The Gardco Automatic Drawdown Machine (DP-8301) was designed to draw down sample coatings with a high degree of reproducibility. Manual drawdowns are often inconsistent due to different operators, which can make comparisons between samples difficult or unreliable. Other factors affecting drawdown coatings are the shear rate and the amount of weight being applied on the applicator. With the Gardco Automatic Drawdown Machine the operator can get consistent, precision coating drawdowns every time.

The Gardco Automatic Drawdown Machine can use all different types of applicators— Microm applicators, Bird type, Wire wound rods, etc. There is no need for any special applicators. You can adjust the speed of traversing armature from 1" to 12" per second to suit the particular drawdown to be made. With constant shear rate and weight placed on the applicator you are guaranteed repeatable accurate drawdowns that are not user dependant. There are four preset stroke lengths of 6, 9, 12 and 16 inches. The standard working surface is a 12 x 18 inch glass plate. An optional 12 x 18 inch vacuum plate can be used in place of the glass plate to accommodate different size paint charts. Standard 16” OA Lab rods of either 1/2 or 3/8” diameter can be used.

1. Three-digit, digital Stroke Length Display (0.75-inch, green LED)
   
2. Stroke Length INCrease/DECrease control momentary rocker switch
   
3. Three-digit, digital Speed Display (0.75-inch, green LED)
   
4. Speed INCrease/DECrease Control momentary rocker switch
   
5. Preset-1, Recall/Store Memory Control momentary switch
   
6. Preset-2, Recall/Store Memory Control momentary switch
   
7. Start Test Control momentary switch
   
8. Home Control momentary switch
   
9. Home Position Indicator
   
10. Manual Positioning Jog IN/OUT Control momentary rocker switch
    
11. Power ON/OFF maintained rocker switch
    
12. Power ON indicator