General description

This volume introduces the specifications of the simplified cleaning equipment designed for smaller lots, cleaning process design, and the conception picture of the simplified cleaning equipment (simple automation supported) that conforms to the specifications and design.

Explanation

(1) Specifications of simplified cleaning equipment suitable for smaller lots

1) Equipment size
The machine operator must finish cleaning using the manual or simple auto mode of the simplified cleaning equipment within the time required for the compact machine tool to finish processing the goods. Therefore, the cleaning equipment must be designed in a size that can be installed at a reachable location from the operator.

2) Cleaning quality
Even when using the simplified cleaning equipment, contaminants that should be eliminated in that process must be washed off consistently. Adopting an electric motor for driving the cleaning brush is recommended for achieving stable cleaning performance.

3) Workpiece transfer
To clean the entire circumference of the workpiece, the one-way transfer design must be adopted. To make the equipment lightweight, compact, and simplified, a simplified linear guide (similar to the linear bushing) that is manually operated is adopted for the mechanism in the conception picture. In addition, a simple auto method should work as well.

4) Cover
The ideal cover is transparent enough to make the cleaning status visible. If you adopt a shape and/or a material that prevents contaminants from being stuck in the corners or gaps inside of the cover, you will be able to minimize reattachment of the contaminants.

(2) Cleaning process design

- When removing machining fluid and chips after the machining process, it is recommended to eliminate the solvent immediately before allowing the machined workpiece to dry up. For this reason, the simplified cleaning process is designed similar to the batch cleaning process. It must have the rinsing process where the solvent is washed off with water.
- Therefore, the simplified cleaning process should consist of the following two steps: (1) Solvent immersion + (2) Solvent rinsing.
- In the solvent immersion step (1), the solvent is prepared by putting the solvent into a stainless steel container. Right after the machining, the machine operator dips the workpiece into the solvent for the specified duration (to be determined in accordance with the previous and subsequent tasks).
- In the solvent rinsing step (2), the machined workpiece with the (1) solvent attached will be washed by the simplified cleaning equipment, followed by water washing to rinse off the solvent.

(3) Conception picture of simplified cleaning equipment

- Fig.1 shows a conception picture example for the simplified cleaning equipment, which is developed based on the proposed specifications of this equipment and the process design details.