The cleaning solution is a mixture of sodium hydroxide and water prepared by the system in the mixing tank. The system fills the mixing tank with water and 50% sodium hydroxide as set by the operator. A two-blade mixer continually agitates the mixture while the caustic is added. Once prepared, the cleaning solution is heated to an operator-selected temperature, which is then monitored and maintained.

 

Die cleaning is accomplished by loading dies into one or more reactor tanks, closing the lid, and pressing the ‘Die Clean Start’ button. The reactor tanks then fill with the hot caustic cleaning solution from the selected mixing tank. This heated solution is circulated through the reactor tanks, past the dies, and pumped back to the mixing tank.

 

When the preset cleaning time has elapsed, the caustic solution is drained from the reactor tank. Once the reactor tank is empty, heated rinse water from the rinse water holding tank is pumped in for an initial rinse.

 

After this rinse water is returned to its holding tank, water from the second rinse water holding tank is pumped into the reactor tank for a final “finish” rinse. When the second rinse is complete and the water has been returned to its holding tank, the reactor tank lid is unlocked and can be opened. If multiple tanks are used, individual cleaning times can be set to customize the cycle as required by the dies.

 

During the die cleaning process, SmartStrength™ monitors the caustic solution’s ability to remove aluminum and displays the Cleaning Power Index (CPI). The CPI value helps the operator decide how long to soak the dies and when a new batch of cleaning solution is required.

 

SmartStrength also prevents “fall-out” (precipitation of solids) by aborting any reactor tanks in operation when the CPI reaches a lower threshold.