Abstract
This paper presents a simulation method in which robot trajectories can be optimised to produce an even coating thickness and how they can be used to predict transient coating temperatures on complex geometries. The coating thickness was simulated by the use of a commercial Offline programming (OLP) system. A robot trajectory was calculated, maintaining a constant spraying distance and normal orientation to the surface. The trajectory was optimised to give a uniform coating thickness while also handling non collision requirements. The plasma was represented as an ideal gas with temperature dependent thermodynamic and transport properties. The governing equations were solved by a developed finite difference elliptic code using a simplified turbulence model. The particles were modelled by a stochastic discrete particle model. The robot trajectory together with the heat transfer model were then used to calculate transient coating and substrate temperatures by the use of the finite element method (FEM). The model predictions were tentatively compared with experimental measurements and reasonable correlations were obtained.
