1. Core Cleaning Frequency: One-Time, Timely Cleaning
Trigger for cleaning: Conduct immediately after cutting (flame, plasma, laser) and before any post-treatment. This is the only mandatory cleaning during production.
Timing requirement: Finish cleaning within 24–48 hours of cutting. Fresh cut surfaces (without the protective patina) are prone to flash rust or oil adhesion-delaying cleaning will increase treatment difficulty and reduce coating adhesion.
Rationale: Once contaminants (oil, scale, HAZ) are fully removed and the surface is treated, the protective film (conversion coating, paint) forms a barrier. Repeated cleaning would damage this film, compromising corrosion resistance.
2. Exception Scenarios: Re-Cleaning Is Required
Oil/grease re-contamination: E.g., contact with oily tools, operator gloves, or cutting coolant splashes.
Dust/particle accumulation: E.g., long storage (over 7 days) in a dusty workshop, or stacking with dirty components.
Flash rust formation: E.g., moisture contact (rain, dew) before treatment causes light rust on the cleaned surface.
Re-cutting or reworking: If the cut edge is trimmed, ground, or reprocessed, clean the new cut surface again per the standard steps.
3. Production Scale-Specific Adjustments
Small-batch precision parts: Clean immediately after cutting (within 12 hours) to avoid contamination of intricate edges (holes, notches). No re-cleaning needed if stored in a clean, dry environment.
Medium/large-scale production: Clean in batches within 24 hours of cutting. If production is interrupted (e.g., treatment delayed), cover cleaned surfaces with dust-proof, moisture-proof film-re-clean only if film is damaged and contamination occurs.
