Revitalizing a $3 million CNC Machine
In the fast-paced world of aerospace manufacturing, unforeseen challenges can have a cascading effect on production timelines. In this case, our client’s brand new $3 million CNC machine could not be utilized on delivery due to outside circumstances. Fortunately, our client knew the best solution for this situation: dry ice blasting!
Challenge
Upon delivery, our client was surprised to find surface rust had formed on the machine during overseas transportation. With aerospace manufacturing quality standards being among the highest of any industry, the machine could not be put into production until all surface rust was removed. With many sets of eyes on this expensive machine, the sight of surface rust was disheartening to say the least. This CNC machine has many different nooks and crannies where traditional hand scrubbing would be overwhelming and time consuming. Traditional cleaning methods also open the risk of contamination from water and chemicals. They needed professionals with expertise in cleaning complex sensitive machinery, so our team at CryoMode answered the call.
Surface rust on a section of a CNC milling machine
Our Rapid Response
It was clear that we had to act as fast as possible to minimize downtime. Our crew arrived on site within 48 hours of being first contacted. Coming prepared with the right tools was of the utmost importance. The massive machine was located 80 feet from the bay doors of the factory, but our 100+ feet of air and blast hoses were plenty for the job. Unloading our Cold Jet PCS 60 dry ice blasting machine and accompanying equipment was quick, and within 20 minutes of arriving our crew was ready to work.
The Result
In just over three hours, our team was able to safely and successfully remove the surface rust from all affected areas. The collaboration between our experts and the client's operating team was seamless, ensuring that each component of the machine was adjusted to get every hard-to-reach spot.
In a manufacturing environment cleanliness is critical, but safety is priority number one. Excess waste from water, chemicals, and other media runs the risk of more equipment being contaminated. Worse, it runs the risk of spillage and someone getting hurt.
If you know dry ice blasting, then you know that there is no additional waste, chemicals, bio- hazardous materials, or any other media left behind. In this case, the surface rust blasted off the steel surface and fell to the ground. The rust is then simply swept up and disposed of in a garbage can.
Our same-day resolution avoided further production delays and restored their confidence in the reliability of their machinery. It also made their $3,000,000 machine look like… well, at least $3,000,000!
Dry ice blasting made this machine operational in just a few hours time.
Conclusion
In any manufacturing facility, every minute counts. When equipment is down, companies lose money and customers get frustrated. Dry ice blasting turned a potential crisis into an amazing opportunity for us to showcase our capabilities in a critical situation. Our client’s satisfaction further validates it: dry ice blasting is amazing!