product, the PMCT-HD with the MAABOX option. At the end of this article, you'll have all the information necessary to take an enlightened decision regarding the ideal equipment for the metal enclosure sanding needs of your industry.
Table of contents
- Product description
- For whom is (and is not) the EBP made for?
- What are the advantages of using an EBP?
- What are the are the customer's main questions in their buying process?
- The competition: what do they have to offer?
- The differences between an EBP and an PMCT-HD with the MAABOX option?
- How expensive is an EBP?
Product description
The EBP Enclosure Box Stroke Belt Polisher includes special features designed for sanding of welded edges or polishing surfaces on metal enclosure boxes.
Its multi-axis arm allows, using vacuum cups, to easily manipulate and rotate metal cases of various sizes from 4" height x 4" depth x 3" width up to a maximum of 48" height x 20" depth x 72" width, with a maximum capacity of 250 lbs.
To see the full specifications, features and options of the EBP, go to the equipment page.
For whom is (and is not) the EBP made for?
The EBP is designed to be used exclusively for sanding and polishing enclosures. For manufacturers who are also looking for equipment capable of polishing smaller metal plates or sheets, they should instead look at a PMCT stroke belt sander and polisher.
And finally, as this is a major investment, the volume of metal enclosures produced by your company must justify the acquisition of such specialized equipment.
What are the advantages of using an EBP?
Makes handling easier
One of the main irritants for workers engaged in the sanding and blasting of metal enclosures is the fatigue associated with the handling of such large and heavy parts. Instead of having to use his own physical strength, the EBP operator can rely on the power of the vacuum cups to assist in the loading and unloading of the enclosure onto the machine as well as support the load on his own.
Improve ergonomic and prevent injuries
The cubical shape of these steel pieces makes the worker's task more difficult. The EBP multi-axis arm makes it easy for the worker to turn the housing and have full access to all sides and edges. By making maneuvers easy, this equipment improves the ergonomic confort of the worker, avoiding many injuries on the job. The configuration of the machine also creates a greater distance between the housing and the worker, who will be less exposed to the dust inherent to steel blasting.
Consistency of the product
By reducing worker fatigue and making it easier to operate, the EBP allows the worker to focus on the finished quality of the product. The equipment allows for a uniform, impeccable and consistent sanding from one piece to the next. In addition, because the weld bead is aligned with the sandpaper, the sanding of the corners of the casing is simpler, quicker and more efficient.
Great Return on Investment
The EBP makes possible the finishing of a larger number of enclosures in the same amount of time as before. This increase in production efficiency translates into lower production costs in time, but also in material wear and tear. In fact, in comparison to a hand sander, for instance, the EBP allows a significant saving of disposable parts (sandpaper).
What are the are the customer's main questions in their buying process?
Why choose the EBP model with two belts instead of one?
The EBP is offered in two different types: a single belt model and a dual belt model. Time saving is a major advantage of choosing the dual belt model. Installing a second sanding belt allows the simultaneous use of two different grit sanding belts - one for pre-finishing and one for finishing - without the need to disassemble the equipment between the two processes.
What is the speed of the EBP and how much performance can I expect?
Although the EBP facilitates the sanding operations, the equipment must be manually operated by the worker. The sander's performance depends on the worker's speed. The initial quality of the welds to be sanded and the number and condition of the surfaces to be polished also influence the execution time. For example, a thick and poorly executed weld bead will take longer to sand.
Is any other equipment required to operate the EBP sander?
The EBP is a single-use piece of equipment. It comes with a pneumatic belt tensioner, but it must be connected to an air supply, which is also required for the operation of the pneumatic stop of the multi-axis arm. As with all such equipment, the EBP should be connected to a central dust collector.
Is the interior of a housing possible to be sanded with the EBP?
This is the most common question we are asked! Unfortunately, it is not possible to sand or polish the inside of enclosures or, in the case of an electrical cabinet, the inside of the front door. However, the EBP is strong enough to support the weight of the electrical cabinet door. Sanding the interior surfaces of the enclosure will therefore have to be done manually by the worker.
How long are the belts on the EBP?
The EBP has 4" wide by 284" long sanding belts which run at a speed of 4550 ppm. Note that a belt break detector is included on the EBP.
How long will it take to set up this equipment?
The EBP installs very quickly! If the site is prepared, i.e., the floor is clear and the power and air supplies are in place, it will take only about an hour to assemble the sander and start it up.
The competition: what do they have to offer?
On European side, we can find sanding equipment that is quite similar to the EBP metal casing sander's characteristics. One must take into consideration the cost of importing the equipment and the quality of service to customers, which sometimes suffer due to the distance. Not all manufacturers of metal cased sanders offer the same ability as Doucet to custom build equipment to meet your size and capacity specifications.
The differences between an EBP and an PMCT-HD with the MAABOX option?
Based on the size of the enclosures to be sanded, the PMCT-HD Triangular Heavy Duty Stroke Belt Sander and Polisher with MAABOX option could be the right fit for your operation. The PMCT-HD and EBP are both built on the same machine base, but the EBP has a multi-axis arm rather than a table like the PMCT-HD.
The option MAABOX allows the addition of a multi-axis arm to the PMCT-HD in combination with the table. A support installed at the back of the machine permits the exchange of the table for the multi-axis arm and vice versa. The PMCT-HD option MAABOX is unable to handle boxes as large as the EBP. The maximum size is 42" x 42" x 16" in depth.
To put it briefly, the PMCT-HD sander with a MAABOX option is capable of sanding enclosures, sheets and small metal parts, making it a more versatile piece of equipment than the EBP, but not as robust.
How expensive is an EBP?
- Which factors impact the total price: The price of the EBP depends mainly on the model chosen: $65,000 for the single-belt model and $73,000 for the dual-belt model. It is possible to equip your EBP with a very valuable option, a must for industries in the metallurgy field, that allows for the variation of the belt rotation speed from 3300 to 6300 ppm. If you opt for an EBP with two belts, we highly recommand this variable speed option, as the different types of abrasive papers installed on the two belts of the EBP require varying sanding speeds. This means you should budget around $77,600 for an all-inclusive EBP model, which includes both belts and the optional variable speed mode.
- Which sub-factors impact costs: Delivery and installation of the EBP are not part of the base equipment cost. Certain connections, such as to the central dust collector, are required in addition to connecting the equipment to an air supply, especially to operate the pneumatic belt tensioner.
- Maintenance costs: The EBP requires only preventive maintenance as well as regular maintenance including a good cleaning after each shift and periodical lubrication of the components.
- Replacement parts costs: The most frequent replacement parts on the EBP are the sanding belts. These can be changed easily and inexpensively through a local supplier. Over time, the graphite surface of the hand sanding block that is used to apply pressure to the sanding belt to polish the edges of the casings will wear out, as will the suction cups for loading and unloading the unit.
- Durability: This unit is expected to last a minimum of 20 years, based on how often the sander is used.
- Warranty: 1 year, parts and labor.
CONCLUSION
To put it briefly, for polishing a large number of large metal enclosures, the EBP is a front-line specialized equipment for your company.
Thanks to its multi-axis arm and pneumatic vacuum cups, the EBP has the power to let workers load, lift and move enclosures in all directions to achieve the highest quality finish.
This equipment doesn't do the job automatically, but it makes sanding welded edges and sanding the surfaces of metal enclosures much easier. The use of the EBP contributes to accelerate the pace of production while reducing the risks of injuries and accidents in the workplace. This way, workers can fully focus on their primary task with no other concerns than getting a consistent and uniform finish.
On the other hand, you will obtain a good return on investment, as this equipment has a very interesting life span, particularly as its maintenance requires little expense.
The next step is to test our materials and see the results. There is nothing better than to see that each action will improve the result and your production efficiency. Doucet is a North American leader in design, manufacturing, and integration of advanced solutions for wood and metal processing companies. Contact us for more information!
For your convenience we have 3 ways to contact us:
- Complete the “Request a quote” form online.
- Via Email: info@doucetinc.com
- Or call us at: 1-866-673-8876
