Customer Background
Customer is a division of a large corporation and is a leading producer of medium-caliber ammunition cartridge cases. They specialize in drawing and extruding, thermal treatment, and precision machining and finishing of steel, aluminum, and brass.
Challenge
Our customer required a machine to clean cutting oils, chips, and wax stearate from aluminum ammunition shell casings. Batch cleaning in baskets containing 100 parts each were required with a cleaning rate of 1,000 parts per hour. Casings needed to be visually clean, oil break free, and free of drawing lubricant.
Solution
Alliance provided an Aquamaster CB-2400X conveyorized belt washing system with six modules. These modules included an alkaline wash, rinse #1, acid wash, rinse, #2, rinse #3, and a regenerative blowoff. Heavy-duty stainless steel (Type 316) was used in construction of the conveyor belt, tank, canopy, and piping for a more effective, corrosion resistant finish. This machine is completely insulated and cladded providing sound dampening and heat retentive properties. All six zones are designed with hinged access doors that include viewing windows and safety switches to shut down the corresponding zone pump if the access door is opened during operation. Quick-release hinged cleanout doors are flush to the tank bottom allowing for quick and easy maintenance. This machine utilizes steam heat with a solution level control and pump forward filling. A regenerative blower with high-velocity air knives completes the cleaning process. Other accessories included in this design were a dual exhaust fan system, oil coalescing system, and a product sensor at the load end.