Even though all manufacturing operations need cleaning as part of their process, it is essential to comprehend the difference between “cleaning” and “precision cleaning.”
As far as some industries are concerned, a visually clean surface might be enough. In contrast, for others, even the most microscopic contaminants need to be eliminated to guarantee the safety and quality of the equipment.
Precision cleaning is used to obtain such vital cleanliness levels in many industries, including Space, Military & Defense, Aviation, Medical Devices, Laser, Semiconductor, and Automotive.
Astro Pak took the time to help us out in a critical situation on a holiday weekend. Parts were cleaned with precision and ready on time.
Lead Facilities Technician, Medical Device Manufacturer, MD
Capabilities
- Oxygen Cleaning
- Non-Volatile Residue (NVR) Particle Cleaning and Testing
- Passivation (Citric and Nitric Acid)
- Clean Assembly and Packaging
- Hydrostatic and Pneumostatic Pressure Testing
- High Pressure Spray
- Gauge Calibration
- Class 10 and Class 10,000 Mobile Cleanrooms
Component and System Experience
- Components and Hardware
- Valves (Relief, Ball, Butterfly, Needle, Gate, etc.)
- Fittings and fasteners available
- Transducers and sensors
- Filters and Filter Housings
- Equipment or sub-systems
- Miscellaneous Assemblies
- Gauges (Pressure, Flow meter, Hydraulic, Cryogenic)
- Heat exchangers
- Tanks and vessels
- Rotating Parts
- Oxygen and Critical Gas/LOX Tubing and Componentry
- Pipe, tubing, and hoses
- Spools, flanges, gaskets
- Hydraulic componentry
Compliance
- ASTM G-93 (Standard Practice)
- ASTM F-311, F-312, F-331 (Testing Standards)
- CGA G-4.1 (Compressed Gas Association)
- IEST-STD-CC1246E
- RA0110-018, RA1110-025
- ATC-STD-4940
- CMSP-02291
- CMSP-02292
- MIL-STD-1246
- 1P00071, 1P00070
- BAC 5763 and 5402
- MSFC-SPEC-164
- STP0637
- STP0565
- STP1012
- LMA PG006
- SPX-00006876
- SPX-00021833
- 5-75192
- SSTD-8070-0089-FLUIDS
- KSC-C-123
- MAP-211025-9930 (CA Cleanroom only)
- PraxAir GS-38
- Over 100+ industry, government, and individual company specifications!
- ITAR
- DDTC
Markets Served
- Aircraft, Military, and Defense
- Biopharmaceutical
- Laser
- Medical Device
- Oil and Gas
- Power Generation
- Water and Wastewater
- Healthcare
- Semiconductor
What is Precision Cleaning?
Precision cleaning eliminates contaminants like particles, oils, fibers, and greases, leading to a surface so clean it should be validated on a microscopic level. Ineffective elimination of such contaminants could be expensive and considerably affect a company’s profitability, productivity, and reputation.
Astro Pak comprehends the significance of offering quality cleaning services. The company knows that every industry and component has special needs. The proper cleaning solution will be dependent on a combination of factors, including:
- The material composition and configuration of the hardware or components
- The level of cleanliness that the customer needs
- The level and composition of the contamination present
As such, one can test and certify all materials before cleaning. The cleaning methodologies are made of two core elements.
The first element includes cleaning the surface with the help of particular precision cleaning methods integrated with an approved cleaner in a process that has been validated for the stated purpose.
The second element includes testing and verification that the surface is cleaned to the level of precision essential for it to be safely utilized in its intended surroundings.
The degreed researchers test the vital surfaces for residues by using a process known as Gravimetric Non-Volatile Residue Mass Determination (NVR) Testing. The company quantifies and sizes any leftover particles discovered on the vital surfaces.
Precision Cleaning Techniques
Depending on the above factors, one or more of the following methods might be applied:
Aqueous Cleaning
This technique gives parts an extended dwell time in the cleaning solution. Additives like surfactants and detergents have been added to water treated by reverse osmosis or deionization.
This water-based cleaning method effectively eliminates diverse soils on parts compatible with water. The outcome is an eco-friendly technique for obtaining the preferred level of cleanliness.
Image Credit: Astro Pak Corporation
Solvent Cleaning
Primarily, cleaning by immersion in solvents is effective on parts with complicated configurations and for some soil compositions. This technique uses the solvent's chemical properties to eliminate the contaminants from the part. Solvent cleaning has been utilized jointly with ultrasonic cleaning for a few applications.
Image Credit: Astro Pak Corporation
Ultrasonic Cleaning
This method uses cavitation, which high-frequency sound waves have induced to agitate the cleaning solution that helps dislodge particles. It is especially effective for precision parts cleaning of complicated parts with rough surfaces, threads, and blind interior spots that have been inaccessible by other cleaning techniques.
Typically, ultrasonic cleaning applies aqueous, semi-aqueous, and solvent-based cleaning systems and detergents. This combination eliminates contaminants at an almost microscopic level, with greater sound frequencies, which is usually able to eliminate finer particles.
Image Credit: Astro Pak Corporation
High-Pressure Spray Cleaning
This procedure uses the kinetic energy of a water jet to “blast” the particles and soils from a surface. It is most frequently utilized jointly with surfactants or detergents to chemically loosen or solubilize the soils for the water jet to more effectively eliminate the contaminants from the surface.
The potential to alter the water pressure, nozzle size, and/or spray pattern enables this technique to be easily customizable for various construction materials and soil compositions.
Image Credit: Astro Pak Corporation
Wipe Cleaning
This method uses special lint- and particle-free wipes or swabs, frequently wetted with deionized water or solvents, to hand-clean sensitive surfaces that cannot resist more aggressive cleaning techniques.
Image Credit: Astro Pak Corporation
Flush Cleaning
Utilizing a turbulent velocity, cleaning liquids are flooded via the interior of pipes, tubes, and other internal pathways to flush the contaminants out of the hardware or component as it rotates. Particularly, this method is beneficial for the precision cleaning of components of varying shape and size for which high-pressure sprays are ineffective.
Image Credit: Astro Pak Corporation
Trust the Experts in Precision Cleaning
Astro Pak has more than six years of experience in the industry and provides quality cleaning services to fulfill the needs of hundreds of industry specifications. This includes those of aerospace contractors, NASA, ULA, the Department of Defense, and several private organizations.
To some of the world’s most esteemed institutions, the researchers and experts offer guidance and consultation on precision cleaning. These include JPL, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Cal-Tech, MIT, and others. The Research & Development professionals could develop a customized accuracy cleaning process that meets almost any requirement.
Coast to Coast Cleaning Facilities
Astro Pak is home to the largest and most highly advanced contract precision cleaning facilities in the United States. The southern California facility accommodates ISO 14644-1 certified Class 5 & 6 (FED STD Class 100 & 1,000) lab and cleanrooms.
The highlight of this facility is the 21,222 cubic ft Large Component Cleanroom that features 18 ft ceilings, 26′ W × 15′ H high-speed roll up door, and a two-ton overhead bridge crane to house hardware that is highly large for most conventional cleanrooms.
Situated just exterior of the Kennedy Space Center, Astro Pak’s 38,000 square foot facility in Titusville, FL, features an approximately 15′ × 15′ enclosed tower (70′ vertical) which allows the processing of hoses up to 60′ in length.
Being adjacent to the ISO 14644-1 certified Class 6 & 7 (FED STD Class 1,000 & 10,000) laboratory and cleanroom is a shop area with around a four-ton bridge crane and expanded hydraulic, hydrostatic, and pneumatic testing capabilities. Both Cleanroom Services locations keep up AS9100 certified Quality Management Systems.
On-Site Precision Cleaning Services
Besides Astro Pak’s in-house capabilities, it is possible to mobilize advanced equipment and highly trained personnel on-site to users’ facilities to execute preoperational or maintenance precision cleaning services and passivation services on users’ systems and equipment.