In the copper electrolysis workshop where giant electrolysis tanks stand, a piece of heavy titanium
master plate covered with dense red copper is slowly lifted up. Attached to them are copper cathode
sheets with a purity of over 99.99%. How to efficiently and non-destructively strip these precious
“industrial red gold” from the master plate, and ensure its surface clean, neat edges? Copper cathode
stripping machine - this set of fusion of precision machinery, intelligent control and material science
automation equipment, is to crack this core process problem “cocoon breaker”. It is not only the key
engine to improve production efficiency, but also the ultimate gatekeeper to guarantee the physical
quality of Grade A copper cathode.
Pain point: the dilemma of manual strippin
Before the popularization of automated stripping equipment, copper cathode stripping was a challenging and
heavy manual labor:
High-intensity and high-risk: Workers need to use special crowbars to “tear” the closely-fitting copper sheets
from the titanium master plate with experience and brute force in the hot, humid and acidic environment of the
electrolysis plant. The labor intensity is extremely high, and it is very easy for uneven force or slippage to lead to
bending of copper sheets, tearing of edges and corners, and even cause workplace injuries.
Quality fluctuation: manual operation is difficult to ensure that each piece of copper peeling strength and angle is
completely consistent. Common “hard” injuries include:
Surface scratches/indentations: Pry bar contact points can easily leave permanent damage to the smooth
copper surface.
Edge flanging/burrs: Inaccurate control of the stripping point leads to curling or sharp burrs on the edges of the
copper sheet, which affects the smoothness of subsequent processing (e.g., wire drawing, calendering), and even
becomes a hidden danger of cable insulation being pierced.
Copper sheet deformation: excessive localized force leads to copper sheet bending or twisting, which does not
meet the physical specifications for flat delivery.
Efficiency bottleneck and cost pressure: Skilled workers take tens of seconds or even longer to strip a sheet of
copper cathode (usually weighing 60-150 kg), which has become a bottleneck to limit the production capacity
of the entire electrolytic production line. At the same time, high labor costs, risk of injury, and downgrading
losses due to quality defects continue to erode production efficiency.
Breakthrough: the intelligent solution of automated stripping
The modern copper cathode stripping machine is a systematic solution tailored to the above pain points. Its core
mission is to realize the precision, stability, efficiency and safety of stripping action with the power of machine. The
typical workflow is as follows:
Precise positioning and gripping: A crane or automatic traveling crane transports the cathode plate (copper sheet
attached to the titanium master plate) containing the deposited copper to the stripping station. Highly accurate
positioning systems (e.g. laser sensors, mechanical limits) ensure that the master plate is accurately fed into the stripper
fixture. Powerful vacuum suction cups or specialized mechanical grippers securely hold or clamp specific areas of the
copper sheet edges (usually non-deliverable or reserved areas).
Flexible “breakout” and initial separation: This is the most delicate part of the process and directly determines the
success or failure of the stripping and the quality of the copper sheet:
Key Tool - Stripper Knives/Wedges: One or more specially designed alloy stripping tools (knives or wedges) with specific
curves or angles, driven by precision servo/hydraulic pressure, are gently but firmly inserted with very constant force
and speed into the pre-determined “stripping point” between the copper sheet and the titanium master (usually at the
top and middle of the edge of the sheet). (usually in the middle of the top edge of the copper sheet).
Creation of the “breach”: The skillful movement of the knife/wedge (e.g., rotational, translational, or combined) utilizes
small elastic deformations of the material to create a tiny breach at the copper-titanium interface, disrupting the vacuum
adsorption or intermolecular forces.
Efficient and non-destructive “ripping”: once the initial breach has been successfully established:
Synergistic motion: The vacuum suction cup/gripper system works in synergy with the stripper knife/wedge. The suction
cups/grippers exert a constant, perpendicular pulling force to “lift” the copper sheet, while the stripper knife/wedge
advances continuously and smoothly forward (or to both sides) along the separation interface between the copper sheet
and the motherboard, guiding the expansion of the stripping line and gradually “unzipping” the entire copper sheet, The
entire copper sheet is gradually and completely “lifted off” as if unzipping a zipper.
Force and angle control: The core control system monitors the tension and displacement parameters in real time to ensure
that the peeling force is always in the optimal range (sufficient to overcome the adhesion force, but far below the yield
strength of the copper sheet), and that the peeling angle is precisely controlled to maximize the avoidance of deformation
or tearing caused by stress concentration.
Separation, Collection and Resetting of the Masterbatch: Fully stripped copper sheets are transferred to a conveyor belt
or stacking device for subsequent weighing, packing and quality control. The stripped titanium masterbatch is automatically
returned to the electrolyzer area, ready for the next round of copper cathode deposition.
Technical core: the “hard work” to achieve excellent stripping
The excellent performance of an efficient and reliable copper cathode stripping machine comes from the in-depth
integration of a number of key technologies:
Highly rigid, high-precision mechanical structure:
Stable frame: to bear the huge peeling reaction force, to ensure long-term operation without deformation.
Precision guide rail and transmission: Ensure that the stripping knife/wedge, fixture and other moving parts of the
accurate trajectory, smooth operation, no shaking or drifting.
Powerful actuator: High-performance hydraulic cylinder or high-torque servo motor provides abundant and controllable
power output.
Intelligent sensing and closed-loop control system:
"Eyes: Laser displacement sensors, photoelectric switches, pressure sensors and other real-time monitoring of the position
of the motherboard, the state of the copper sheet, the size of the peeling force, the position of the movement.
“Brain”: PLC or industrial PC accurately coordinates the action sequence, speed and strength of each actuator according to
the preset program and real-time feedback data to realize adaptive control. For example, the peeling force is fine-tuned
according to the thickness of copper deposition (which affects the adhesion), and the peeling angle is automatically “jiggled”
or fine-tuned when encountering slight adhesion.
Key actuator design and materials:
Peeling knife / wedge: special geometric design (such as involute, parabolic profile) to ensure smooth peeling; high strength,
high wear resistance, corrosion resistant alloys (such as tool steel, tungsten carbide) manufacturing, and often surface
hardening treatment (such as nitriding, plating), to extend the life.
Gripping system: vacuum suction cups need to have a high gripping force, acid fog corrosion resistance, the edge of the often
flexible materials to avoid damage to the copper sheet; mechanical gripper needs to optimize the design of the clamping point,
dispersion of pressure.
Titanium motherboard protection mechanism:
The stripping action must be designed to absolutely avoid scratching or deforming the surface of the high-value titanium
masterbatch. The contact area between the stripping knife/wedge and the motherboard is usually made of non-metallic
materials (e.g., engineering plastics, composites) or designed with protective gaps.
The system is error-proof, ensuring that the stripping action is only initiated when the copper sheet has been correctly gripped.
Value: Benefits beyond "labor replacement
The introduction of a state-of-the-art copper cathode stripping machine brings much more than a simple “machine for man”:
A quantum leap in quality:
Perfect Appearance: Almost eliminate surface scratches, indentations, and edge flanging burrs, ensuring that the physical form
of copper cathode perfectly conforms to Grade A standards (e.g. GB/T 467-2010, ASTM B115).
High Consistency: The quality of each copper sheet stripped by the machine is highly uniform, significantly reducing the loss of
downgrading due to appearance defects.
Efficiency Revolution:
Extremely fast stripping: Modern equipment can strip a single sheet of copper cathode in a few seconds to ten seconds, which
is several times or even ten times more efficient than manual labor, completely breaking the bottleneck of electrolysis capacity.
Continuous operation: 24-hour uninterrupted work, significantly improving the utilization rate of equipment and the overall
efficiency of the production line.
Cost optimization:
Sharp reduction of direct labor costs: Significantly reduce the stripper positions and related management and welfare costs.
Indirect Cost Reduction: Significantly reduce the risk of injury and the consumption of labor protection supplies; quality
improvement reduces downgrading losses; efficient operation of equipment dilutes unit energy consumption and
maintenance costs.
Extension of motherboard life: Precise protection design effectively avoids motherboard damage and reduces the frequency
of expensive titanium motherboard replacement.
Safety and environmental protection upgrade:
Intrinsically safe: Workers are away from the high-intensity, high-risk stripping site.
Environmentally friendly: Reduce the risk of copper splash and acid exposure that may be caused by manual operation.
Selection and Application: Key Considerations for Matching Needs
Faced with the diverse types of strippers available in the market (e.g., automatic, semi-automatic; single-station, double-station;
for different board sizes), the selection of the type of stripper needs to be evaluated comprehensively:
Capacity matching: Calculate the required stripping speed (wafers/hour) based on the number of electrolytic baths, the
frequency of bath discharge, and the weight/size of copper wafers.
Copper sheet characteristics: Consider the thickness range of the deposited copper, hardness, and bonding characteristics
with the motherboard (varies by electrolysis process).
Spatial layout: The size of the equipment needs to be adapted to the existing workshop layout and lifting transportation routes.
Intelligent degree: whether it is necessary to interface with the MES system, data collection, remote monitoring and other
advanced functions.
Maintenance and service: examine the reliability of the equipment, wearing parts life and the supplier's localized service
response capability.
Conclusion: The indispensable “key link” of intelligent production line.
Copper cathode stripping machine, quietly standing at the end of the electrolysis workshop, but with a thunderous
momentum to complete the “cocoon into gold” feat. It liberates manpower from the heavy and dangerous labor, and
defends the physical dignity and market value of A-grade copper cathode with precise action. In the wave of copper smelting
towards intelligence and greening, an efficient, stable and intelligent stripping machine is not only a tool to improve efficiency,
but also a cornerstone equipment for modern copper electrolysis production line to achieve operational excellence and build
core competitiveness. When a sheet of copper cathode with mirror-like finish and neat edges is efficiently peeled off and
stacked into rows, it is not only a display of industrial beauty, but also a vivid portrayal of traditional smelting empowered
by precision machinery and intelligent control.