Thread 269/05
Cleaning blind threads
Hello Jack,
I work for a medical device company which is in the business of manufacturing orthopaedic surgical instruments. We're currently struggling with the successful cleaning of a surgical instrument made of 455 custom s/s. The problem area is a blind 10-32-unc thread which when checked with a Q-tips
⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil links] after passivation and cleaning still shows residue. We've clean the parts in an ultrasonic cleaner with micro 90 before we heat treat and at final inspection before we put them through the passivation & cleaning line. We still get mixed results. I think it's heat treat scale which is loosened up at passivation but we can't figure out how to prevent it. Can you help?
Manufacturing Engineer - Mahwah, NJ, U.S.A.
2004
publicly reply to Lionel Fuentes
A. The KISS principle in this case is to either insert a plug in hole because of its small size a 10-32 screw. Don't mess with chemicals and cleaners.
AF Kenton
retired business owner - Hatboro, Pennsylvania
publicly reply to AF Kenton
A. Yep, you have a big ouch. Heat scale, dirt, or just metal. The only thing worse than heat treated 400 series, is heat treated400 series with blind holes, and the only thing worse is heat treated 400 series with blind holes and EDM.
Jon Quirt- Minneapolis, Minnesota
publicly reply to Jon Quirt
A. If you want the cleanest blind holes and threading, two words come to mind. "Steam Cleaner" Stick the nozzle in the hole and blast away. I also clean my threads with isopropanol [rubbing alcohol] and a compressed air blast right on my lathe. Saves a ton of problems later.
Jeff Swayzethings - Kelowna, B.C., Canada
publicly reply to Jeff Swayze
Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread