Ultrasonic Wire Draw Cleaning

For ultrasonic wire draw cleaning, high-intensity ultrasound waves are superimposed on conventional wire dies. Intense vibrations are generated by high amplitudes of an ultrasonic processor and directly coupled via wire die into the metal working piece (e.g., wires, rods, tubes). Ultrasonic draw cleaning works efficiently by using water as cleaning agent. The ultrasonically agitated die operates at reduces friction, removes unwanted residues and refines the surface and morphology of the processed endless material. Overall, ultrasonic wire draw cleaning is highly energy- and cost-efficient cleaning technique, which results in superior material outcome.

Ultrasonic Wire Drawing and Draw Cleaning

Hielscher Ultrasonics manufactures an ultrasonically vibrating wire die holder that works with standard wire dies of up to 42mm outer diameter. The ultrasonic agitation reduces the line tension required for the diameter reduction significantly. This can be used to increase line speed or to increase the size reduction per drawing step. With this technology, many materials such as copper, steel or aluminum can be drawn with pure water instead of oil or drawing soap.

Advantages of Ultrasonic Wire Drawing and Draw Cleaning:

• Surface reduction of up to 36,5% per drawing run (in contrast to the conventional 6%)
• Higher wire drawing velocities (increase by the factor of 3 when compared to wire drawing without ultrasound)
• Production of thinner wire diameters
• Reduction of drawing traction (50% of drawing tensile force at vs/vz = 2-3; 25% of drawing tensile force at vs/vz = 6)
• Ultrasound allows for substitution of lubrication (e.g. water) plus superior cleaning effects
Improved wire surface morphology and quality

Ultrasonic vibration reduces the friction between wire die and metal workpiece (e.g., wires, tubes, rods). Reducing the friction of drawing and thereby the required drawing forces saves energy costs and minimizes wear and tear of the drawing tools. Ultrasonic wire draw cleaning has been successfully applied to various endless materials, e.g. steel, aluminum, titanium and various alloys.

Wire Drawing and Cleaning with Water

Cleaning wire with water whilst a simultaneous surface finish of the endless metal or alloy material is improved. Ultrasonic vibrations also reduce uneven deformations of the wire, which enhances surface quality further. The cleaning effects of ultrasonic draw cleaning on non-lubricated wire uses water as cleaning agent and is operated at room temperature. The superposition of high-power ultrasound waves on any conventional wire die improves the overall process efficiency, enables to clean wires efficaciously with water and enhances the surface morphology and quality of metallic endless materials.

A typical setting of wire draw cleaning with the UIP1000hdT

• wire drawing speed: 120 m/min
• amplitude 50µm (= max. sound velocity 188 m/min)
• any conventional wire die

The application of ultrasonic vibrations to the drawing and draw cleaning of any metal endless material exhibits significant benefits to the process efficiency (accelerated speed, reduced friction, water as cleaning agent, drawing without lubrication using water) and the finished product (improved surface morphology and quality).