Precision cutters

Citation

(2000), "Precision cutters", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 29 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/prt.2000.12929fad.015

Precision cutters

Precision cutters

Keywords Advanced Engineering, Cutting

Precision engineered cutters are manufactured by Advanced Engineering (Middleton) Ltd for use in its process mixers and homogenisers which are claimed to give superior results. These cutters (Plate 9) are said to comprise a stator/rotor set and are used in a range of single and multi-stage in-line mixers, together with immersion batch processors to provide excellent smooth emulsions, dispersions and creams.

Plate 9 Typical selection of stainless cutters sets manufactured by Advanced Engineering (Middleton) Ltd

All cutters are machined to close tolerances in 316 grade stainless steel, providing compatibility for contact with the process medium and total compliance with a wide range of materials and operating conditions.

The rotor/stator cutter combinations can be supplied in a range of easily interchangeable permutations for use in dispersion heads to provide the level of processing required. A dispersion head comprises one or more intermeshed concentric rings of cutters with precision machined perforations or slots. The process medium is drawn under extremely high centrifugal acceleration into the dispersion head and subject to multiple shear actions when forced through the stator slots by the high spinning rotor.

Because the cutter designs prevent total closure of the cutter slots during operation, this maximises the shear effect on the medium which is said to be further enhanced by the high peripheral speeds achieved by the rotor unit.

General purpose cutters are said to provide a vigorous mixing action suitable for gels, thickeners, suspensions, solutions and slurries. Increasing levels of cutting action and progressive shear forces can be achieved with different cutter head configurations to accommodate the rapid reduction of soluble and insoluble granular solids and the preparation of emulsions and fine colloidal solids. Where super high particle fineness is required, then mixers fitted with multi-stage dispersion heads are available for in-line operation.

The combination of precision engineering, close manufacturing tolerances and high rotor speeds generates are considered to generate excellent working pressure within the dispersion head to induce the maximum conveying effect to any process media. The compact designs of the stator/rotor cutters are said to also concentrate all the action in a very small area providing the most economical and efficient conversion of energy. All units are stated to be virtually self cleaning by using water, detergent or suitable solvent between mixing operations.

A service can be provided for the design and development of special cutters to meet a variety of processing requirements including aerating, blending, comminuting, decomposing, disintegrating, dispersing, dissolving, emulsifying, extracting, gelling, homogenising, mixing, precipitating, shredding, solubinising and suspending, together with reaction accelerating, agglomeration reduction and combined pumping and mixing.

Details available from: Advanced Engineering (Middleton) Ltd. Tel: +44 (0) 1706 759003; Fax: +44 (0) 1706 759004.