Manufacturing fasteners and O-rings is a dirty job. The machining process leaves behind metal shavings, dust, and debris. Lubricants and coolants used to reduce friction and heat during machining leave a residue on the fasteners. An unprocessed, or “raw”, O-ring will contain a great deal of water that chemically forms during manufacturing. Additional solvents and plasticizers with low vapor pressures will also likely be present on their surface. The handling and storage of fasteners and O-rings before they reach the assembly line further exposes them to dust, dirt, and oils from human contact and the environment; airborne contaminants settle on the fasteners and O-rings, adding to the buildup of unwanted substances. This means that for many applications, the fasteners and O-rings will require precision cleaning processes prior to installation.
Why is proper cleaning so important?
Proper cleaning, packaging, and handling of hardware, fasteners, and O-rings for clean-critical applications cannot be taken lightly. Proper cleaning is essential to:
- Remove Contaminants: Dirt, grease, oil, and other contaminants can interfere with the proper functioning of the fastener and, potentially, the machine they are installed in. These substances can prevent the fastener from seating properly, reduce friction, and lead to inadequate torque application. O-ring manufacturing cleanliness is affected by several factors, including factory temperature and humidity, the age and finish of the O-ring molds, mold lubricants and/or mold release powder, curing, flashing or residual seam presence, storage, handling, and packaging. All of which contributes to a very dirty raw O-ring.
- Ensure Proper Torque: Contaminants can affect the torque applied during installation. If a fastener isn’t clean, it may give a false sense of tightness or cause over-torquing, which can lead to damage or failure.
- Corrosion Prevention: Contaminants, especially moisture or salts, can lead to corrosion if trapped under the fastener after installation. Cleaning helps ensure that the fastener and the materials it connects are free from substances that could cause rust or corrosion over time.
- Enhance Adhesion of Coatings: If the fastener is to be coated or treated (e.g., with thread-locking compounds), cleaning is essential to ensure proper adhesion and effectiveness of the coating.
- Reduce Risk of Failure: A clean surface ensures that the fastener can perform as designed, reducing the risk of loosening, slipping, or mechanical failure during operation.
- Outgassing: Outgassing is a common problem when creating or maintaining a clean high-vacuum environment. High-vacuum environments and high temperatures increase the outgassing rate due to vapor pressure and increased chemical reactions. Many materials release lightweight molecules that can interfere with the vacuum process, even materials generally not considered absorbent (such as metals and glass). Proper cleaning can help reduce or eliminate outgassing in your system.
What are the benefits of purchasing pre-cleaned and packaged fasteners and O-rings?
The value of a precision cleaned and packaged O-ring, vented/non-vented screw, hex nut, or washer may seem trivial, but their overall performance and savings for you (both in cost and time) can be measured. Buying pre-cleaned and packaged fasteners and O-rings, such as RediVac® parts from UC Components, Inc., offers several advantages over purchasing uncleaned fasteners and O-rings and then sending them for cleaning:
- Time Efficiency: Pre-cleaned fasteners and O-rings eliminate the need for additional cleaning steps and additional costs to send them for cleaning, allowing for quicker integration into the assembly process. This can help reduce lead times and improve overall productivity.
- Cost Savings: Cleaning fasteners and O-rings in-house or through a third-party service incurs additional costs for shipping, labor, equipment, and chemicals. Pre-cleaned fasteners and O-rings reduce or eliminate these expenses, which can lead to significant cost savings, especially for large-scale operations.
- Consistency and Quality: Pre-cleaned fasteners and O-rings are typically cleaned under strictly controlled conditions, ensuring consistent quality and cleanliness. This reduces the risk of contamination and ensures that the fasteners and O-rings meet the required standards for installation.
- Reduced Handling: Purchasing pre-cleaned fasteners and O-rings minimizes handling, reducing the risk of recontamination before installation. Pre-packaged fasteners and O-rings are protected from environmental factors that could introduce dirt, oil, or other contaminants.
- Compliance with Standards: Pre-cleaned and packaged fasteners and O-rings are often certified to meet specific industry standards, ensuring they are ready for use in critical applications without further preparation.
- Simplified Logistics: Managing the cleaning process requires coordination, tracking, and sometimes specialized storage. Pre-cleaned fasteners and O-rings simplify logistics by arriving ready to use, reducing the complexity of inventory management.
Why choose UC Components as your clean-critical fastener and O-ring supplier?
We have been the world leader in high vacuum hardware since 1974 and are pioneers and innovators in vented screw manufacturing, providing effective solutions for HV, UHV, EUV, and other clean-critical applications. Our precision cleaning process significantly reduces or eliminates surface particulates and other organic surface contaminants, utilizing a variety of cleaning methods and state-of-the-art vacuum packaging equipment. All precision cleaning and packaging is performed within our certified Class 100/ISO Class 5 Cleanroom. Regular monitoring of cleanroom processes is undertaken to ensure our high quality and performance standards are maintained.
How does UC’s Precision Cleaning process work?
We utilize a proprietary cleaning and packaging process known as RediVac®. RediVac® means ready for vacuum service, now! This process reduces surface particulates and other contamination by utilizing a multi-stage cleaning, inspecting, and packaging system, which is done inside our top-of-the-line certified Class 100/ISO Class 5 Cleanroom.
Step 1: Ultrasonic cleaning process
Step 2: Close inspection
Step 3: State-of-the-art vacuum packaging
Our RediVac® products help you run faster and leaner by reducing additional preparation steps.
Fasteners and O-rings explicitly designed for your clean-critical applications
We offer a variety of standard and vented screws, washers, hex nuts, and O-rings in multiple materials and sizes. We offer numerous finish options, specialized venting designs, complete custom product development, and Class 100/ISO Class 5 Cleanroom cleaning & packaging. View our online parts catalog to find the components you need, request a quote, or contact us for more assistance or additional information.
If you do not see what you need listed in our standard products, please contact us! We may not stock what you are looking for, but we can acquire or manufacture just about any fastener or O-ring needed for your application. When you call, email, live chat on our website, or fill out one of our site’s RFQ or contact forms, you will get a response from one of our live fastener specialists, not an order taker, AI, or machine. Your partnership is not just a transaction; it’s a relationship built on trust, and we are committed to ensuring that your voice is not only heard but deeply valued. We say what we do, and do what we say, RediVac® counted, cleaned, consistent. Contact UC Components, Inc. today: 408-782-1929 or www.uccomponents.com.
