ARTICLE
Dry, residue-free machining
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Cooling and cleaning with the quattroClean system when machining PEEK
disposal of cooling lubricants.
External cooling prevents
icing up and facilitates
retrofitting
In contrast with other solutions,
cooling takes place externally with
the quattroClean system rather than
through the tool. The non-abrasive and
non-toxic jet of snow and compressed
air is easy to focus and can be directed
exactly where it is needed in the defined
process zone around the cutting edge,
chips and tool. For this, the CO 2 nozzle
“travels” with the tool.
Among other applications, the
quattroClean system is used in serial
productions to lubricate, cool and
simultaneously
clean
machined
implants and medical components
made from PEEK. Another serial
application is in metal processing.
Here, the system is used to cool tools
when machining parts made from
aluminum. In both cases, productivity
could be stepped up by over thirty
percent by cooling with CO 2 externally
using the acp system.
Compact and targeted
control
Thanks to its modular concept, the
quattroClean system from acp can be
easily adapted to customer demands
and has a very small footprint. Process
parameters, such as the volume flow
for compressed air, or the quantity
of carbon dioxide required, can be
optimally adjusted to the application
concerned.
The duration of the jet for both
process parameters can also be
modified separately. This high degree
of flexibility enables the system to be
used for completely new applications,
as well as for applications which were
unsuccessful with standard systems.
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The fact that solid-state carbon dioxide
sublimates at room temperature makes
this a dry process. Consequently,
chips are clean and dry as well as fully
recyclable. Dry machining also means
that workpieces and machines stay
much cleaner. In many cases, there is no
further need to clean workpieces after
processing. Depending on cleaning
requirements, a cleaning module can
be integrated quickly and efficiently
downstream of the machining process.
A further advantage of cooling with
CO 2 is that parts, for example for
medical products, are machined free
of contamination. The low temperature
also minimizes the risk of a workpiece
deforming. Finally, no costs are incurred
either for maintenance, care or the
is generated as a by-product from
chemical processes as well as from the
generation of energy from biomass,
thus making it environmentally neutral.
It is transported at room temperature
to the non-wearing circular two-
component nozzle. The CO 2 only
transforms from a liquid to a solid
state in the form of fine snow crystals
as it leaves the nozzle. The crystals are
then bundled by a circular jacketed jet
of compressed air and advanced to
the process zone at supersonic speed.
The temperature of the medium at this
point can be as low as 78 °C. On one
hand, the patented technology with the
jacketed jet ensures a constant pressure
and consistently good cooling results.
On the other hand, only the quantity of
carbon dioxide needed for the desired
cooling effect is supplied.