Finishing materials by applying liquid coatings by dipping

URN: SEMMPF326
Business Sectors (Suites): Materials Processing and Finishing Suite 3
Developed by: Enginuity
Approved on: 30 Mar 2020

Overview

This standard identifies the competencies you need to apply liquid coatings to various substrates, using hand-dipping methods, in accordance with approved procedures. You will be required to access the appropriate specifications, check that these are the current issue and to extract all necessary information in order to carry out the dipping operations. You will be required to carry out all necessary preparations to the base materials prior to dipping them and this will include cleaning, degreasing, mechanical preparations, masking and other appropriate treatments. You will be expected to adjust the various coating materials, to give the specific coating weights or other properties. You will also be required to use the appropriate method of curing the coatings and to verify that satisfactory curing has taken place.

Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures for the hand dipping activities undertaken and to report any problems with these activities that you cannot personally resolve, or are outside your permitted authority, to the relevant people. You will be expected to work with a minimum of supervision, taking personal responsibility for your own actions and for the quality and accuracy of the work that you carry out.

Your underpinning knowledge will provide a good understanding of your work and will provide an informed approach to applying liquid coatings by hand dipping methods. You will understand the dipping procedures used and their application and will know about the base materials, finishing materials and their preparation requirements, in adequate depth to provide a sound basis for carrying out the activities, correcting faults and ensuring the finished components are to the required standards and to the customer's expectations.

You will understand the safety precautions required when carrying out the preparation and hand dipping operations. You will be required to demonstrate safe working practices throughout and will understand the responsibility you owe to yourself and others in the workplace and towards the environment.


Performance criteria

You must be able to:

  1. work safely at all times, complying with health and safety legislation, regulations, directives and other relevant guidelines
  2. follow relevant job instructions and specifications
  3. ensure the material surfaces to be treated are prepared for the finishing operations
  4. check that the finishing equipment and treatment solutions are set up and maintained at required operating conditions and levels
  5. carry out finishing according to operating procedures and to meet specifications
  6. check that the treated workpiece achieves the required characteristics and meets the finishing specifications
  7. deal promptly and effectively with problems within your control and report those that cannot be solved
  8. ensure that work records are completed, stored securely and available to others, as per organisational requirements
  9. leave the work area in a safe condition on completion of the activities, as per organisational and legal requirements

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

  1. the specific safety precautions to be taken whilst carrying out the activities (including any specific legislation, regulations or codes of practice relating to the activities, equipment or materials)
  2. the health and safety requirements of the work area and the activities, and the responsibility these requirements place on you
  3. the hazards associated with the activities, and how to minimise them and reduce risks
  4. the personal protective equipment and clothing (PPE) to be worn during the activities
  5. the types of drawing and specifications that are used during the dipping activity and how to check that they current
  6. how to assess component suitability for dip coating (to include method of handling, method of pre-treatment, the coating material to use)
  7. how to assess the coating specification and/or end user requirements, to define the process parameters to meet the quality and performance standards of the final coating (to include types of liquid coatings, colour, corrosion resistance, friction properties, abrasion resistance)
  8. how to handle the component to suit the processing method
  9. the procedures for the handling and safe use of coating materials and solvents
  10. the preparation, mixing and confirmation of the correct parameters of the coating materials to be used (to include solid content of coating materials, evaporation rates of solvent in coating materials, viscosity of coating materials, correct mixing of paints, particle size and filtration, effect of temperature on viscosity and dipping characteristics and agitation of material being dipped)
  11. the setting up and technique for efficient use of dipping equipment (including limitations of geometry of parts for dip coating, operation and locations of emergency stops) and dipping environment (including suction methods for controlling vapours)
  12. the selection of the drying/curing process (to include advantages and disadvantages of air curing, thermal curing, infra-red curing, ultra-violet curing, induction curing and operation and locations of emergency stops)
    the cleaning and maintenance requirements of application equipment, including the use of 5S or similar techniques
  13. simple non-destructive testing procedures to ensure that colour, gloss, adhesion and other required performance qualities are achieved
  14. how to recognise defects and their prevention and/or correction (including how to remove poorly applied dip coatings without damaging substrates)
  15. how to minimise and handle waste materials (including the environmental impact of the materials you are using and the minimisation of this impact)
  16. the extent of your own responsibility and whom you should report to if you have problems that you cannot resolve
  17. how to access, use and maintain information to comply with organisational requirements and legislation

Scope/range


Scope Performance

  1. Finish materials by applying liquid coatings by dipping, carrying out all of the following:

    1. use the correct issue of drawings, Product Data Sheets, process and other related specifications
    2. adhere to health and safety regulations, systems and procedures to realise a safe system of work
    3. ensure that the equipment is correctly prepared for the dipping operations
    4. clean all tools and equipment on completion of the dipping activities
    5. complete production documentation (such as condition/pre-treatment of substrates, coating material preparation, equipment settings, confirmation of standard of finish)
    6. leave the work area in a safe and clean condition
  2. Apply liquid coatings to three of the following substrates:

    1. wood        
    2. composites (such as glass fibre, Kevlar) 
    3. ferrous material
    4. plastics 
    5. pre-painted surfaces   
    6. non-ferrous material
  3. Prepare for the dip coating operations, by carrying out three of the following activities:

    1. cleaning, degreasing 
    2. masking     
    3. mixing of materials
    4. re-activation          
    5. pre-treatments
    6. mechanical surface preparation
  4. Use one of the following for locating/processing the components:

    1. wiring 
    2. specialised jigs
    3. barrels       
    4. baskets     
    5. trays       
    6. other specific method
  5. Apply two types of finishing materials from the following:

    1. zinc rich
    2. water based
    3. acrylics          
    4. temporary protective coatings
    5. varnish        
    6. urethane
    7. alkyds
    8. other specific material
  6. Cure the coatings by using one of the following methods:

    1. air drying      
    2. induction curing
    3. thermal curing (convection)    
    4. infra-red curing
    5. ultra-violet curing
  7. Monitor and adjust three of the following:

    1. evaporation rates
    2. coating viscosity
    3. substrate spin speed (where applicable)
    4. curing temperature 
    5. coating filtration
    6. dipping/coating time
  8. Carry out three of the following checks during the dip coating process:

    1. coating thickness           
    2. freedom from orange peel effect
    3. freedom from blisters       
    4. satisfactory curing
    5. freedom from drips or runs 
    6. correct colour and gloss levels
  9. Check coatings applied to components comply with one of the following quality and accuracy standards:

    1. military or aviation standards
    2. current industry standards and codes of practice
    3. international standards
    4. company standards and requirements

    5. customer standards and requirements


Scope Knowledge


Values


Behaviours


Skills


Glossary


Links To Other NOS


External Links


Version Number

2

Indicative Review Date

31 Mar 2023

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

Semta

Original URN

SEMMPF326

Relevant Occupations

Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies, Manufacturing Technologies, Process Operatives, Process, Plant and Machine Operatives

SOC Code

8115

Keywords

Engineering; manufacturing; processing; finishing; manual; dipping; liquid coating; substrates; methods; materials