A compact automatic spray gun is the right choice when gun weight, mounting space or the number of guns per station limits your design. ROXGEN's lightest automatic guns, the XTR-3000 and XAS-50, weigh 130 g each, and its compact SA-1 and SA-2 guns weigh 280 g and 300 g, compared with 410–440 g for its standard XA-11 and XA-22 bodies. That difference matters on a light robot wrist, in a tight machine enclosure or in a multi-gun array on a conveyor.
Size alone is not enough, though. Integrators also need to know how the gun is triggered, how atomizing and pattern air are controlled, what fittings it uses, how far it sprays and how much fluid it can deliver. This guide sets out those criteria with published catalog data, so you can shortlist a gun before the first sample test.
I.When does a compact automatic spray gun make more sense than a standard one?
Typical situations that call for a compact gun:
- Light robots and cobots. Every gram at the wrist adds to payload and inertia. A 130 g gun leaves more of the payload budget for brackets, hoses and quick-change tooling.
- Multi-gun arrays. Conveyor stations often need several guns side by side or at different angles. Smaller bodies allow tighter spacing and more guns per frame.
- Inside machines. Die-casting cells, packaging machines and assembly equipment often have only a small window for a spray head.
- Small parts and precise dosing. Phone housings, camera parts and resin components need low fluid flow and a narrow, controlled pattern.
Standard automatic spray guns remain the better fit for large panels, furniture and heavy film builds, where fluid output of 400–500 ml/min and patterns up to 400 mm matter more than weight.
II.How do the compact ROXGEN automatic spray guns compare?
| Model | Weight | Nozzle sizes | Fluid output | Pattern width | Connections | Spray distance | Listed applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XTR-3000 | 130 g | 0.4–1.2 mm | 8–55 ml/min (0.4–1.0 mm) | 60–160 mm | 4 × 6 mm tube for CAP, FAN, CYL and fluid | 100–150 mm | Digital cameras, phones, notebook PCs, automotive resin parts |
| XAS-50 | 130 g | 0.3–1.0 mm | 7–55 ml/min | Not listed | 4 × 6 mm tube for CAP, FAN, CYL and fluid | 100–150 mm | Lubrication, vacuum packaging, rubber, plastic |
| SA-1 / SA-2 | 280 g / 300 g | 0.5–2.0 mm | 60–600 ml/min | 200–400 mm | 1/8" PF for fluid, air and CYL | 200–300 mm | Lubrication, water cooling, vacuum packaging, rubber, plastic |
| SA-1L / SA-2L | 280 g / 300 g | 1.3 mm | 50 ml/min | 100 mm | 1/8" PF | 200–300 mm | Glue, lubrication, point marking |
| XA-11B (XA-Mini) | 385 g | 0.6–1.2 mm | 30–75 ml/min | 80–140 mm | 1/4" PF | 200 mm | Digital cameras, phones, notebook PCs, automotive resin parts |
| XA-11R (round pattern) | 410 g | 0.5–0.8 mm | 20–110 ml/min | 35–50 mm round | 1/4" PF | 200 mm | Glue, lubrication, point marking |
Source: ROXGEN product catalog and XTR-3000 product sheet.
Two groups stand out. The XTR-3000 and XAS-50 are micro-flow guns with tube connections, built for small parts and thin fluids. The SA series covers a far wider output range, from 60 ml/min with a 0.5 mm nozzle up to 600 ml/min with a 2.0 mm nozzle, in a body under 300 g.
III.What should an integrator check before mounting a compact gun?
Trigger method and response
ROXGEN automatic guns are air-operated: a cylinder (CYL) air signal opens the needle, usually switched by a solenoid valve under PLC or robot control. Keep the CYL line between the solenoid and the gun short. A long line adds delay at start and stop, which shows up as heavy or light edges on the part.
Separate atomizing and pattern air
Some compact guns take atomizing air (CAP) and pattern air (FAN) through separate ports. The XTR-3000 has separate CAP, FAN and CYL connections, and the SA-W version of the SA series runs pattern air at 0.13 MPa and atomizing air at 0.15 MPa. Separate control lets the robot program change pattern width without changing atomization, which is useful when one gun coats both flat faces and edges.
Fluid supply
Automatic guns are pressure fed. Micro-flow guns such as the XTR-3000 need a stable low-pressure supply, often a small pressure pot or dosing system, because a few ml/min of drift is a large percentage of total flow. Higher-output SA guns work with pressure tanks or pumps.
Connection standard
Compact guns use small fittings: 4 × 6 mm push-in tube on the XTR-3000 and XAS-50, and 1/8" PF threads on the SA series. Confirm adapters for your local standard before the first sample arrives, especially if your plant uses NPT threads.
Service access
Nozzles, needles and air caps are wear parts. Place the gun so a technician can remove the air cap and nozzle without dismounting the bracket. For multi-gun arrays, identical guns with identical nozzle sets simplify spare parts and cleaning routines.
IV.Fan pattern or round pattern: which do you need?
Round-pattern guns such as the XA-11R spray a 35–50 mm circular pattern and are listed for glue, lubrication and point marking. The SA-1L and SA-2L produce a narrow 100 mm pattern at a low 50 ml/min, useful for controlled lubrication or adhesive lines. For internal surfaces, ROXGEN's X-102-36R guns spray 360° for oiling bores and tubes. See the Round Pattern Spray Gun category for these models.
V.How many compact guns does a conveyor station need?
Take a flat part 600 mm wide passing under fixed guns. SA-1 guns with 1.3 mm nozzles spray a 350 mm pattern at 360 ml/min. With 50% overlap for even film build, each gun effectively covers about 175 mm, so four guns cover 700 mm with margin. Four guns then deliver about 1,440 ml/min in total. Divide that by line speed and part area to confirm the wet film thickness before you finalise gun count.
Test this on real parts. Pattern width in a catalog is measured at a fixed distance and viscosity, and your coating, distance and line speed will move the numbers.
VI.What maintenance does a compact automatic gun need?
A practical routine for lines using compact guns:
Flush with the correct solvent or cleaner, wipe the air cap face, check the pattern on test paper.
Remove and soak the air cap, check needle seating for drips after shut-off.
Replace the nozzle and needle as a matched set if output or pattern has changed at unchanged settings.
ROXGEN machines the nozzle, needle and air cap as a matched set to micron-level tolerances in its Changhua factory, and tests every gun before shipment. Keeping spare matched sets on the shelf is the fastest way to restore a station.
VII.Can integrators get OEM or customized compact guns?
All ROXGEN-brand guns are made in Taiwan, and no ROXGEN-brand gun or accessory is authorized for manufacture in mainland China. For machine builders who must document supply chains for their own customers, a single-country origin simplifies that paperwork. Our article on how precision automatic spray guns are raising yield in Asia's electronics manufacturing shows how these guns are used in 3C production.
Frequently asked questions
Can a compact automatic spray gun be mounted on a collaborative robot?
Yes, if the total tool weight, including gun, bracket and filled hoses, stays within the cobot's payload at your reach and speed. ROXGEN's XTR-3000 and XAS-50 weigh 130 g and the SA-1 weighs 280 g, so the gun itself is rarely the limit. Hose routing and the fluid supply usually need more attention than the gun.
What air signals does an automatic spray gun need?
At minimum, a cylinder (CYL) signal to open the needle and atomizing air. Some guns also take separate pattern (FAN) air. The XTR-3000 uses separate CAP, FAN and CYL connections on 4 × 6 mm tube. The CYL signal is usually switched by a solenoid valve controlled by the PLC or robot controller.
Should I choose a round pattern or a fan pattern gun?
Choose a fan pattern for coating surfaces and a round pattern for spots, beads, bores or narrow features. ROXGEN's XA-11R round-pattern gun sprays a 35–50 mm circle for glue, lubrication and point marking, while its SA series fan-pattern guns spray 200–400 mm wide patterns.
How many spray guns does one conveyor line need?
Divide part width by the effective pattern width after overlap. For example, SA-1 guns with 1.3 mm nozzles spray 350 mm; with 50% overlap, four guns cover a 600 mm part with margin. Then check total output against film build and line speed, and confirm with a trial on real parts.
How far should a compact automatic gun be from the part?
Follow the spray distance the gun was specified at. In ROXGEN's catalog, the XTR-3000 and XAS-50 are rated at 100–150 mm, the SA series at 200–300 mm, and the XA-11B at 200 mm. Moving closer narrows the pattern and raises film build; moving further widens it but increases overspray and dry spray.
Can I order compact automatic spray guns under my own brand?
ROXGEN supplies OEM and ODM spray guns to international tool brands and automation integrators. Send your application, annual volume and branding requirements to service@roxgen.com to discuss options for private labelling and customised configurations.
Plan your integration with ROXGEN
Selecting a compact automatic gun is easier when the manufacturer sees your part, your robot and your fluid. ROXGEN builds its automatic guns in Changhua, Taiwan, and tests every unit before shipment.
Send us:
- Your robot or machine model
- Part drawings
- Fluid data sheet
- Target cycle time
Email service@roxgen.com
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