Mobile, fast, safe and powerful Electro Polishing machine
Introducing the mepBLITz Electropolishing Machine - A revolution in Electropolishing technology!
In the past metalwork to be electropolished has to be placed into a fixed electroplating bath. Now metalwork can be Electropolished ANYWHERE. No more dismantling or chopping metalwork into smaller pieces to fit into an Electroplating bath!
It is important to understand that the mepBLITz is unique as a portable electro polishing machine rather than a weld stain removing machine or “electro cleaner”. With the publicity around the dangers of hydrofluoric/nitric acid pickling pastes and their controlled availability there are several options being promoted as alternatives. These electro-cleaning machines may use a brush or boot that is dipped in a solution, usually phosphoric acid based. With their acid concentration often up to 60% there is still a safety & disposal issue. There is also risk from fuming meaning fume extraction and/or breathing protection is recommended. They are a form of surface removal without any other benefit other than removing the oxide scale on the surface of the steel, often adding contaminants from the electrode pad or brush and from the solution that is being reused as they dip, this is referred to as a two way process. This type of electro cleaning can only leave an etched finish at best, which is prone to hold contaminants during the service of the piece.
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The mepBLITz as an “electro-polishing machine” is a one-way process that will also polish the surface of the piece leaving it smooth and chromium rich. It accomplishes this by selecting iron for removal at greater than seven times the removal rate of chromium, thus raising the chromium percentage at the surface dramatically. (Chromium having access to oxygen is the reason stainless steel resists rusting). Chromium density can be reduced up to 60% during the welding process due to the heat burning it. The other very important part of electro polishing compared to electro cleaning is the microscopic smoothing accomplished by electro polishing. If the surface is perfectly smooth bacteria and contaminants cannot hold on and slide off with the wind and rain, etc; If the surface is etched “rough” the contaminants don’t slide off (remember the key to Stainless Steel not corroding is Chromium having access to oxygen) contaminants inhibit the Chromium having access to oxygen and corrosion will begin. Contaminants can be salt from the ocean, brake dust from traffic or just good old dirt, but the worst contaminant is iron (free iron) as it not only blocks the oxygen but starts to corrode itself. In a workshop during a fabrication what contaminant do you think is the first one the stainless will have to deal with? - ”Good old iron dust” kicking around everywhere from the welding bay to the lunchroom. So when you talk about free iron you are talking about contaminants. The MepBLITz not only removes free iron but also bonded iron minimizing the iron that will come in contact with environment. Even 316 marine grade stainless is more than 69% iron, a number that is raised around the weld due to the heat burning off the chromium.
The key things in Electro polishing verses Electro cleaning are:
- Both passivate (remove free iron) but only Electro polishing lifts the chromium density making the job much less likely to corrode (more chromium oxide on the surface the less chance of exposed iron).
- Electro cleaning etches the surface making the steel much more likely to hold contaminant and bacteria causing corrosion. Electro polishing smoothes the surface of the steel making it very difficult for any contaminating particle to hold on.
Of course the mepBLITz is much faster, safer, easily portable and works on much thicker materials including MIG welds, those properties alone make it stand alone but the real story is the technology of electro polishing, it is not surprising that electro polishing has been the gold standard finish for stainless steel for more than fifty years, now it is the palm of your hand.
ASK FOR A DEMONSTRATION TODAY AT YOUR PLANT: Phone 03 348 5200
This is not just a stainless steel cleaner.
This is not a weld pickling machine.
This is an Industrial Electropolishing Machine
Australian Patented Technology.
