Our Critical & Precision Parts Cleaning Case Studies

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Immersion/Ultrasonic Cleaning

3D-Printed Titanium Components

Products: AquaVantage® 815 GD

Parts Cleaned: Various components

Removing: Printing particulate, hydrocarbon oils from machining

Equipment: Immersion & Ultrasonics Washer

Durafoam GF 3D Printed Space Components

Products: AquaVantage® 815 GD

Parts Cleaned: Various aerospace alloys

Removing: Hangsterfers S787

Spray Wash

Space Tubing Components

Products: AquaVantage® 1990 GD

Parts Cleaned: Various tubing components.

Removing: Debris, hydrocarbon oils from processing.

Equipment: Better Engineering Cabinet Washer

Solid Rocket Motors

Products: AquaVantage® 1990 GD

Parts Cleaned: Various SRM components

Removing: Debris, hydrocarbon oils from processing.

Equipment: Proceco 14' Cabinet Washer.

Space Engine Components

Products: AquaVantage® 1990 GD

Parts Cleaned: Various space engine components

Removing: Debris, hydrocarbon oils from machining

Equipment: Better Engineering Cabinet Washer

Satellite Launch System Components

Products: AquaVantage® 1990 GD

Parts Cleaned: Aluminum pieces used in satellite launch systems; substrates requiring reliable bonding of insulating substrate layer.

Removing: Debris, hydrocarbon oils from processing

Scenario: Prior to bonding, Mission critical aluminum surface and bonded layer do not tolerate any corrosion, cleaner residue, or residual soils that would interfere with adhesion.

Miscellaneous

Life Support LOX and GOX Component Cleaning and Cleanliness Verification

Products: Solstice® PF-HP

Parts Cleaned: On Board Oxygen Generating Systems (OBOGS) for aerospace and defense Oxygen Breathing Systems. Design, build, repair OBOGS. The customer specializes in systems that utilize GOX and LOX. Currently they have these OBOGS in 3800 aircraft.

Specific Metals: Primarily Stainless Steel

Removing: Variety of machining lubricants (Mobil).

Equipment: Just-Rite Sprayer, Rapid Vap Machine, Soak, Ultrasonic.

Current Process: Asahiklin AK-225 was standard Navy approved cleaning solvent for O2 cleaning used in Vapor Degreasing and spray and wipe. Banned from use in the USA.

Improvements Sought: Must be approved for use and provide as good as or better results as the AK-225.

Aerospace

Immersion/Ultrasonic Cleaning Subsection

Large International Aerospace Component Supplier

Products: AquaVantage® 815 GD

Parts Cleaned: Multiple types of tubes; titanium and aluminum alloys

Removing: Processing and machining oils, Particulate and process debris, Corrosion inhibitor oils

Scenario: In-process cleaning and degreasing of parts at the end of the manufacturing process prior to packaging

Equipment: 3 Tank Ultrasonic Immersion

OEM Supplier to Boeing

Products: AquaVantage® 815 GD

Parts Cleaned: Manufacturing leading edge of helicopter rotor and helicopter air frame made of Aluminum 7075 and 7055

Removing: MetDraw and Houghto-Draw oil

Scenario: In-process cleaning of parts as they travel through the manufacturing process.

Equipment: 1700 Gal immersion tank with eductors

Aerospace Tubing

Products: AquaVantage® 815 GD

Parts Cleaned: Various

Removing: Magna Draw HV

Scenario: In process cleaning of parts as they travel through the manufacturing process

Equipment: Ultrasonic Tank

Aerospace Engine OEM Repair

Products: AquaVantage® 815 GD

Parts Cleaned: Turbine Engine Components

Removing: Multiple Contaminants – MRO

Scenario: Removing Scrub Line

Equipment: Ultrasonic Tank

Helicopter Overhaul Services

Products: AquaVantage® 815 GD

Parts Cleaned: Helicopter Rear Rotor Housings

Specific Metals: Steel & Aluminum

Removing: MRO soils from a war zone

Scenario: In process cleaning of parts as they travel through the MRO process

Equipment: Immersion tank without ultrasonics

OEM Supplier of Precision Bearings for Aerospace, Defense etc.

Products: 815 QR

Parts Cleaned: Various-sized ball bearings

Specific Metals: Variety of steels

Removing: Houghton Mar-Temp 2565, Houghton Quench K & Parks Vacuum Quench Oil

Scenario: In-process cleaning of parts as they travel through the manufacturing process

Equipment: 50 gallon ultrasonic unit

Sheet Metal Fabrication & Machined Components for the Aerospace, Power Generation & Military Industries

Products: AquaVantage® 3887 GD

Parts Cleaned: Aerospace parts in a variety of sizes and shapes

Specific Metals: Aluminum, Titanium, Stainless Steel & Steel

Removing: Mystik Jt6 HI-Temp Multi-Purpose Grease, Prodraw 722X Chlorinated wax/oil gel, Super Lithium EP Moly Grease, Weld-Kleen 350

Scenario: In-process cleaning of parts as they travel through the manufacturing process

Equipment: Immersion Parts Washer

MRO Aircraft Engine Parts

Products: AquaVantage® 3887 GD

Parts Cleaned: Various engine parts

Removing: Carbon

Equipment: Immersion Parts Washer & Spray Wash Cabinets

Aerospace Engine Components – OEM Supplier

Products: AquaVantage® 3887 GD

Parts Cleaned: Various engine parts in the defense and aerospace industry

Specific Metals: Aluminum

Removing: Heavy oils, Zyglo penetrant, and waxes

Scenario: In-process cleaning of parts as they travel through the manufacturing process

Equipment: System Technologies

815 GD Engine Component Manufacturer FPI Prep.

Products: AquaVantage® 815 GD

Parts Cleaned: Airframe & turbine engine parts

Specific Metals: Titanium, nickel alloy, stainless steel & aluminum

Removing: Machining coolants

Scenario: Preparation for NDT; soils must be thoroughly removed and detergent may not leave residue, so that cracks are not masked in the subsequent NDT process.

Equipment: 500L immersion parts washer with mechanical agitation (recirculation pump)

815 GD Turbine Blade Facility FPI Prep

Products: AquaVantage® 815 GD

Parts Cleaned: Turbine Blades

Removing: Coolants & Lubricants

Scenario: Inspection & Repair of turbine blades, prep for FPI

Equipment: OMEGASONICS 33 gallon

International Airframe Parts Maker

Products: AquaVantage® 815 GD-NF

Parts Cleaned: Multiple parts, 2024 AI airframe fuselage skin panels, fairings, winglets, as well as other airframe parts.

Removing: Processing and machining oils, particulate and process debris, corrosion inhibitor oils.

Scenario: “In process” cleaning of parts at the end of a manufacturing process prior to de-ox and anodizing.

Equipment: Immersion Cleaning with Air Spray

Aerospace Defence Contractor

Products: AquaVantage® 3887 GD

Parts Cleaned: Undisclosed – Aerospace

Removing: Oils and Coolants

Scenario: Parts cleaned for Aerospace defense specifically for rust prevention.

Equipment: Immersion Cleaning

815 GD Turbine Component Manufacturer FPI Prep.

Products: AquaVantage® 815 GD

Parts Cleaned: Rotating Parts

Removing: Castrol MB50

Scenario: Preparing the part surface for FPI testing.

Equipment: Crest

Spray Wash

OEM supplier to Boeing, Cessna, Pratt & Whitney

Products: AquaVantage® 1696 GD

Parts Cleaned: Aluminum T3 and T6

Removing: WD-40 and light oil

Scenario: In process cleaning of parts as they travel through the manufacturing process

Equipment: Walk-in 1800 Gal Spray Wash

Designer of Military Weapons, Munitions, and Electronic Warfare Sub-systems

Products: AquaVantage® 3887 GD

Parts Cleaned: Weapon Parts / Aluminum

Removing: Machine Oils used in Cutting Parts

Scenario: Remove impurities so final finishing process can be done

Equipment: Dishwasher

Tool & Machine Shop for Aircraft Engines etc.

Products: AquaVantage® 3887 GD

Parts Cleaned: Precision Turning, Milling & Assembly of Aircraft Engine & Helicopter parts

Removing: Hocut 795-B cutting oil

Scenario: In process cleaning of parts as they travel through the manufacturing process

Equipment: Spray Wash Cabinet

Aerospace Supplier

Products: AquaVantage® 1990 GD

Parts Cleaned: Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Titanium, Polyimide, Mostly laminated but some solid

Removing: Grease, Machine oil, Inks, Label adhesives, Water Jet sludge, Coolant, Shop dust, Fingerprints

Scenario: Final clean before identification marking and packaging

Equipment: Conveyor Washer

Spray Wash Process to Clean Inconel and Titanium Rotating Parts Prior to FPI

Products: AquaVantage® 3887 GD

Parts Cleaned: Rotating Jet Engine Parts

Removing: Mostly coolants, lubricants, Zyglo.

Scenario: Parts must cleaned after every operation by a GE approved cleaner to a GE spec.

Equipment: Spray Wash Cabinet

815 GD Aerospace Component Manufacturer FPI Prep.

Products: AquaVantage® 815 GD

Parts Cleaned: Oil pumps from field (MRO) disassemble and rebuild

Removing: Several petroleum lubricants specified for pumps, some burnt on carbon

Scenario: Preparing surfaces for FPI testing

Equipment: 3 Stage RAMCO- Turbo/Stroke no sonics

1990 GD Aerospace MRO Wheels & Brakes

Products: AquaVantage® 1990 GD

Parts Cleaned: Aircraft Wheels

Removing: Particulate matter, grease, brake dust and soil film

Scenario: Compliance with FAA wheel & brake inspection and overhaul guidelines

Equipment: Jenfab In-Line Front Loading Spray Washer

1990 GD Manufacturer of Critical Performance Products TCE Replacement

Products: AquaVantage® 1990 GD

Parts Cleaned: Aluminum, for aerospace industry.

Removing: Cutting oils, dirt, grease

Scenario: Cleaning required prior to the next stage in the manufacturing process

Equipment: Unknown Washer

3887 GD Deburring Contaminiation Removal Engine Components

Products: AquaVantage® 3887 GD

Parts Cleaned: Pratt & Whitney Blades for turbine engines, Aluminum (4140)

Removing: Castrol MB50 Coolant

Scenario: To remove the deburring contamination, which requires a Pratt & Whitney approved degreasing chemistry

Equipment: Jenfab 360-2

3887 GD Inconel and Titanium Rotating Parts FPI Prep

Products: AquaVantage® 3887 GD

Parts Cleaned: Rotating Jet Engine Parts

Removing: Mostly coolants, lubricants, FPI/Zyglo

Scenario: Parts must cleaned after every operation by a GE approved cleaner to a GE spec.

Equipment: 1 Kemec, 5 Better Engineering, 3 Stoelting, all cabinet washers

Miscellaneous

Aerospace OEM

Products: Brulin MP 1793

Parts Cleaned: Aerostructures, landing gear, gear boxes, air control systems

Removing: Removing Zyglo in FPI Process prior to applying developer in FPI Process

Scenario: To check for defects/cracks in large parts that can’t be immersed

Equipment: Manual Cleaning

Aerospace MRO

Products: AquaVantage® 3887 GD

Parts Cleaned: GE Fuel Pump Housing

Removing: Dirt, Grease, Oil, and burnt on carbon

Equipment: Hand Brushed

ShopVantage®

CNC Manufacturer

Products: AquaVantage® 815 GD

Parts Cleaned: Aluminum / Stainless Steel / Copper

Removing: Machine Oils used in Cutting Parts

Scenario: Customers require parts to be cleaned for delivery

Equipment: Blackstone – Ultrasonic Cleaner WRD-1414

Manufacture of Precision Deep Drawn Metal Components

Products: AquaVantage® 3800 GD

Parts Cleaned: Deep Drawn Metal Components

Removing: Castrol Bio Lube DF Heavy Draw

Scenario: Remove lubricants prior to plating/heat treating or between operations

Equipment: Jenfab 360-2

Heat Treater – Orange, CA

Products: Brulin MP 1793

Parts Cleaned: Steel, Aluminum, and others

Removing: Cutting , and machine oils , other residues

Scenario: The customer specializes in Heat Treating, Brazing, Finishing and Coatings for Metal Industrial Parts. Currently they use our 815GD in immersion tank for aqueous cleaning of parts; prior to Thermal Vac processes.

Equipment: Hand / Wipe Parts Cleaning with Acetone

Leading Manufacturer of Fire Suppression Systems

Products: AquaVantage® 3800 GD

Parts Cleaned: Fire Depression Equipment

Removing: Blazo Cut 935 Coolant

Scenario: In process cleaning of parts as they travel through the manufacturing process

Equipment: Conveyor type spray washer

Manufacturer of Fire Arms

Products: AquaVantage® 3800 GD

Parts Cleaned: “Buttons” Barrels

Removing: Largely Prodraw 150, Sunnen Hone Oil, S121 Saw Cut

Scenario: Post operation is heat treat

Equipment: Magnus 450 Gallon Wash/Rinse Stroke Agitation

Manufacturer of High-Vacuum Process Vessels in Semiconductor mfg

Products: AquaVantage® 815 GD

Parts Cleaned: Large parts of the process vessels, stainless steel

Removing: Particulate and low-level ionic contamination, very minimal oil

Scenario: Satisfying testing of the vessel parts for outgassing performance

Equipment: 2 separate wash processes, 200L ultrasonic, 4000L immersion

Manufacturer: Electrical Power Assemblies

Products: AquaVantage® 3800 GD

Parts Cleaned: Wide variety of parts of different shapes, mostly stainless steel

Removing: Corrosion inhibitor oil, machining particulate, ambient soils, fingerprint

Scenario: Cleaning of parts received from suppliers prior to final assembly

Equipment: Custom-built ITS spray wash tunnel system

ISTC Fact Sheet: Solvent Elimination

Products: AquaVantage® 1990 GD

Parts Cleaned: Variety of machining operations on all metals

Removing: Cutting oils

Scenario: Replacing solvent with aqueous detergent at a small metal fabricator

Equipment: Spray wash cabinet

815 GD Firearm Manufacturer Anodize Process

Products: AquaVantage® 815 GD

Parts Cleaned: Upper and Lower AR-15 receivers

Removing: Qualichem 250C coolant

Scenario: Next operation is either Cerakote or Anodize

Equipment: Ultrasonic Unit

815 QR-NF Oil Industry Lapping Compound Removal

Products: AquaVantage® 815 QR-NF

Parts Cleaned: Valves

Removing: Calcined alumina, Fused aluminum oxide, #6 oil base vehicle

Scenario: Must be free of all contamination before sending to customer

Equipment: RAMCO A-1S with Turbo Agitation

3843 GD Heat Treating Facility Prior to Heat Treat

Products: AquaVantage® 3843 GD

Parts Cleaned: Job Shop – Various

Removing: Oils and Lubricants

Scenario: Parts need to be free of oil before going into furnace to prevent smoke and possible fire.

Equipment: McLaughlin Furnace Group

Non-Silicated Quench Oil Removal TCE Replacement

Products: AquaVantage® Non-Silicated

Parts Cleaned: All types of steel parts from a wide variety of customer types

Removing: Quench oil and lubricants

Scenario: To remove quench oil after heat treating

Equipment: RAMCO

Transportation

Immersion/Ultrasonic

Racing Engines

Products: AquaVantage® 3887 GD

Parts Cleaned: High End Engine Blocks (Graphite Iron Blocks, Titanium Valves)

Removing: Carbon, Grease, Transmission Fluids

Scenario: Build and rebuild $50K plus racing engines

Equipment: 180 Gallon Ultrasonic Part Cleaner

Custom Motorcycle Shop/Harley Seller

Products: AquaVantage® 815 GD

Parts Cleaned: Chrome parts, engine parts, carburetors

Removing: carbon, old gas , corrosion

Scenario: Service/repair - online used parts business

Equipment: Omegasonics Pro Plus Model 5028-33Gal

Marine & Auto Engine Cylinder Blocks & Heads

Products: Alkaline Deruster HD

Parts Cleaned: Blocks and heads from many kinds of internal combustion engines

Specific Metals: Ferrous metal

Removing: Rust, carbon, paint

Improvements Sought: Heavy soils are difficult to remove quickly and thoroughly

Auto Intake Manifold Cleaning

Products: AquaVantage® 815 GD-NF

Parts Cleaned: Automotive intake manifold. Various models and sizes

Specific Metals: Cast Aluminum

Removing: Oil, particulate, carbon, ambient soils

Current Process: Various

Improvements Sought: Fast effective on-site way to clean at repair shop.

Diesel Particle Filter Cleaning & Overhaul

Products: AquaVantage® 815 QR-NF

Parts Cleaned: Diesel Particle Filters, various models and sizes from Ford Focus/Volvo V50 to commercial excavator

Specific Metals: Materials typically Stainless Steel, Ceramic, Binder. Highly alkaline chemistry can dissolve binder

Removing: Particulate, carbon, ambient soils. Frequently so clogged that water can’t be poured through the filter. Mild chemistry ineffective against soils.

Current Process: Typically discarded and replaced (cost from US$ 1,000 to US$ 8,000) or sent to specialist overhaul shop.

Improvements Sought: On-site way to clean at repair shop.

Automotive Tubes Manufacturer

Products: AquaVantage® 815 GD

Parts Cleaned: Condenser and evaporator components that are used in automotive air conditioning systems

Specific Metals: Aluminum

Removing: Various metalworking fluids used in bending, flaring, etc. Insoluble in water (separable). Flared sections can trap oils and impede cleaning.

Automotive Engine Overhaul

Products: AquaVantage® 815 QR-NF

Parts Cleaned: Engines, including very old, vintage and pre-war engine parts

Specific Metals: Ferrous metals, aluminum

Removing: Heavy carbonized soils, oils grease

Equipment: KKS Ultraschall Ultrasonic System 150L

Improvements Sought: Current cleaner is too alkaline to clean aluminum parts (causes corrosion). Wants a single cleaner effective on both ferrous metals and aluminum

Spray Wash

Engine Overhaul Facility

Products: AquaVantage® 224

Parts Cleaned: Heavy equipment parts and engines

Removing: Baked on carbon and grease

Scenario: They overhaul and repair Caterpillar, Deere,and other construction equipment

Equipment: Spray Wash System Cuda 2530

Racing Engines (NASCAR)

Products: AquaVantage® 3887 GD

Parts Cleaned: Engine Castings, Valve Train, Other Engine Components

Removing: Honing Oils, Coolants, Corrosion Inhibitors

Scenario: Supply Cleaning Chemistry and Cleaning Support

Equipment: Spray Wash & Immersion

Medical Device Manufacturing

Medical Device Manufacturer – PERC Replacement

Products: Bio-Solv Dewaxer

Parts Cleaned: Inserts for surgical devices

Removing: Oils from cutting and grinding, Universal Photonics #48 transparent pitch wax and Red Rouge buffing/polishing media

Scenario: Remove the soils prior to heat treat and brazing

Equipment: Ultrasonic immersion

Medical Syringe Manufacturer

Products: AquaVantage® 815 GD

Parts Cleaned: Syringes

Removing: Unknown water-soluble coolant

Scenario: Cleaned, sterilized, bagged, and shipped syringes

Equipment: Ultrasonics

Contract Manufacturer of Medical Devices

Products: AquaVantage® 815 GD

Parts Cleaned: Small parts, pins etc. 10-12” in length

Removing: Light machining oils

Scenario: In process cleaning for next manufacturing step

Equipment: Multiple 40 khz ultrasonic units

Ultrasonic Cleaning of Medical Devices

Products: AquaVantage® 815 GD

Parts Cleaned: Stock and custom tubing, shrink tubing, fittings, engineered components and assemblies

Removing: Mainly Lubricants, EDM oils

Scenario: Customer’s internal requirements

Equipment: Ultrasonic Consoles- Branson, Crest

Medical Tubing Manufacturer

Products: AquaVantage® 815 GD

Parts Cleaned: Vascular and Non-Vascular Tubing

Removing: Light silicone film from outer surface used as a process lubricant

Scenario: Preparation for additional part processing, not a final clean

Equipment: Custom Inline ultrasonic bath line

Corrosion Removal from Medical Devices

Products: Rust & Scale Solvent

Parts Cleaned: Stock and custom tubing, shrink tubing, fittings, engineered components and assemblies

Removing: Surface corrosion-rust

Scenario: Customer’s internal requirements

Equipment: Ultrasonic Consoles – Branson, Crest