Site Map




Return to ARCHIVES

Return to HOME PAGE


 
PRECISION CLEANING OF DIAMOND MACHINED OPTICS

Solvent cleaning prepares lens components for anti-scratch vacuum coating

Microsolve 250/2M solvent precision cleaning system with Autotrans single-axis transporter Guyson International has recently supplied a Microsolve M250/2
mono-solvent precision cleaning system
into one of the UK's leading optics manufacturers.

This company is at the fore-front of optical and super high precision mechanical component machining with natural diamond tools, producing mirrors, polygons, infrared domes and lenses, flats, aspherics etc, and its products demand a critical level of cleaning. The Microsolve cleaning system is installed for the precision, stain-free cleaning of medical/optical lens components following diamond machining and removes any traces of airborne dust, machining oil residues and finger prints from the optics prior to an anti-scratch vacuum coating process.

The PLC-controlled cleaning process has two stages; specially designed component baskets are first lowered into the stage one tank by an Autotrans single-axis transporter. The Autotrans is designed to provide a controlled lift of the parts to be cleaned in and out of the cleaning tanks with the minimum of disturbance of the solvent vapour, thereby minimising vapour emissions and expensive solvent losses.

Ultrasonic cleaning is carried out in the stage one tank, which is fitted with base mounted ultrasonic transducers powered by a Pulsatron generator equipped with an optional Neptune microprocessor controller which allows dual frequency operation, switchable between 38kHz and 70kHz. The higher frequency allows sensitive or difficult parts - such as very fine precision components - to be cleaned both safely and effectively.

Neptune also provides variable power control and will store up to seven cleaning programs in memory for automatic operation when required.

Stage one also has solution heating with electronic temperature control and digital indication, and a pumping and filtration system.

The second tank too is electrically heated, allowing the solvent to boil. The resulting vapour rinses the components, which are then dried by a dwell in the freeboard zone. Distilled solvent, condensed by the primary cooling coils, passes through a water separator with in-line heat exchanger and returns to the ultrasonic tank, displacing contaminated solvent into the boiling sump. Distillation, together with filtration of the solvent, ensures that the ultrasonic tank is maintained at a controlled level of cleanliness.

Free component trials
Whether your interest is in blast, wash or ultrasonic precision cleaning equipment, we offer FREE component trials, with no obligation to buy. To contact Guyson International, call on +44 (0)1756 799911, fax +44 (0)1756 790213, or email info@guyson.co.uk.


 

Link to Home page