Spray cleaning
Simple geometries, few bores and blind holes — over the surface and fast, but with a spray shadow.
It is not the system that decides how cleaning is done — but where the process medium has to get to.
Cleaning Methods
Two components can be the same size and equally dirty and still need completely different methods — the difference lies in accessibility.
1 · The challenge
The more complex the geometry, the sooner immersion or flooding
A flat sheet-metal part can be reached from the outside, an engine block with cross-drilled holes and blind holes cannot. The more complex the geometry and the more bores and blind holes, the sooner immersion and flooding instead of spraying — that is the logic of distinction in one sentence, and the reason there is more than one method.
2 · The basic process
The basic process is almost always the same
What differs between the systems is not the sequence but how the process medium gets to the component. That is exactly what the methods describe.
- 01CleaningSpraying, immersion or flooding — individually or combined.
- 02RinsingSeparate tanks prevent mixing.
- 03DryingRecirculated air or infrared drying.
- 04Second rinsing or dryingje nach AuslegungDepending on the requirement.
- 05Air blow-off or vacuum dryingje nach AuslegungFor high drying requirements.
3 · The methods
Five methods and drying
Immersion cleaning
Complex components with many bores and blind holes — when the workpiece has to go fully into the medium.
Flood washing
Complex geometries and hard-to-reach areas — the process medium is guided with high volume over and around the workpiece.
Lance technology
Many bores and through-holes — cleaned in a targeted way instead of over the surface.
Ultrasonic cleaning and vacuum drying are options, not methods. An option supplements a method, it does not replace it: we use ultrasonic cleaning predominantly in immersion and flooding processes, vacuum drying for high drying and residual contamination requirements.
If burrs come into it, water jet deburring is the better solution.
4 · How the decision is made
The method is the result of the system design
It is only decided once component, contamination, residual contamination requirement, cycle time, production volume and material flow are clarified — and together, not on the basis of a single feature.
A method rarely stands alone. Often several are combined: sprayed where the surface is accessible, immersed or flooded where it is not, and targeted with lances where a bore has to be flowed through.
Questions and answers
Frequently asked questions about choosing the method
Can internal surfaces and internal geometries be cleaned?
Yes — that is what choosing the method is for. The difference lies in accessibility: a flat sheet-metal part can be reached from the outside, an engine block with cross-drilled holes and blind holes cannot. For accessible surfaces spraying is enough; in hidden areas a spray shadow forms. Then the way leads via immersion, flooding or lance technology, which guides the process medium in a targeted way instead of over the surface.
Which methods can be combined?
A method rarely stands alone. Often several are combined: sprayed where the surface is accessible, immersed or flooded where it is not, and targeted with lances where a bore has to be flowed through. Ultrasonic cleaning and vacuum drying are options, not methods — an option supplements a method, it does not replace it.
When does ultrasonic cleaning make sense?
Ultrasonic cleaning is an option within an immersion or flooding process, not a method of its own. We use it predominantly where additional mechanical action is needed in the bath. Whether it carries in the specific case is decided by the system design.
Why do chips remain on my components?
Because the process medium does not get to where the chip sits — and that is almost always a question of the method, not of the system. If spraying is not enough for the geometry, the way leads via flooding, immersion or lance technology. If a burr at a bore intersection comes on top of the chip, it is not a cleaning problem but a deburring problem: then water jet deburring is the better solution.
Direct contact
AddressITR GmbH powered by Zippel
Hauptstraße 31
93186 Pettendorf
Pettendorf bei Regensburg
Hauptstraße 31
93186 Pettendorf
Pettendorf bei Regensburg
Phone+49 (0) 9409-777 3598
Fax +49 (0) 9409-777 3607
Fax +49 (0) 9409-777 3607