The quality of parts produced by cold stamping plays a crucial role in controlling costs in subsequent processes. This is particularly true in the production of exterior parts for cars, which must meet strict quality standards.

Importance of Cleaning in Production

During the preparation process of sheet metal for forming external car parts, various types of contaminants such as dust and oily residues can accumulate. This type of contamination can lead to aesthetic defects in the stamped parts, negatively impacting the final product quality. Therefore, cleaning the sheet metal is a crucial step in the forming process.

Traditional Cleaning: this usually involves industrial washers that use large amounts of chemicals to remove impurities. The sheet metal is then cleaned and oiled with the residue removed by wringer rolls.
Dry Cleaning: this is a mechanical technique that uses transverse rotating brushes with polyamide bristles to remove contaminants from the sheet metal surface. It is particularly effective, removing debris as small as 5 µm (microns).

Traditional cleaning with industrial washers has long been the industry standard, but with technological advancements, dry cleaning is gaining ground due to its numerous advantages.

Economic: economically, this technology significantly reduces operational and maintenance costs due to lower energy consumption and the elimination of large quantities of chemicals. At the same time, the higher quality of dry cleaning reduces the risk of defects, thereby also reducing the costs of subsequent processes.
Environmental: the elimination of chemical use drastically reduces the environmental impact of the cleaning process.
Workplace: dry cleaning machines require less maintenance and offer greater operational reliability, reducing machine downtime and increasing productivity while lowering maintenance costs. Additionally, reduced exposure to hazardous chemicals significantly improves operator workplace safety.

Sheet Metal Lubrication Procedures

After cleaning, the lubrication of the sheet metal is another important aspect to consider. Its purpose is to reduce friction throughout the process: this step not only extends the life of the moulds but also improves the final product quality. One of the most advanced and effective lubrication techniques is spraying, which offers numerous advantages over traditional methods.

This allows for the application of lubricant only in the necessary areas, without contact with the sheet metal, ensuring precise oil distribution. This is particularly useful for addressing the criticalities of the cold forming process, compensating for the numerous variables involved.

Targeted lubricant application reduces these irregularities and improves the final product quality, minimizing defects such as scratches or dents on the metal surface.

Another significant advantage of this sheet metal lubrication technique is the reduction of the need to remove large amounts of lubricant in subsequent operations. In traditional processes, excess oil can accumulate, requiring costly and laborious cleaning operations. Instead, the amount of lubricant applied is optimized to be sufficient but not excessive, thus reducing cleaning time, costs and improving overall production efficiency.

Benefits of Sheet Metal Cleaning and Lubrication

The combination of proper sheet metal cleaning and lubrication offers numerous benefits in the production of external car parts, reducing the risk of defects that require reworking deformed parts.

The system’s flexibility offers particular benefits to the stability and control of the cold forming process.

Sheet metal cleaning and lubrication tend to prolong the life of the working moulds: reducing friction and preventing excessive wear not only reduces maintenance costs but also improves production efficiency and reduces machine downtime, as they last longer and require fewer replacements.

Investing in optimized cleaning and lubrication procedures not only improves product quality and reduces maintenance costs. For companies operating in this sector, adopting cleaning and lubrication practices is now essential to remain competitive and ensure high-quality products.

If you are interested in a cutting-edge lubrication system, take a look at our Sagoma unit. Should you wish to request detailed written information or offers instead, do not hesitate to contact us at our email: sales@dietronic.eu

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Sheet Metal Cleaning and Lubrication: Procedures and Benefits