We have all heard of servos (short for servomechanism) but exactly what characterizes a “servo” is often a cloudy topic. Most sources are in agreement that the centrifugal ball governor invented by James Watt and used to control the speed of steam engines was the first application of a powered servo mechanism. This eloquently simple …
Adding water to cleaning and rinsing tanks is inevitable in a cleaning process. Most modern machines include a means to sense liquid level and add more water or other appropriate liquid as necessary. It would seem simple enough, but there are a lot of factors to consider in managing liquid makeup. The first thing to determine is …
Preceding blogs have described a number of mechanical means for measuring temperature based on the expansion and contraction of liquids and solids. Another major classification of temperature sensors are based on electrical phenomenon. Thermocouples – A thermocouple sensor utilizes a junction of two dissimilar metals to measure temperature. The principle is based on the fact that an …
A third classification of automation is a constantly moving or indexing device that conveys parts through the cleaning process. This can either be in the form of a conveyor that suspends parts on hooks or other fixtures that hang from an overhead track or in the form of a conveyor belt on which the parts rest as …
An automated hoist is probably the most commonly used means of moving parts through the steps of an automated immersion cleaning process. These hoists come in almost unlimited variations but have in common that they can move a basket or rack of parts in two dimensions along the axis of a multi-station cleaning system. Although the hoist suspension can …
As in nearly any decision making process, one must consider the options available and the pros and cons of each for industrial parts cleaning automation. The next few blogs will describe some of the automation options that are available for industrial parts cleaning along with their benefits and potential shortfalls. Walking beams and “pushers” have …
In the blogs Chemistry – Oil Splitting and Oil Emulsification – Part 1 and Chemistry – Oil Splitting and Oil Emulsification – Part 2, I discussed how oils are removed from parts using chemistry that either splits or emulsifies the oil. The next step is to collect and get rid of or recycle that removed oil. This …
The chemistries used in industrial cleaning processes are predominantly either dry (granular or powder) or liquid. Dry chemistries cover a wide range of density and flow characteristics. In fact, two batches of the “same” dry chemistry may have considerably different properties. Each liquid product has its own specific gravity and viscosity characteristics but may also vary in other …
Previous blogs have revealed a number of ways to measure chemical concentration in a cleaning bath. It is a logical extension that process engineers utilize these tools to automate maintaining the proper chemical concentration in their cleaning processes. Overall, this is a great idea. However, there are some pitfalls and things that should be taken …
English
Spanish
Chinese
Canada
Mexico
United Kingdom
