With a new shot-blast machine, one of the largest foundries in Türkiye has expanded its capacity for de-sanding and cleaning engine blocks. A significant factor in the decision to install the RMBS 1-6-400-30 shot-blast system from Rösler was the high degree of process automation. Compared with spinner hanger machines, the RMBS system offers not only shorter cycle times but also requires less personnel.

Among other products, the foundry supplies grey and nodular cast iron engine blocks used in commercial vehicles and ships. The raw castings have dimensions up to 900 x 330 x 140 mm and weigh up to 237 kg.

The Rösler RMBS 1-6-400-30 shot-blast machine, specially adapted to customer requirements, allows the fully automatic simultaneous blast cleaning of one large or several smaller engine blocks within short cycle times. To this end, the machine is equipped with a specially engineered gripper-manipulator. After a robot has precisely positioned an engine block in the blast chamber, it is picked up and held firmly by the gripper. Once the blast chamber door closes, the blast program, tailored to specific work pieces, starts.

The gripper rotates the workpiece through the blast media stream. To increase the exposure of certain surface areas of the engine block to the blast media, users can slow or interrupt the rotation for a pre-defined time. For the simultaneously processing of several smaller engine blocks, these are mounted to a special work piece fixture. The entire fixture is then picked up by the gripper and rotated through the blast media stream.

According to Rösler, the resulting cycle time savings are such that the de-sanding and surface cleaning operation can be combined into a single process.

More information www.rosler.com

Intercable Tools has been firmly rooted in Bruneck in the Italian province of South Tyrol since it was founded in 1972. The family-owned company has subsequently served as a major manufacturer of connection technology and tools for industry professionals. In May 2024, Intercable Tools began using ultrasonic deburring technology from UltraTec Innovation, part of the Vollmer Group, to remove burrs from hydraulic units in a contact-free manner automatically.

For some time, Intercable Tools had been looking for an automated solution to replace manually deburring hydraulic units of battery-powered hydraulic cutting tools made from aluminium and steel. Such hydraulic units are used in battery-powered perforators, which the company manufactures and distributes. These sheet metal punches are suitable for punching round, square and rectangular holes up to 3 mm thick. The complex task for the UltraTec machine was to remove all detachable burrs from the inside and outside of the components.

Heinz Pramstaller, team leader of metal production at Intercable Tools, says: “We were looking for an innovative alternative to manual deburring. It’s also important for us to produce our variants without set-up time. The deburring process required optimal integration into the process, with the components cleaned using the same product carrier as the parts cleaning system.”

The new UltraTec A25 S system automates the manual process. Ultrasonic deburring means that the results remain the same, there is no damage to the drill holes, and uncontrolled material removal is generally avoided. It also guarantees that no holes are forgotten, which can happen with manual deburring. In addition, the ultrasonic deburring process has the advantage of cross bores being deburred and rinsed out simultaneously.

More information www.vollmer-group.com

Ecoclean is adding L and XL model variants to its EcoCcompact family of industrial parts cleaning systems. The new product family with three working chamber sizes and batch weights of up to 150 kg enables a capacity and cleaning performance that adapt precisely to company-specific requirements. Sophisticated equipment details, an effective washing mechanism and high energy efficiency keep cleaning unit costs low, reports Ecoclean. In addition, it is possible to convert the compact plug and play solvent systems from hydrocarbon to modified alcohol as necessary.

The two new solvent systems have working chambers with diameters of 650 (L) and 750 mm (XL), enabling batch sizes of 650 x 470 x 300 mm in the L version and 650 x 470 x 400 mm in the XL version. Frequency-controlled flood pumps ensure fast filling and emptying of the working chamber. During standard injection flood washing, the pumps generate a high mechanical cleaning effect that can take advantage of support from an optional frequency-controlled rotary drive for fabric rotation and positioning. Adapted to the cleanliness requirements, the systems can also feature all available process technologies for solvent cleaning, such as ultrasound and PPC.

The increased distillate output of up to 180 l/h and continuous oil discharge as standard also contribute to the high capacity and performance of the L and XL versions. In addition, the vertical integration of the flood tanks reduces sump formation and prevents dirt pockets from forming. The result is longer bath service life and a reduction in operating costs.

More information www.ecoclean-group.net