Cleaning Multiple Sizes of Steel Parts
Not every parts cleaning application involves large or heavy components. Smaller parts can present their own challenges, especially when multiple part sizes need to meet stringent cleaning specifications while keeping pace with production.
A customer approached AEC Systems with exactly that challenge. They needed to clean batches of steel parts that varied in size. Although the individual parts were relatively lightweight, the cleaning requirements were demanding, and multiple batches needed to be processed within a specific timeframe. AEC Systems worked with the customer to develop a compact inline washing system designed around those requirements.
An Inline Process Designed for Production
For this application, parts travel through the system on a belt and progress through the required cleaning process. The system then rinses and blows off the parts before they move on for use in another process.
The design also had to account for variation among the customer’s steel parts. Instead of designing the washer around a single component, AEC Systems developed the cleaning process to accommodate batches of smaller parts in different sizes while still meeting the customer’s required specifications.
Why Part Size Isn’t the Only Consideration
It’s easy to assume that small, lightweight parts require a simple cleaning system. In practice, the physical size of a component is only one factor in parts washer design. For this application, AEC Systems also had to consider the customer’s:
- Range of part sizes
- Cleaning specifications
- Required production timeframe
- Material handling needs
- Rinsing and blow-off requirements
Understanding these requirements before designing the equipment helps determine how parts should move through the washer and what processes need to take place along the way.
Designing Around the Cleaning Application
AEC Systems has designed many inline washing systems, but that doesn’t mean every system is identical. Each application can be modified to address the customer’s specific parts, cleaning challenges, and production requirements.
That flexibility is particularly important when a manufacturer needs to process multiple components rather than one uniform part. The goal is to develop a cleaning system that works with the customer’s production process while consistently meeting the required cleaning specifications.
Do You Need an Inline Parts Washing System?
If you’re cleaning small steel parts or multiple part sizes as part of an ongoing manufacturing process, an inline washer may provide a practical way to incorporate cleaning, rinsing, and blow-off into your production workflow.
Contact AEC Systems to discuss your parts, cleaning specifications, production rate, and other requirements. We can work with you to determine what type of custom industrial parts washer is appropriate for your application.