Cleanliness is a crucial factor for manufactured parts, from internal moving parts like shock absorbers and motors to electronic contacts and bonding surfaces. But how do you ensure that a surface is completely clean?
In the average job shop, parts may be cleaned with solvents, an ultrasonic washer or perhaps even a blast from an air line – laughable to manufacturers of parts that need to be really, provably spotless. In this video, we check out a system that tells you exactly what particulates are on your parts.
With this Olympus system, contaminants are washed off the test surface with a solvent onto a filter membrane. The membrane is processed and placed on the stage of the CIX100 microscope, which automatically detects reflective and non-reflective particles, particle size and particle count. The data and microscope images can then be examined on-screen and exported to a generated report.
For a part such as an air intake, a shock absorber or a moving component, the surfaces need to be very clean and free from particulates. According to Mark Zander, industrial microscope specialist at Olympus, it’s common for automotive companies to ask for certain cleanliness standards or specifications. This system will allow you to show an objective report on the hard data.
Another application for this tool is for ensuring parts are clean following a surface preparation process before adhesive bonding. Surface cleanliness is essential for good adhesion. Confirming cleanliness before bonding allows for greater control over the strength of the bond.
The tool can detect particles 2.5 microns up to 45mm. These particles are barely visible to the human eye, and the system automatically catalogs and analyzes every contaminant particle for review in a report.
For more on quality inspection, check out Gage Studies and Gage R&R by metrology expert Jody Muelaner.