FRASER TECHNOLOGIES
Each part needs to be spotlessly clean – with maximum particle sizes of just 10 microns – in order to perform its role . The team uses a coordinate measuring machine ( CMM ) to ensure each component is machined to very accurate tolerances . The tolerances for measurement are just five microns , so even small particulate material has an impact on this process .
The Challenges
With demand for ever higher levels of cleanliness and increased efficiencies across the business , the company identified that improvements could be made in some of their component cleaning processes . They were finding some residual material contamination on machined and de-burred surfaces on the VSVAs and fuel metering units , which was preventing measurement and evaluation by the CMM . This meant parts had to be removed , hand washed , checked and cleaned manually , which was adding significant time and labour on to what should be a straight-forward process .
As the company already worked with Fraser Technologies in other parts of the business , it was the partner of choice to help . Headed up by managing director , Graham Fraser , the team worked closely with the manufacturing engineers and technicians to explore and trial alternative cleaning processes in an effort to remove the need for retesting and ensure the brand ’ s superior standards of quality first time , every time .
Method
The company had been using an aqueous system to clean the VSVAs and fuel metering units , and Fraser Technologies was keen to trial a solvent solution , which they believed would deliver the best results .
Providing their fully bespoke cleaning system service , expert analysts conducted a site visit and evaluated the specific cleaning needs and existing processes , before making detailed recommendations for both equipment and chemistries .
Fraser Technologies recommended Opteon™ SF79 ®, which can remove particulate down to submicron levels without leaving residues , and unlike solvents of the past , has strong environmental credentials , with a Global Warming Potential ( GWP ) of less than 15 . GWP is used to represent the equivalent of C02 being released into the atmosphere , where 1kg of C02 is equivalent to a GWP of 1 . For companies looking to improve their overall environmental impact , low GWP materials such as the Opteon™ range from Chemours™ should be the go to product of choice .
Opteon™ SF79 ® was already used elsewhere in the business and had been approved on site , so they had confidence in its credentials and capabilities .
In order to demonstrate the quality of the process and the solvent for this specific application , cleaning trials were carried out on test parts . These were adapted and repeated until it was evident that the components were consistently passing CMM testing first time .
Replacing the aqueous system with a solvent was a big attraction , as it would provide them with a number of benefits , including improved technology , which would make the job easier and faster . The cooler temperature of the solvent was a major advantage , as the parts come out of the machine at the correct temperature , ready to be measured immediately . With other degreasers , the products come out of the machine too hot to handle , so cooling time needs to be factored in .
The lower temperature also means that the energy requirements – and therefore costs - of the system would be much lower , as the machine needs to be heated to a constant temperature of 47 degrees . With the aqueous system , the chemical temperature is 60 degrees and around 90 degrees are needed for the hot air drying .
Along with the solvent , Fraser Technologies proposed a new innovative , bespoke machine , which offered increased automation and much better linkage . Full automation was included , meaning that operators simply needed to put the parts in at the start and remove them at the end for testing . Previously , the machines needed regular checks as well as handling throughout the process , which was much less efficient .
The technology of the machine provided a further improvement in efficiency , as it automatically recognises each part and assesses which process is required to clean every individual job . This not only offers immediate time and cost savings to the company , but it also future-proofs the machine , with an option for faster washes and increased loads when required .
As a global company with a leading reputation , environmental impact is a key consideration . And with Net Zero targets top of mind for many businesses , reducing GWP through a simple and effective switch can have a large impact .
For this company , the new machine also incorporates a refrigerated cooling system , which minimises the escape of the solvent into the atmosphere .
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