Gun-drilled component prompts industrial cleaning machine purchase

Drilling a 1 mm diameter, 15 mm long blind hole in batches of brass probes is a simple job for a precision turned parts subcontractor like Witon Engineering, but cleaning the components afterwards is more difficult.

The company found that its dip tank and other conventional aqueous and solvent-based washing equipment were not good at removing oil and swarf from the fine holes.

So the decision was taken to upgrade the finishing department at the company' s Barnstaple works with the installation of a Dürr Ecoclean industrial washing machine, manufactured in Germany and purchased through UK agent, Geo Kingsbury Machine Tools. The machine meets current legislation - the Solvent Emissions Directive - which came into force on 31st October 2007 to govern the use of industrial cleaning systems.

To clean the fine, gun-drilled holes, the operator chose one of eight editable washing programs that combined rotary and swivelling movement of the load with injection flood wash, ultrasonics and vacuum drying. After the cycle, all components were free from chips and sticky cutting oil, right to the bottom of the holes, as stipulated by the customer. The process was successfully trialled in Geo Kingsbury's Gosport technical centre prior to Witon placing the order.

The Minio 85C non-halogenated, hydrocarbon-based washing machine, despite having a compact 1m x 2.65m footprint, is able to clean the entire turned parts output from Witon's 30 single-spindle lathes and four Index CNC multi's, all of which run 24 hours a day. Components are mainly ferrous up to 60 mm diameter and are cleaned in batches of up to 50 kg.

Said Witon's managing director, Ian Sheldon, "Components are becoming more and more complex and difficult to clean, yet at the same time customers are asking for higher levels of component cleanliness.

"The automatic washing cycles in the Dürr machine are less labour intensive and more efficient at cleaning our components. Many customers have commented on the improvement."

The Dürr Ecoclean industrial washing machine in operation at the Barnstaple works of turned parts subcontractor, Witon Engineering.

Turned parts after they have been automatically cleaned in the Dürr washing machine at Witon.