In the past, very few industries ran production in cleanrooms. Today, however, cleanroom production has extended beyond electronics and photovoltaic manufacturing, medical technology and the semiconductor industry. Numerous other industrial sectors also need components that are suitable for use in cleanrooms. Click here to find the most important information.
Which products does Festo offer for use in the cleanroom?
You can use all cylinders, valves, grippers and drives, all handling systems, vacuum systems and compressed air systems, sensors, filters, regulators and fittings from more than 80 product ranges from Festo in ISO class 7 cleanroom environments. Most are suitable for use in classes 6 and 5, and many can even be used in class 4 environments. We can also provide customised special solutions.
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- How does Festo qualify cleanroom products?
- How are cleanroom products classified?
- How do I find suitable cleanroom products?
- What should be taken into account when using cleanroom products?
Tips for cleanroom design
End position switch
When wiring the end position switches of double-acting cylinders, you need to make sure that you can’t move the cables and that they don’t rub against each other or any other equipment.
Cylinder cushioning
You should avoid high-force impacts in the end position. That's what cylinder cushioning is for. Adjustable and self-adjusting cushioning variants PPV and PPS significantly reduce particle emissions.
Single-acting cylinder
It’s better not to use single-acting cylinders because particles are discharged into the atmosphere via the exhaust. The piston rod seal is also considerably thicker in double-acting cylinders.
Bellows actuators
The cylinder fittings are leak-free when correctly assembled [1]. The piston rod seal, on the other hand, is a source of particle contamination due to its design. A protective bellows or vacuum exhaust can therefore be helpful [2].
Mechanical abrasion
You should avoid using rod eyes [1], rod clevises, flexible couplings and swivel flanges [2] since they generate abraded particles. Make sure that the tubing doesn’t move or rub against anything.
Vacuum applications
In the case of vacuum applications, its' advisable to use our rotary drives. This is because rotary motion is easier to seal than linear motion, and is therefore more suitable.
Air preparation
Fine particulates and contamination should be filtered out in several stages during compressed air preparation. We recommend using a filter cascade with 40 [1], 5 [2] and 1 µm [3] stages in cleanrooms.
Exhaust air
The pilot air for valves is hardly ever of any importance [1]. In contrast, exhaust air must always be ducted and should not be discharged into the cleanroom via silencers [3]. When correctly mounted, fittings are leak-free [2].
Spindle axes
Spindle axes are better suited for cleanrooms than toothed belt axes; they cause less abrasion and discharge fewer particles. Furthermore, the spindles are greased and thus the abraded particles stick to them.
Energy chains
Standard energy chains are critical in cleanrooms. Although there are special energy chains for cleanrooms, it’s generally better to ensure during the design phase that the handling unit is placed, where possible, underneath the workpiece.
And last but not least: when it comes to cleanroom compatibility at Festo, we always assume that closed, monitored compressed air systems are being used, without leakages and without particles being discharged into the environment by the exhaust air.
It’s important to note that our components are not suitable for conveying (with tubing and fittings) or switching (using valves) purified air! Our fine and micro filters are the only exception, since they generate highly purified air depending on the grade of filtration.