Models for the simulation of spray deposition and robot motion optimization in thermal spraying of rotating objects

In this paper we consider methods to simulate deposit build-up in thermal s praying and to optimize the robot motion so as to obtain the desired layer thickness. We derive a simplified mathematical model for spray deposition o n a rotating large object with a smooth, rotationally symmetric, curved sur face, yet allowing varying spray distance and direction. Further, we discus s how to obtain and incorporate an empirically determined deposit rate mode l. In particular, the simplified spray deposition model is chosen to make p ossible a reasonably cheap method to approximate a deposit rate from the re sults of layer thickness measurements. We also propose an iterative method to obtain good initial values for robot feed optimization. Numerical exampl es are presented. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.