Clean CNC Equipment Without Water, Grit, or Hours of Scrubbing
Coolant residue, chips, way oil, and caked-on grime don’t just look bad—they hide leaks, reduce reliability, and slow maintenance. Dry ice blasting is a premium, precision cleaning method that removes buildup without abrasive media and without water, helping CNC shops restore equipment cleanliness with minimal teardown and faster return to service.
Sublimate Technologies serves Central Indiana and surrounding areas with mobile on-site service and in-shop cleaning for fixtures, tooling, and assemblies. We can schedule around production needs, preventive maintenance windows, and weekend/off-shift work.
Pain Points We Solve
- Coolant sludge and chips accumulate in corners, behind guarding, and around
conveyors—creating maintenance headaches. - Pressure washing introduces water where you don’t want it, increasing corrosion risk and cleanup time.
- Hand-scraping and chemical degreasers are slow, messy, and hard on crews.
- Abrasive blasting is risky around precision surfaces, bearings, and sensitive components—and leaves grit behind.
- Dirty enclosures hide leaks, worn seals, and problems that lead to unplanned downtime.
- Equipment appearance matters for audits, customers, and shop standards.
Value Proposition
Restore machine cleanliness faster, with less mess. Dry ice pellets (solid CO₂) are accelerated with compressed air. On contact, they lift contamination and sublimate, leaving no blasting media behind. Cleanup is typically limited to the removed sludge, oil, and debris—helping your team move quickly from cleaning to maintenance to production.
Key Benefits for CNC & Precision Machining
- Dry, residue-free process: no water intrusion and no abrasive media left behind.
- Non-abrasive cleaning that helps protect precision surfaces and finishes (application dependent).
- Reduced downtime: targeted cleaning and less disassembly for many machine areas.
- Improved maintenance visibility: clean surfaces reveal leaks, cracks, worn seals, and fastener issues.
- Better housekeeping: reduces slip hazards and messy coolant/oil buildup around equipment.
- Supports preventive maintenance by restoring access to components and improving inspection quality.
Why Dry Ice Blasting Is Unique
- No grit contamination: dry ice disappears—helpful around bearings, drives, and tight mechanical spaces.
- Targeted precision: clean rails, guarding, corners, and complex geometry without flooding the area.
- Lower secondary waste: you collect primarily the removed contamination.
- Flexible scheduling: ideal for planned PM windows, weekend work, or shutdown periods.
CNC Applications (What We Clean)
CNC Machine Areas (Scope-Dependent):
- Machine enclosures and guarding (interior surfaces)
- Chip conveyors, pans, augers, and transfer chutes
- Coolant residue/sludge buildup in non-critical areas
- Tool changer areas and external housings (as appropriate)
- Work lights, windows, doors, and operator-access surfaces
Fixtures, Tooling & Workholding:
- Vises, tombstones, pallets, clamps, and fixture plates
- Coolant/oil residue removal from assemblies
- Prep cleaning prior to inspection, refurbishment, or rework
Shop Equipment & Support Systems:
- Coolant tank exteriors and surrounding areas (scope-dependent)
- Parts baskets, racks, carts, and guarding
- Electrical cabinet exteriors and machine bases for leak tracing (as appropriate)
Services We Offer
- Mobile on-site dry ice blasting for CNC machines and surrounding equipment
- In-shop fixture and tooling cleaning (drop-off or coordinated logistics)
- Coolant residue, way oil, and grime removal (application dependent)
- Chip conveyor and enclosure cleaning support to improve PM efficiency
- Pre-inspection cleaning to reveal leaks, wear, and defect indicators
- Before/after photos and service notes upon request
Service Options
- Mobile On-Site Service: We clean at your shop across Central Indiana and surrounding areas.
- In-Shop Service: Ideal for fixtures, workholding, guards, and assemblies delivered to us.
- Premium Logistics Coordination: For select projects, we can coordinate pickup and drop-off of parts/assemblies.
What to Expect (Our Process)
- Scope review (machines/areas, contamination type, access, and schedule constraints)
- Protection plan (masking/isolation of sensitive areas and collection strategy)
- Dry ice blasting with controlled settings matched to the substrate and buildup
- Collection/cleanup of removed material and wipe-down as applicable
- Handoff for final checks and return to production
Safety & Operational Considerations
Dry ice blasting uses CO₂ and can displace oxygen in confined spaces. We follow disciplined safety practices, including worksite assessment, ventilation planning as needed, and protective procedures. We also tailor the cleaning plan to avoid sensitive components and protect critical surfaces.
FAQ
Will this damage my machine or precision surfaces?
Dry ice blasting is non-abrasive compared to traditional media blasting, but surface suitability depends on material and settings. We adjust technique and can test a small area when needed.
Do you need the machine fully torn down?
Often, no. Many areas can be cleaned in place with targeted access, reducing teardown time. We’ll recommend the best approach after a quick scope review.
Is there a mess afterward?
Dry ice leaves no media behind. Cleanup is typically limited to the removed sludge, oil, chips,
and debris.
Can you work weekends or during planned PM windows?
Yes. We regularly schedule around production needs, including off-shift, weekend, or shutdown periods.
Call to Action
For a quote, send photos of the machine/area, the type of buildup (coolant sludge, way oil, chips, adhesive, etc.), and your preferred service window. We’ll propose a scope designed to
reduce downtime and restore cleanliness the right way.