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Devices used to apply bonding materials are classified as adhesive dispensing equipment. They can be as simple as a glue or caulk gun, or as complex as an automated polyvinyl resin applicator. Any substance used to join two or more solids can be deemed an adhesive; these include pastes, resins, glues, cement, silicones and putties. Hand-held dispensers, such as hot glue sticks and industrial glue guns, are perhaps the most familiar variety of adhesive dispensing equipment, although a wide range of other types are available.



For many specialized or complex tasks, a manual dispenser is often a good choice, since it allows the user full control over the operation. Some applications may require power-driven applicators, which typically run on compressed air or electricity. These devices can be used to apply adhesive in virtually any form, whether liquid, spray or slurry. Different conditions may be required to convert the adhesive to an acceptable form, whether this indicates a specialized spray nozzle or a heating unit. Automated, heavy-duty machines excel at repetitive and large-scale operations, and are often able to process a large volume of pieces within a relatively short time.



Among the methods used to apply adhesives are stenciling and syringing. In stenciling, a specifically cut plate or sheet is placed over the material to be bonded. The adhesive is then applied and the sheet is removed, leaving adhesive only in the places where the sheet had been cut. Additional work-pieces are then set in place until the adhesive forms the appropriate bond. Syringing, on the other hand, dispenses adhesive through a pick-and-place method, applying the bonding material only in the specific places where it is required. This process creates less waste, but larger operations require more time, since adhesive must be applied to each segment individually.



A variety of meter, mix and dispense systems are available from manufacturers. These systems can be designed to perform one or more of the necessary operations. High-end systems mix multiple components, dispense them and meter the amounts used.