Swarf Recycling Systems
Our swarf washers retrieve high value metals and super alloys lost during the machining process. These lines size reduce, decontaminate and dry the material creating a raw material for vacuum melting
Why Recycle Swarf?
Contaminated swarf or turnings represent a significant loss in material especially metals like titanium and super alloys such as nickel-iron- cobalt. Rotajet have specialised metal recycling systems to fully wash and dry swarf and turnings to a vacuum grade standard.
The ecological importance of recycling material is now unquestionable but it is particularly important for metallurgy. The monstrous energy requirements during the extraction of metal ore, alongside the loss of biodiversity during the mining process cause
The Process Flow of Swarf Recycling
Swarf is normally tangled together and generally acts as a bulk mass. To process the swarf, the material needs to be reduced in size to 6-15mm chips, this not only allows the material to be easily conveyed and processed, but it also increases
1) Size reduction
Swarf is normally tangled together and generally acts as a bulk mass. To process the swarf, the material needs to be reduced in size to 6-15mm chips, this not only allows the material to be easily conveyed and processed, but it also increases bulk density.ย
2) Decontamination
The swarf is cleaned by both chemical cleaning action and also the impingement from the force of the spray nozzles. The used cleaning solution is then transferred to a bulk storage vessel where it is heated and filtered before being recirculated.ย
3) Drying
Before entering the vacuum furnace it is important to ensure that the material is completely dry to reduce atmospheric pressures as the moisture is evaporated. It is imperative at this stage that carbon is not reintroduced so care has been taken in both designs to ensure indirect heating is applied.
4) Ferrous Removal
Often in swarf and turnings waste streams ferrous metals contaminate the material reducing the purity of the output material. Typically we use a combination of an overband magnet and a drum magnet, the ferrous material is then removed and stored in a separate bagging area.
5) Bagging and Storage
The swarf is cleaned by both chemical cleaning action and also the impingement from the force of the spray nozzles. The used cleaning solution is then transferred to a bulk storage vessel where it is heated and filtered before being recirculated.ย
Our Solutions
Rotajet offer two standard designs for swarf recycling systems each with their own merits for specific applications. These designs give us the flexibility to deal with all variants required by the industry. If you would like advice and guidance on how these lines can be installed at your facility please get in touch with our technical team on the link below.
Rotajet are the experts in the design and manufacture of cleaning and degreasing machinery. We’ve worked with some of the worlds biggest brands to create intuitive systems to repurpose, repair and manufacture metal and plastic components.