Product category:
Washing and pretreatment
News Release from: MecWash Systems | Subject: Midi at KV Automation
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 03 March 2008
Aqueous-based system cleans pneumatic
parts
Pneumatic components manufacturer has replaced its solvent-based cleaning system with an aqueous-based system, delivering complex parts ready for assembly.
A MecWash Midi component aqueous-based cleaning system is giving high levels of component cleaning performance for one of the UK's leading manufacturers of pneumatic components The aqueous-based installation in the Clean Pneumatronic Systems Division of KV Automation in Milton Keynes has replaced the previous cleaning system that saw very complex parts cleaned and dried through the use of potentially harmful solvents
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 11 Jul 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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Significantly, a dividing wall also separates the manufacturing area from a large scale clean room allowing the cleaning process to play the optimum role during manufacturing.
The full range of pneumatic components, most of which are bespoke systems destined for microelectronic, precision measurement and instrumentation applications, are machined off-site before undergoing sub-assembly work within the main factory.
From here, components are moved to a dedicated area between the manufacturing floor and the clean room, within which the MecWash system is located.
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Significantly, said MecWash, the machine itself remains outside of this area to ensure that servicing and maintenance procedures do not impact directly on the clean area.
* Procedures - Senior production engineer for KV Automation's Advanced Product Division, Roger Day, explained the procedure used.
Depending upon their size, products are located in baskets or trays often as kits and then loaded from the clean side into the rotational drum, which is at the heart of the MecWash system.
The drum is indexed through 180 deg during loading to maximise capacity.
The cleaning process then produces components which can be transferred directly into the adjacent Class 1000 clean room for final assembly.
This loading area is itself held in positive pressure of 10 pascals above the factory environment to create the optimum buffer zone between manufacturing and final clean room operations.
Day commented: "The ability to separate the operation for the maintenance of the MecWash unit through the partition wall has been an important consideration and one that has helped us to make the most of the cleaning capability of the MecWash unit".
The increasingly complex components feature blind holes and deep, small bore drillings so the cleaning performance is critical.
Day had noted significant performance gains, in terms of reduced failure rate, compared with the previous ultrasonic, solvent-based installation.
The MecWash cleaning process includes spray/flood immersion wash and rinse stages with very high standards of filtration to 1 micron level.
The targets set by the CPS Division are of some 1 to 1.5 micron on final rinse and are readily achieved by the MecWash system.
MecWash director, Paul Young.
said: "The range of components sees aluminium, plastics, stainless steel and nickel-plated brass all pass through our installation, with some 400 parts per day commonplace,." He pointed out that the company also supplies the cleaning chemicals.
"In every case the wash process is a performance critical operation - particularly in an industry where cleanliness levels are paramount," concluded Young.
"We are delighted to have been able to provide the optimum and enviro-friendly solution to one of the most successful and highly respected names in the industry.
Importantly, we believe the development is providing KV Automation with a 'future proof', high performance, aqueous cleaning method which helps to overcome both the current and potential future regulatory controls relating to solvent cleaning systems.".
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