„We tend to clean the molds earlier and so achieve a consistent cleaning result - specially with complicated, filigree molds” summarizes Daniel Bolliger, workshop manager of Stüdli Plast AG, his first experiences with this new cleaning method. „But most of all we are much faster than with the conventional methods of cleaning by rags and solvents“, Bolliger continues.
Stüdli Plast AG, after thorough evaluation, has decided to purchase the dry ice blasting unit ASCOJET 1208 of the swiss manufacturer ASCO Carbon Dioxide Ltd. This very compact device was designed for industrial use and distinguishes itself by easy handling and high efficiency. The nozzle accessories specially designed for the plastics industry enable easy cleaning of molds of all sizes and complexity, which makes it unnecessary to remove the molds for cleaning.
The advantages of dry ice blasting as a cleaning solution for plastic injection molding are obvious. The interaction of thermal and kinetic energy makes deposits or adhering residues disappear immediately. And this without influencing the geometry of the molds or leaving residues of the cleaning agent. "Dry ice literally ends in air” Jose Fernandez closes his explanations to the functioning of dry ice blasting. Jose Fernandez is Area Sales Manager for Dry Ice Applications with ASCO Carbon Dioxide Ltd and has personally advised Stüdli Plast on their way when evaluating the perfect cleaning solution for their company.
For Jose Fernandez a top argument for the cleaning with dry ice is definitely that the molds must not be removed for cleaning or high tempered forms must not be cooled down and then warmed up again. Thanks to all these advantages dry ice cleaning is meanwhile established as standard in the industry. Be it for manual application or automated robot solution.
Captions:
Figure 1 – Removal of adhering residues with dry ice
Figure 2 – Daniel Bolliger (l.) talking shop with Jose Fernandez (r.)