FLEXICLEAN® Vacuum Washing Machine

Aichelin Unitherm FLEXICLEAN® washing machine ensure consistently clean component surfaces before and after heat treatment, supporting process reliability, product quality and efficient downstream operations.

System Components

Core system components include a vacuum-tight cleaning chamber, separate tanks for two (optionally three) cleaning media, a vacuum pump, spray pump, individual heating systems for each cleaning medium and an integrated oil separation unit.

Cleaning Process

The cleaning cycle is fully programmable and adapted to the type and degree of contamination, the cleaning medium used and the required cleanliness level.

The process typically begins with pre-spraying the charge using the first cleaning medium. The chamber is then filled, and the patented low-pressure boiling process is initiated. After pressure equalization, the chamber is drained and the components are sprayed again. Additional cleaning or rinsing cycles can be performed as required.

The process concludes with vacuum drying, followed by chamber ventilation and unloading of the cleaned components.

LOW PRESSURE BOILING VACUPEARL®

The patented VACUPEARL® process works by creating a vacuum above the bath level. This causes the cleaning fluid to start boiling and creating steam bubbles form predominately on the workpiece surface of the charge. Low pressure boiling helps in improved cleaning effect in inaccessible areas. This has two separate tanks with dual cleaning media (optionally: three) in individual tanks and drying.

Key benefits include:

• Detergents are delivered directly to the work piece and do not have to be diffused by the liquid barrier.

• Steam collects predominantly where the enclosed liquid quantities are relatively small in comparison to the surrounding part surface, such as, in blind holes, grooves, empty spaces or between tightly loaded parts.

• The flotation effect brought about by the addition of air is further amplified by the expanding volume of steam.

Vacuum drying

In order to achieve a good cleaning effect, the operating temperature should generally be between 80 – 85° C. The charge will then have enough residual heat to be used to evaporate the water on the parts. Vacuum drying enable seven awkward areas, such as blind drill holes, thin lubrication holes and even suction chambers to be dried completely. Generally 0.1 – 0.3 % of the charge weight in water will stick to the work pieces. Vacuum drying allows up to 1 percent in weight of water to be dried off.

Completely dry components matter most

• Before nitriding heat treatment

• Before vacuum heat treatment

• Before carburising / diffusion heat treatment

• Before low-temperature tempering

• Before work procedures where water residue is obstructive

Oil separation

The agent tank is connected by means of cascades. The first agent tank has an overflow chamber, in which the demulsified oil-cleaner mixture flows and is then pumped out with a separation pump to the coalescence separator.