Q. How difficult is it to use the Xiom 1000 system? |
| The gun sets up and is ready to spray within minutes. The gun, the control console and the powder feeder are “plug and play.” All that’s required are a tank of propane, oxygen and an air compressor providing 20 CFM @ 90 PSI of air. |
Q. Is it time-consuming to change the colour of the material? |
| Changing spray colour is a two-minute process: blow the hopper and material hose out with air and you’re ready to go. |
Q. What equipment is needed with the system? |
| In addition to the Xiom 1000 equipment -spray gun, control console, powder feeder and hoses, you'll need an air compressor fitted with air cooling and drying equipment. Oxygen and propane are also required. Breathing protection is recommended. For spraying in enclosed tanks, a forced air respirator is required. |
Q. How much propane and oxygen does the system use? |
One 10kg propane tank should last 20 hours. A 200 CFM “T” bottle of oxygen should last 8 hours. The oxygen consumption by stoliometric ratio is three units of oxygen to one unit of propane.
The flow rates are:
25 ScFh - Oxygen
8 ScFh – Propane |
Q. What sort of nozzles come with the system? |
| There is a 25mm oval nozzle and a 75mm fan spray nozzle. |
Q. How much area can be sprayed? |
| Not including surface preparation time, under optimal conditions, the Xiom 1000 system can cover 80 to 100 square metres a day. The coverage rate may vary based upon the type of substrate and ambient environmental conditions. |
| Q. How far will a coating go, or how much will a coating cost per square foot? |
As a general rule, we've found that every person will experience different coverage rates. The reason for this is that at present it's very difficult to control whether you are applying a 100 micron thick coating or a 175 micron thick coating, even though visually they may appear to be identical. This can mean a big deal over time!
Also, each and every batch of coating will have a unique specific gravity (density) depending on its colour and the type of coating which will affect coverage overall. And some porous substrates such as concrete will absorb the powder into its pores which will not translate into a thin, uniform coating in the end. So every situation can be unique in terms of area that can be covered.
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Q. How often do parts need to be replaced? |
| The nozzle may be replaced every four to six months. Everything else in the front end of the gun might need replacement once a year. For all other parts, normal wear and tear in deployment would be more likely than damaged parts in the actual spray process. In other words—maintenance costs are very low. |
Q. Does Xiom offer any warranties? |
| One-year warranty on all parts and equipment. |
Q. How do Xiom's coatings compare to traditional powder coatings? |
| Our cost is about one-third that of powder coating on a per metre basis. However, powder coaters can do many more square metres at the same time by utilizing their large oven facilities. One good comparison can be seen with electrical conduit. Xiom is automating the spraying of electrical conduit for powder coaters who now do this with their oven set process. Xiom’s process can put down 1000 microns instantly. The oven process is a three-cycle in-and-out-of-the-oven process. For spray applications, the Xiom 1000 is the best. For coat hangers, for example, traditional powder coating would be advantageous. |
| Q. Is it difficult to learn how to use the system? |
| After three days of training, a good operator can develop a basic level of proficiency. Further practice and experimentation to develop the appropriate skill for more complex applications may be required. |