Dry Ice Blasting for Foundries and Metal Forming
Foundries and Metal Forming
Permanent Molds
Dry ice blasting allows the molds to be cleaned in place. They need not be removed. They may be cleaned hot. Reduce line down time up to 90% over conventional cleaning. Permanent core molders of aluminum wheels and transmission casings use dry ice blasting to clean mold release agents, which cause mold fouling and lubbers. No added solvents or water needed; dry ice leaves no residue.Dry ice blasting cleans the slot and screen vents at the same time, reducing the need for separate cleaning.
General Maintenance
Man Fans
A major automaker has formally identified dry ice blasting as a "Best Practice" for cleaning man fans throughout the plant. Dirty fans fail frequently when they are needed most and are very essential to assembly-line worker productivity during hot weather. Dry Ice cleaning requires no flammable chemicals, and requires only ventilation for general use. Dry ice blasting is not corrosive to electrical wiring, motors or switches, and is non-conductive. As dry ice blasting is electrically safe, it may be done in place.
Installed Equipment
Dry ice blast cleaning is used throughout auto assembly plants to clean dirty production equipment and remove grease, dirt and oil prior to disassembly. Dry ice blasting does not require an expensive secondary contaminated-waste disposal nor produce potentially-explosive gases, so it is safe in the vicinity of electrical arcs. Unlike conventional sand blasting, dry ice blasting does not leave sand and grit behind that must be removed to prevent damage to bearings and other moving machinery parts.
Maintenance of Fixed systems
Lubricating System
Cleaning fixed systems or distribution areas many be nearly impossible with conventional cleaning methods. Dry ice blasting lets these seemingly-impossible areas be cleaned, without disassembly, solvent or extended down time. Cryogenic cleaning is faster and less labor-intensive than other cleaning methods. The wide choice of dry ice blasting units are easily adapted for special purposes.
