How to get consistent sand, wrinkle and hammer-tone textures.

Steps

1. Approve a physical reference

   Agree texture coarseness and appearance on a physical panel; texture cannot be specified by a code alone.

2. Set a film thickness window

   Find the thickness range that gives the target texture on your parts and keep within it.

3. Standardise gun settings

   Fix voltage, powder output and gun distance; changes in these alter how texture develops.

4. Control recovered powder

   Keep a consistent virgin-to-recovered ratio, as recovered powder can change texture and effect.

5. Keep the cure profile stable

   Wrinkle and other textures form during melting and curing, so line speed and oven temperature should be constant.

6. Check orientation and shape

   Compare vertical and horizontal surfaces and edges with the reference during trials.

Parameters

Texture reference

Approved physical panel

Film thickness

per TDS / established in trial

Recovered powder ratio

Fixed on your line

Cure

per TDS

Common mistakes

• Approving texture from a photo.
• Letting operators set their own gun parameters.
• Running with variable amounts of recovered powder.
• Comparing texture on a thin test panel with texture on a heavy part that heats more slowly.
• Changing line speed without rechecking texture.