Mechanical Engineering & Precision Manufacturing
Component cleaning for precision manufacturing. Even from the very last blind hole.
Chips trapped in bores, a coolant film on a component that looks clean, a blind hole that won’t dry out: in machining, cleaning determines whether assembly, coating and inspection proceed smoothly – or whether reworking is required. We design cleaning processes to suit your specific geometries, not based on an average scenario.
High part variation meets tight specifications
The spectrum ranges from CNC contract manufacturers through agricultural machinery to the watchmaking industry. What these businesses have in common is that they rarely clean just one component, but many different ones – often in small to medium-sized batches, using different materials on the same production line.
- High part variation in small to medium-sized batches and rapid programme changeovers
- Removing swarf – even from blind and cross-bores
- Complete removal of media and dry assembly and sealing surfaces
- No scratches or impact marks – in precision engineering and optics, the surface itself is also crucial
- Corrosion protection where the material and storage duration require it
- More cost-effective than manual cleaning – otherwise the process is not viable
Specialism: Agricultural Machinery and Hydraulics
Deep, intersecting hydraulic bores are a classic problem: a single chip that is dislodged after assembly can damage a valve. Added to this are large, heavy components and a high mix of parts.
Specialism: Precision Engineering, Optics and the Watchmaking Industry
Here, the requirement shifts from ‘clean’ to ‘flawless’: polishing paste in recesses, the finest metal particles, fingerprints and drying marks are the real enemies – for components that cannot tolerate any contact damage.
Typical components
- Precision turned components, CNC-machined parts, housings
- Gearbox and shaft components, hydraulic blocks
- Spindle and bearing components, clamping devices
- Tools, tool holders, moulds
- Valves, pumps, cylinder parts, axles
- Watch movement components, gear wheels, circuit boards
- Measurement technology components, nozzles, microvalves
- Components with deep bores, cross-bores and blind holes
Typical types of dirt
- Coolant lubricants and emulsions, machining oils, honing oil
- Metal swarf, microparticles, grinding dust, abrasion
- Polishing compounds and polishing pastes
- Scale, corrosion residues, corrosion inhibitors
- Fingerprints, film-like residues, drying stains
Why we clean
Assembly without introducing particles · Coating and hardening · Bonding and welding · Laser welding on film-free surfaces · Measurement and quality control · Technical cleanliness · Reliable operation of bearing, hydraulic and gearbox components · Clean delivery
The layout follows the geometry – not the other way round
Whether a component is cleaned depends on three factors: Does the part move during the process? Does the jet reach the critical area? Does the liquid drain completely from blind holes and channels? We base our design on these factors – supplemented by suitable filtration, separate cleaning and rinsing stages for demanding applications, reproducible programmes, flexible workpiece carriers and a drying process that ensures even blind holes are dried thoroughly. Where cleaning and high-pressure deburring go hand in hand, we combine both in a single process.
Eight degrees of freedom
the beam reaches everywhere
Quick channel change
where there is a wide variety of options
Cleaning and Deburring
saves a step
Proven cost-effectiveness
A washing test rather than promises in a leaflet
OUR SOLUTIONS: TAILOR-MADE CLEANING SYSTEMS FROM SILBERHORN
High component variability, small to medium-sized batches, rapid changeovers: our systems are designed to handle a variety of components – from hydraulic blocks and precision turned parts to watch movement components.
When precision meets purity
In precision engineering, optics and metrology, conventional component cleaning is often no longer sufficient – these applications involve the finest particles in micro-bores, film-like residues and residue-free drying without the slightest smudge. We have our own processes and equipment designed for this level of precision.
Services – have it cleaned, have it checked
Contract cleaning without any investment on your part.
We can take care of cleaning your components as part of our contract cleaning service – during periods of peak demand, at the start of production runs, or if investing in your own equipment is not yet cost-effective.
In-house VDA test laboratory.
Residual contamination analysis in accordance with VDA 19 / ISO 16232 – to verify your cleanliness class and optimise your processes.
Frequently asked questions relating to mechanical engineering and precision manufacturing
Can tools and tool holders be cleaned at the same time?
Yes, there is a dedicated, compact system solution for this – ideal wherever tool cleaning is currently carried out as a side task and manually.
Is a cleaning system even worthwhile when there is a wide variety of parts?
Usually yes – provided the system is designed for quick programme changes and flexible product carriers. The benchmark is not the perfect system, but the current manual effort involved, including rework prior to assembly or coating.
The component looks clean, but the residual dirt reading is still incorrect. Why is that?
This is because a coolant or oil film is not visible to the naked eye, but is very clearly detectable by measurement. A visual inspection is not a suitable criterion when it comes to technical cleanliness – which is why cleaning and verification go hand in hand.
How can chips be removed from cross-drilled holes and intersecting holes?
It is not simply a matter of using more pressure. The crucial factor is that the cleaning medium actually reaches the bore: we move and rotate the component during the process and align the nozzles and workpiece carriers with its geometry. It is just as important that the fluid drains completely from cross-holes and blind holes, carrying the swarf with it. For particularly complex geometries, high pressure is also applied – often combined with deburring.
LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR
CLEANING TASK
Please tell us about your cleaning requirements. You’ll receive a no-obligation reply directly from our team of experts within 24 hours.
