Parts Cleaning - Benefits of CNC waterjet for cleaning and deburring parts

Traditional parts washing methods use a “spray and pray” approach to cleaning. If a cleaning process is given enough time, heat, and chemistry, it can be moderately successful, albeit inconsistent in results. 

Case:

To bring consistency to the parts cleaning process, Sugino introduced, in 1995, the world’s first CNC high-pressure waterjet cleaning machine – the Jet Flex Center. The JFC combined Sugino’s vast experience in waterjet cutting and CNC machining center technologies into a multi-purpose cleaning and deburring station. Today’s machines are widely known as Jet Clean Centers and are installed in thousands of factories around the globe. With cleanliness standards increasing in difficulty each year, CNC-based cleaning machines will become the process of choice for OEM’s and Tier Suppliers around the world.

Results:

CNC stands for computer numerical control and is a way to control a machine using numerical data. One of the biggest benefits of utilizing a CNC system in parts cleaning is bringing consistency, repeatability, and flexibility to the process. There is no one-size-fits-all way to effectively clean and deburr parts. Machines that are flexible and easy to operate are highly useful in both hi-mix/lo-volume and lo-mix/hi-volume production. Chances are very good that most production plants already have CNC-based machines on the factory floor so adding a CNC-based cleaning process will be less costly when it comes to programming and operation. Other benefits include:

  • Accuracy
  • Speed, cycle time, and changeover time
  • Cleanliness efficacy
  • Ease of adding automation or integrating in a production line
  • IOT/smart machine integration
  • Multiple process possibilities in the same machine – clean, deburr, dry, peen
  • Using a turret makes available multiple tools and nozzles to the process
  • Ability to “target” and focus on areas of interest
  • Ability to avoid areas on a part
  • Smaller footprints – cellular
  • Highly flexible and less costly to re-tool or queue additional parts.

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