Optimal results through cleaning conditions adapted to the components

For massive and heavy parts, standalone fixtures without an outer basket are optimal. (Image source: Metallform Wächter GmbH)

In the case of deployment workpiece carriers, several smaller units are combined into a batch within an outer basket. (Image source: Metallform Wächter GmbH)

Applications that require part-specific designed workpiece carriers in component cleaning are steadily increasing for various reasons. Metalform develops and manufactures optimal technical and economic solutions for these applications as standalone or insertion workpiece carriers.

Rising demands on the cleanliness of workpiece surfaces, a higher degree of automation in manufacturing, workpieces with cleaning-critical areas, and increasingly complex component geometries also lead to growing requirements in parts cleaning. Part-specific designed workpiece carriers are thus becoming increasingly important. Through their optimal design as standalone or insertion workpiece carriers, they make a decisive contribution to ensuring the required cleanliness in a needs-based, efficient, and ergonomically safe manner.

Standalone – the solution for massive and heavy components

Standalone workpiece carriers are used without an outer basket. The main application area is the cleaning of massive and heavy components and workpieces produced in larger batch sizes. Because the weight of these batches is usually too high for manual handling. The loaded workpiece carrier is lifted directly onto the loading facility of the cleaning system with a hoist. Another advantage of this solution is that the position of the workpieces in the cleaning container can be optimally adapted to the cleaning requirements. This includes, on the one hand, all-around accessibility for cleaning media and washing mechanisms such as ultrasound or spray jets. On the other hand, the ability to position the workpieces in the container so that critical cleanliness areas can be targeted for treatment. Furthermore, good automation of parts handling with robots and thus integration into a linked manufacturing process speak in favor of this variant. Standalone workpiece carriers are usually designed to match the batch size of the cleaning system, ideally corresponding to the dimensions of a standard basket. This allows the system to be loaded with both standalone workpiece carriers and bulk containers.

Insertion workpiece carriers – the more flexible variant

The characteristic of this solution is that the loaded workpiece carriers are manually handleable. To utilize the capacity of the cleaning system, several workpiece carriers are combined into a batch within an outer basket. Additionally, compartments can be formed directly in the basket, for example with divider bars, to gently clean the parts. The basket can therefore be used for various part-specific workpiece carriers and configurations, as well as for bulk parts. This greater flexibility is a significant advantage of this alternative.

Stainless steel in careful craftsmanship

Both workpiece carriers and cleaning baskets are manufactured by Metalform from stainless steel round bars with an electropolished surface. They can therefore be used with all cleaning media and ensure good accessibility from all sides due to their open design. Additionally, the material allows for a long service life. The round bars of the workpiece carriers, as well as the outer structure of the baskets, are welded with a dull weld. This reliably avoids injury-prone edges.