The difference between a one-component and a two-component line is not the paint — it is the clock. From the moment resin meets hardener, pot life is running, and every design decision in the cell is a trade between accuracy, response time and how much mixed material you throw away.
What the cell needs
| 1K | 2K | |
|---|---|---|
| Metering | Flow meter (AccuFlo 1KP class) | Dosing and mixing unit (AccuFlo 2KP Pro class), ratio stated and testable |
| Mixer | None | At the paint kitchen, on the arm, or external mix at the nozzle |
| Flush | On colour change and at end of shift | Also automatically whenever the line stops longer than pot life |
| Waste | Solvent and line content | Solvent plus all mixed material in the line |
| Control | Simpler | Flush logic in the PLC, not a manual procedure |
The three mixer positions and their price
- At the paint kitchen or wall: simple and serviceable, but a long length of mixed material in the line — the largest flush loss at every stop.
- On the arm: shortest mixed path, fastest material change, lowest waste — paid for in wrist payload, hoses and maintenance access inside the booth.
- External mix at the applicator: components meet at the nozzle, so almost nothing is wasted — paid for in nozzle design and cleaning discipline, and not suitable for every material.
What we write in the offer
- The mixing unit by name, with the ratio range and metering principle.
- Mixer position, and the resulting mixed-material volume in the line.
- The flush and cleaning arrangement — solvent supply, cleaning tanks, waste collection.
- The acceptance criterion for ratio accuracy where the customer specification states one, with the test method. A percentage without a method is not testable.
Frequently asked questions
Is 2K always more expensive?
In equipment, yes. In finished cost it depends on the material and the rework rate — a 2K topcoat that ends the rework loop can be cheaper per good part than a 1K one that does not.
Can one robot handle both 1K and 2K?
Yes, with the fluid path built for it: separate circuits and a defined change and flush procedure, and enough wrist payload if a mixer is carried. It is a design decision at quotation stage.
What ratio accuracy is realistic?
On a delivered adhesive cell the specification was 0–2,500 cc/min at ±0.3 % with servo gear-pump metering, and it was written into the acceptance test. Paint systems are specified the same way.
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