The blades are made of nickel-based super alloys and the casting media used in the manufacturing process must be completely removed before blades are used in an engine assembly. The challenge was flushing out the internal cooling channels in the blades, which could only be accessed via a very small orifice.

MecWash designed and built a prototype which delivered good results. This was followed by the first production machine which has now been in use on the customer’s site for over a year. The customer was so impressed with the results that a second machine was soon ordered, followed by a third and fourth ‘BladeWash’ machine.  

The wash process features a high flow rate designed for flushing components. Components are held in a confined wash chamber, and water is pumped through and around the components at 1000-1800L/min (depending on the component and fixturing). 

MecWash MD, John Pattison, says, “We pride ourselves on listening to our clients and identifying their exact requirements so we can develop the best combination of technologies and wash solutions to achieve the desired finish. Due to its particularly high flow rate, the BladeWash is suitable for many applications that require powerful cleaning of components with internal bores or passageways.”