Reliabotics introduces carbonic cleaning systems

 

Reliabotics (New Brunswick, N.J., U.S.), in collaboration with CleanLogix and Hitachi High-Tech, has introduced to the composites market a line of CO₂-based cleaning products designed to provide fast, highly efficient, waste-free cleaning of a variety of surfaces, including molds and finished composite parts and structures. Called carbonic cleaning, the technology is similar to dry ice cleaning, but uses CO₂ delivered from a bulk tank and into a nozzle system that jets CO₂ particles onto a surface to dislodge contaminants. The CO2 tanks require no manual loading and the nozzle uses thermodynamics to change CO₂ particle size. Further, as with dry ice cleaning, CO₂ particles the carbonic system sublimate immediately after impact and produce no VOCs or waste.

The products Reliabotics manufactures fall into two categories. The first is the CO₂ delivery module, and for this the company offers the CM-1 and the CM-2. CM-1 is a portable, robot-ready tabletop model that uses beverage-grade CO₂ and is designed for small parts/applications. CM-2, designed for larger applications, uses gas-bulk and micro-bulk CO₂ and offers network and IO connectivity.

The second product type is the nozzle. Nozzle CE-3, compatible only with the CM-1 delivery module, offers a 1-inch cleaning footprint and consumes up to 12 lb/hr of CO₂. Nozzle CE-6, compatible with CM-1 and CM-2, offers a 2-inch cleaning footprint and consumes up to 24 lb/hr of CO₂. Nozzle CM-10, compatible with CM-2 only, offers a 5-inch cleaning footprint and consumes up to 40 lb/hr of CO₂. 

Reliabotics representatives say that its carbonic systems are designed to complement surface preparation systems — like plasma or corona treatment — that require a clean surface prior to preparation. To that end, representatives add that it is possible to combine a Reliabotics carbonic cleaning system with a plasma or corona treatment system in one robotic end effector, enabling cleaning and surface prep in a single pass. Reliabotics says the only material its carbonic system cannot remove is silicone. Reliabotics' technology and products are proven in the automotive, biomedical and electronics industry and are now being targeted toward composite surface preparation and high-reliability bonding applications in aerostructures.

For more information, contact Ahsan Anwar, surface specialist and product manager at Reliabotics.