Deburring has become more and more important in recent years. Cleanliness specifications for particles just a few 100 micrometers in size are commonplace in many industries today. Reasons for this are the increasing sensitivity of technological processes in e-mobility, for example, as well as the growing complexity of the geometry of workpieces. Deburring systems have to go to great efforts to remove burrs from all angles and corners. Burrs that have not been eliminated, could loosen in later service, impair the function of the part or even lead to a system failure.

Despite its increasing relevance, deburring is often seen as an unproductive manufacturing step that takes place in a separate system before the actual cleaning, it costs time and space.

With the EcoCvelox, we have developed a highly flexible system concept that combines deburring and cleaning cost-efficiently in one machine. Unnecessary component handling steps between the two processes are eliminated by the integrated linear transport system. With its modular design, the system is configurable process-dependently and can easily be adapted to meet changing production conditions without buying a whole new machine. The system can be programmed quickly and easily via a CAD/CAM interface. The machine enables processing of parts with dimensions of up to 200 x 200 x 200 mm cycle times with only 15 seconds per palette in the so-called one-piece flow – which means that if any cleanliness issues arise, one single machine can handle them.

In its special edition on industrial cleaning technologies, the ipcm® magazine has discussed the advantages of combining deburring and cleaning.

The electrification of various industries, especially mobility, is creating new requirements for component cleaning. While many processes used to be carried out wet-chemically, this is no longer a solution because through the absorption of humidity, even fibers can become electrically conductive during subsequent operation. The existing systems have to be replaced by dry cleaning alternatives.

In many cases, the most challenging aspect is that the new cleaning & surface processing solutions must be integrated into existing production and assembly lines. They must therefore enable effective cleaning within already specified cycle times, in which defined cleanliness characteristics are reliably achieved.

For this purpose, we have developed a so called “toolbox” with various methods and techniques for dry cleaning from preliminary and intermediate to final cleaning as well as surface preservation. By combining them, we have developed tailor-made and cost-effective cleaning solutions that fit into existing production processes.

The prerequisite for devising a reliable cleaning concept is having an understanding of the customer's overall production and assembly workflow. This is followed by process development and validation based on cleaning trials with original parts at our Test Centre. This way, we ensure to provide a solution that is precisely tailored to given production conditions.

In our test area, we take all necessary criteria into account such as the part weight, the requisite flexibility in terms of motion sequence, cycle time specifications and, last but not least, the available floorspace.

Be it to achieve the required cleanliness for subsequent process steps or to ensure the quality and functionality of the component to be cleaned, the requirements placed on fasteners increase. Ever more filigree and complex spiral springs, screws and brackets must be available fast, reliable and in large quantities.

But by far not every cleaning method fits every fastener. Remaining metal residues and traces of fats or oils are not the only risks when choosing a non-optimal cleaning technology. Parts cleaned can also be scratched, bent or they don’t dry properly and thus lose some of their functionality. Additionally, the level of cleanliness requirements differs from customer to customer.

To prevent manufacturers of fasteners from having to buy a separate cleaning machine for each of their products and customers, a high degree of flexibility is required from the cleaning technologies:

• Thanks to its two- / three-tank configuration, the EcoCwave can be used not only for wet chemical part cleaning but also for surface treatments.
• With the EcoCcore, the customer can switch from hydrocarbons to modified alcohols as production requirements change. The machine also offers a variety of available load compositions, combining filter housing and component preservation options.
• And with the Mega 86W, the expert for particularly high throughputs and surface quality through ultrafine cleaning, the throughput capacity and cleaning quality can be adjusted in order to optimize energy consumption.