What distinguishes a cleanroom from a cleanroom CNC?
Cleanrooms differ from cleanrooms CNC primarily in terms of the size of the particles considered. While in the cleanroom the the focus is on invisible, airborne particles, the cleanroom CNC is primarily concerned with visible, sedimenting contaminants.
Cleanroom vs. cleanroom CNC: the big difference lies in the detail
When it comes to controlled environments, the terms “cleanroom” and “cleanroom CNC” are often equated – but they differ significantly, especially in terms of the size and behavior of the particles present. A visual comparison helps to clarify the relationship between the particle sizes:
A VW bus on a soccer pitch has the same size ratio as a particle in a cleanroom to one in a cleanroom CNC. In this comparison, the particle in the cleanroom CNC corresponds to the soccer pitch – the one in the cleanroom to the VW bus. Of course, this is a highly simplified picture. In reality, even the particle sizes in the cleanroom vary up to 50-fold – but the comparison is good as an initial idea.
Particles with a size of around 40 micrometers can still be seen by the human eye. In the cleanroom CNC, the relevant particles are usually between 600 and 100 micrometres in size, i.e. 0.6 to 0.1 millimetres – and therefore visible in many cases.
Particle behavior – the biggest difference
A decisive difference between a cleanroom and a cleanroom CNC is not only the size, but above all the behavior of the particles:
- In the cleanroom CNC, particles are usually not airborne but – depending on their density – sink to the floor or other horizontal surfaces. They remain there until they are actively removed by cleaning. Typical particles are
- Dust
- fibers
- Lint
- Chips
These often arise directly in the cleanroom CNC or are introduced by personnel or material.
- In the cleanroom, on the other hand, the particles are much smaller – usually less than 5 micrometers – and remain suspended in the air. They do not sediment on their own and cannot be detected with the naked eye. Air pollution control is therefore much more complex here.
Same technology – different requirements
The significance of the particle size has a direct effect on the spatial concept:
- In cleanrooms CNC, particles cannot be effectively removed by air exchange. This is why behavior, clothing and cleaning processes play a particularly important role.
→ The air exchange rate is of secondary importance here, and the requirements for the filters can also be correspondingly lower. - In cleanrooms, on the other hand, air routing and cleaning are crucial, as airborne microparticles can only be removed from the room through efficient filtering and high air exchange rates.
And yet: The technical equipment in both rooms is often very similar.
Why? Because air conditioning requirements or economic reasons (e.g. FFUs in recirculation mode with high-performance filters) often mean that proven cleanroom technology is also used in cleanrooms CNC. .
Conclusion
The terms “cleanroom” and “cleanroom CNC” sound similar – but the requirements and the handling of particles differ significantly. While in the cleanroom the While the focus is on invisible, airborne particles, the cleanroom CNC is primarily concerned with visible, sedimenting contaminants.
Nevertheless, similar technical solutions are often used in both cases – because economic efficiency and technical standards often lead to comparable implementation.
