Part cleaning is necessary to remove contaminants and machining debris from metal objects before plating or painting. It involves using degreasing agents and solvent-based cleaners to eliminate residues of oil-based coolant and anti-rust agents. Multiple stages of cleaning are required for plated parts.
Part cleaning involves removing grease and other contaminants from the surface of any metal object that is to be plated. In other types of manufacturing, part cleaning is performed to remove contaminants and machining debris from a completed part. By using a degreasing agent in conjunction with other solvent-based cleaners, residues of oil-based coolant and anti-rust agents applied during the machining process are removed from the part. After some surface grinding applications, part cleaning is required to wash away the fine grains of grindstone along with the fine metal chips before the surface finish can be accurately measured.
Most steel that enters a manufacturing plant has been treated with some form of anti-rust agent. Often, this may be nothing more than a film of oil. Prior to machining steel, it is common for one stage of material preparation to center around cleaning the parts. This is done to avoid complications resulting from the oil and rust inhibitor reacting negatively to the coolant used during the machining process. This initial cleaning of the parts also provides the machinist with a clean part with which to make preliminary measurements.
Parts that are required to have a certain finish after machining should undergo part cleaning before measuring the surface finish. All traces of grinding waste and coolant must be eliminated to receive an accurate reading of surface finish. Parts such as piston rings and bearings may undergo several stages of part cleaning during the manufacturing process. In some circumstances, the parts are cleaned by cooking the grease and oil from the parts in an oven. This process, while effective for removing grease and oil, can often leave a sooty or ashy residue on parts, requiring additional cleaning steps.
Parts that are plated with chromium, nickel, and other types of metals often go through multiple stages of part cleaning. Typically, many different layers of plating are applied in stages with thorough cleaning being required between each stage. Failure to thoroughly rinse and clean the chemicals from one stage before taking the part to the next stage of the plating process can result in an uneven or blotchy finish. It is also vital to remove any contaminants from the surface of any steel item that will be painted through thorough cleaning of the parts to ensure the paint covers evenly without peeling.
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