Surface World March 2019 SW_March_2019_LR | Page 71

Baskets containing components are also made of stainless steel. The basket on its way to the second cleaning stage. The basket is immersed in the second stainless steel tank. PEEK components ready for cleaning. be processed in the equipment using a range of semi-automatic washing cycles. Works manager Steve Chadwick added, “The line can handle multiple stainless steel baskets simultaneously, each containing components in batches ranging from one-off to several thousand. It presently takes 15 minutes on average for baskets to visit all six stages sequentially, without manual intervention, but various cleaning times can be programmed to suit customer requirements. “Not only will the equipment with its ultra-fine cleaning capability allow us to start supplying customers in the medical industry, but it will also enable business expansion in existing sectors we operate in and allow us to grow the business further.” Choice of the Turbex was down to it being a standard six-stage system, whereas others ATL considered would have had to be configured as special lines and were accordingly of higher price. Another point in its favour was adaptability. For example, A stainless steel basket containing components has been picked up automatically from the input station by the transporter and is about to enter the fi rst cleaning stage. The drying cabinet full of scrupulously clean metal and plastic components awaiting assembly. further stages could easily be added to meet additional requirements, as could a conveyor belt coupled with full automation to replace manual handling of baskets at the start and end of the line. After components have been steam pre-cleaned, a basket is taken to the input station from where, under program control, a transporter picks it up and moves it along the line, immersing it in each stainless steel tank successively. A notable feature of the equipment is that every washing stage is equipped with a dual frequency ultrasonic generator, which results elevated levels of ultra-fine cleaning performance. The washing process involves a pre-clean, plain water rinse, main wash, another plain water rinse and separate deionised water rinses at the last two stages. The basket is then automatically deposited by the transporter onto the output table. Excess water is blown off by hand using compressed nitrogen, after which the parts are taken to a drying cabinet and then read online: www.surfaceworld.com transferred through an air lock into cleanroom standard bags, ready to be called up for assembly. Telephone: [phone] Email: [email protected] Visit: www.turbex.co.uk MARCH 2019 69