Technical cleanliness in assembly processes
Prevent particle contamination of sensitive screw assembly components
Just as an aggressive virus can cause illness in humans, the smallest particles can damage components and lead to malfunctions or, if used as system components, could even lead to a complete system failure. There are many reasons that such hazardous particles may be generated during production processes. In the automotive industry particles are predominantly created by abrasion during assembly. DEPRAG Schulz GmbH has therefore developed their ”CleanFeed” concept to prevent particle contamination of sensitive components which require a high standard of cleanliness during screw assembly.
Technical cleanliness is increasingly being introduced in a wide range of sectors and is becoming an important quality requirement for the whole process chain: from production to logistics to assembly. The trend toward miniaturisation, as well as increased electronics and the greater use of new lightweight materials is primarily responsible for this. On the one hand, components are more powerful and efficient but on the other hand, they are also sensitive to even the slightest impurities.
An example of the consequences of miniaturisation can be seen in injection systems: These must withstand increasing pressures and already small, they are becoming smaller and smaller in size, in places only a few micrometres. Micrometre sized, hard, metallic particles can block gaps causing continuous injection. This can affect the function of a motor enormously and lead to motor damage. In electronic components, even the smallest conductive particles can cause a short circuit. These problems are amplified by the use of new materials such as carbon-fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP) whose particles are conductive.
There is a wide range of techniques and methods which can be employed to fulfil the increasing requirements for technical cleanliness in production processes. For example, processing steps involving components which are sensitive to cleanliness are relocated to cleanrooms and entry is only permitted to trained personnel wearing appropriate protective clothing. This should avoid any infiltration of particles from the outside. In addition, components undergo extensive cleaning procedures and creation of particles from abrasion during transportation is prevented by using fixed position and anti-static packaging.
The effort involved in the prevention of particle contamination should be rigorously and continuously maintained throughout assembly because it is here, in direct contact with components, that hazardous particles can be generated through abrasion. The risk is high that sensitive components may become contaminated by dangerous particles. The percentage of such components is high within the automotive and supplier industries where there is an increasingly tight focus on technical cleanliness during the assembly process.
More information: DEPRAG SCHULZ GMBH u. CO.
