Industrial parts washers come in many designs. Depending on your application, you may need a large machine with a conveyor or a smaller, front-loading option that takes up less floor space. Rotary drum washers work well for cleaning high-volume parts, like stampings, fasteners and ammunition casings.
What makes a rotary drum different from other parts washers? Keep reading to learn more about rotary drum washers and their applications.
What Is A Drum?
A drum is like a rotating tub. It moves during the cleaning cycle to agitate the parts or carry them to the next station. Think about a household washing machine. During its cycle, a washing machine’s inner drum moves around, agitating the water, detergent and laundry. At a basic level, industrial-grade drum washers work the same way to clean with an aqueous solution.
Using A Rotary Drum Parts Washer
With a rotary drum washer, parts are fed into a rotating drum continuously or in batches. This drum looks like a long, horizontal cylinder. The drum’s internal helix causes parts to move through it as it rotates. During washing and rinsing stages, parts are gently tumbled to expose all surfaces and edges to the aqueous solution.
Rotary drum washers use both pressurized spray and immersion soaking for a powerful clean. Combining the two techniques removes grime from both the exterior and interior of parts. The spray washes oils, dust and debris from the exterior, and immersing parts into the solution flushes out any hollow areas or blind holes.
Need an all-in-one parts washer? Design your custom parts washer as a single or multi-stage system. Rotary drum washers can accomplish washing, rinsing, sealing, passivating and drying stages—all while keeping solutions separate.
Common Applications for Rotary Drum Washers
The parts washer you choose depends on your application. Rotary drum washers are often used in automotive, aerospace, metal forming and ammunition industries. These industries rely on processing high volumes of components efficiently.
Rotary drums come in many different sizes and designs:
- Mini rotary drum washers are great for small machined parts, metal stampings and die cast components. Mini drums can also clean rubber or plastics. Jenfab offers mini drums in 15” and 19” diameters.
- Large rotary drum washers tackle high volumes of fasteners, casings, battery cans and more. Larger drums provide heavy-duty cleaning power and come in sizes ranging from 30” to 45” in diameter.
- Dual drum washers offer two drums in one machine. The drum washers share tanks, heating systems and a dryer, but they can be operated at different speeds and designed to clean separate parts. You’ll be able to do more while taking up less floor space.
Why Choose A Rotary Drum Washer?
Rotary drum washers save time and can reduce costs associated with cleaning and processing parts. This type of parts washer is a match for those looking for:
- High output. Do you have a high product volume? Need to clean thousands of parts each day? Large rotary drum washers can process anywhere from 10,000 lbs. to 45,000 lbs. per hour.
- Delicate parts handling. What about parts with external threads? Will the machine damage delicate components? Though parts are tumbled during the process, rotary drum washers clean without causing damage. These parts washers are designed to handle delicate parts with care.
- In-line capabilities. Rotary drum washers can be fed continuously by another machine, increasing your ability to clean and dry at high production rates. Rotary washers can still be fed in batches, too, if your manufacturing process doesn’t warrant in-line capabilities.
Is a rotary parts washer what you need?
Jenfab offers several rotary drum models. Our LJ Drum Washers are made for small to medium parts, while our heavy-duty (HD) drums are built for large parts.
Request a quote today to learn more about our aqueous parts washers.
