787Toolman Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 I know these are very specific questions, but it seems as if some folks that know the build process also read and comment on this forum so I'm hoping someone can answer one or all of them. Hopefully this thread will generate some healthy discussion to help us all get thru the waiting process for a new truck?, thanks in advance. 1. Does anyone know about when new Super Duty trucks get painted in the build process? 2. How long after they get painted before the chassis moves down the assembly line? 3. Are the paints baked to accelerate the drying process or are they air dried at room temperature? 4. Do all the available colors have the same spray process or does it vary by color? 5. Are there different number of coats based on color? 6. Does each color have its own spray line or are multiple colors applied on same spray line? 7. Are trucks painted using conventional spray systems by workers or are they robotic? 8. Do they use an electrostatic charge to reduce overspray? 9. Does Ford use a specific brand paint and type across the color lineup, or does it depend on color? 10. Can anyone speak to the cost difference between certain colors, Rapid Red adds $395, and Star White adds $595 but Antimatter Blue and most other colors are included in base price? 787Toolman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 A lot of that is proprietary but it’s common knowledge that after the body is assembled it’s dipped in anti corrosion liquid then painted by robots. I think it’s heat dried but not 100% sure. The extra cost paints are usually a 3 step process with an extra mid coat but it’s also possible some paint formulas are just more expensive. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigUnixGeek Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 Search Youtube for some Ford plant footage, and those will answer more than a few of your questions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
787Toolman Posted February 10, 2022 Author Share Posted February 10, 2022 20 minutes ago, BigUnixGeek said: Search Youtube for some Ford plant footage, and those will answer more than a few of your questions. Cool, will do, thanks Unix...BTW, are you also into Linux, especially with respect to G code? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
787Toolman Posted February 10, 2022 Author Share Posted February 10, 2022 The last part of this video for Expeditions shows some paint processes, all robotic and looks like heat lamps for accelerated cure. The entire video is full of interesting assembly steps. Ford - Kentucky truck plant - YouTube Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IUEC135ELEVATOR Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 1 hour ago, akirby said: ................ then painted by robots. Awesome!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
787Toolman Posted February 10, 2022 Author Share Posted February 10, 2022 That's funny Elevator, I'm old enough to remember Lost in Space...This video shows Ford Focus painting, multiple colors on same line back-to-back, must use electrostatic to keep colors from cross pollinating...3 different videos, they play back-to-back. Ford 3-Wet Paint Process - Video 3 - YouTube Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
787Toolman Posted February 10, 2022 Author Share Posted February 10, 2022 This video is for GM trucks, but I suspect the Ford process is very similar if not same, very interesting to me at least... GM Paint Shop - YouTube Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
787Toolman Posted February 10, 2022 Author Share Posted February 10, 2022 This is another video painting Fords in Thailand... Dürr AG: Paint shop for Ford Motor Company Thailand, Ltd.. - YouTube Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
787Toolman Posted February 10, 2022 Author Share Posted February 10, 2022 (edited) BMW paint line in Germany...NEW 2017 BMW Paint Shop / Factory Production in Munich | APEX - YouTube I noticed little to no overspray, must be electrostatic which would explain painting different colors on same line one after the other plus limited wasted paint. Edited February 10, 2022 by 787Toolman add details Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigUnixGeek Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 On 2/9/2022 at 8:58 PM, 787Toolman said: Cool, will do, thanks Unix...BTW, are you also into Linux, especially with respect to G code? Linux, yes. Mostly, in fact. I know what g-code is, what it's used for, and I've seen some before, but I've never done anything with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
787Toolman Posted February 12, 2022 Author Share Posted February 12, 2022 On 2/9/2022 at 9:20 PM, akirby said: A lot of that is proprietary but it’s common knowledge that after the body is assembled it’s dipped in anti corrosion liquid then painted by robots. I think it’s heat dried but not 100% sure. The extra cost paints are usually a 3 step process with an extra mid coat but it’s also possible some paint formulas are just more expensive. Some of the processes are probably proprietary and should be, I don't need to know every secret, just the basics and how long after they paint its dry and they start moving the chassis over to assembly line. Sad part is we can't find out the details because of proprietary nature, but the Chinese and Russians probably stole it and have it all and are using it against us as manufacturing advantage, but we can't know how it all works because it's a trade secret. Oh well, I guess this thread will just die like many others I've started, I must just be a nerd that has technical questions other than when will my truck be in my driveway, lol. 787Toolman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 The entire process from start to finish is just under 24 hours. Extrapolate from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
787Toolman Posted February 13, 2022 Author Share Posted February 13, 2022 (edited) 4 hours ago, akirby said: The entire process from start to finish is just under 24 hours. Extrapolate from there. akirby...Thanks, so if a truck was painted and fully assembled on a Monday, it could be ready to ship on Tuesday. Then another one to two weeks in transit to dealer depending on where the dealer is located. So, by the time a customer would see it for the first time, the paint would have been applied a two or more weeks earlier. If correct, that's still a good long time to dry or cure assuming the baking process at the factory was not 100% complete with the VOC evaporation before assembly. So based on the videos and feedback, I'll attempt to answer my own questions. 1. Does anyone know about when new Super Duty trucks get painted in the build process? The same day of assembly 2. How long after they get painted before the chassis moves down the assembly line? I can assume a few hours based on above 3. Are the paints baked to accelerate the drying process or are they air dried at room temperature? Watching the videos, it appears modern cars and trucks get a baked finish 4. Do all the available colors have the same spray process or does it vary by color? Watching the videos, it appears modern paint lines can spray any available color in any sequence on the same line 5. Are there different number of coats based on color? Watching the videos, it doesn't appear to show different coats but not enough info to say 6. Does each color have its own spray line or are multiple colors applied on same spray line? Watching the videos, it doesn't appear different lines are necessary for different colors 7. Are trucks painted using conventional spray systems by workers or are they robotic? Watching the videos, it appears robots do all painting, and they appear to be electrostatic to me, don't know how else you could spray different colors on same line back-to-back but I'm guessing 8. Do they use an electrostatic charge to reduce overspray? Watching the videos, it appears to be electrostatic but I'm not an expert so maybe someone else who knows for certain can comment 9. Does Ford use a specific brand paint and type across the color lineup, or does it depend on color? I can only assume Ford has special formulas and color names that are unique to them only, but I'm guessing 10. Can anyone speak to the cost difference between certain colors, Rapid Red adds $395, and Star White adds $595 but Antimatter Blue and most other colors are included in base price? akirby had a decent answer to this, I assume the ingredients and time and process justifies charging more or they just make more profit 787Toolman Edited February 13, 2022 by 787Toolman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted February 13, 2022 Share Posted February 13, 2022 You misunderstood. It takes 24 hours to weld together/assemble the body and bed, dip it, paint it, put the suspension and drivetrain in the chassis, put it all together and finish the assembly process and drive it off the line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
787Toolman Posted February 13, 2022 Author Share Posted February 13, 2022 15 minutes ago, akirby said: You misunderstood. It takes 24 hours to weld together/assemble the body and bed, dip it, paint it, put the suspension and drivetrain in the chassis, put it all together and finish the assembly process and drive it off the line. oh my, yes, a slight misunderstanding for sure, I guess I should edit my post, hahaha...Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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