Overview

A centrifuge screen is the perforated basket or liner that separates solids from liquid inside decanter, peeler, pusher and basket centrifuges used in chemical, food, pharmaceutical and wastewater processing. Slots or holes are cut to retain the cake while draining the filtrate, so slot width, open area and edge quality govern both separation efficiency and basket life. Centrifuge screen etching forms these apertures photochemically in flat 316L or duplex stainless sheet, giving burr-free, taper-free slots that are then rolled and seam-welded into the basket.

The process images the slot artwork on both faces, dissolves the unprotected metal in a matched etchant, and can double-side etch to produce tapered slots that resist blinding. Because removal is chemical, the sheet stays flat and stress-free before rolling, with no burr to shed into the product. Centrifuge screen etching typically runs 0.2–1.5 mm stock with slots from 0.15 mm and open area up to 55%, covering prototype baskets and replacement screens for continuous duty.

Parameter Window

• Available Materials: 316L / 304 stainless steel, duplex stainless steel 2205, nickel alloys
• Material Thickness Range: 0.2–1.5 mm
• Tolerance: ±0.03 mm on slot width, ±0.10 mm on developed panel
• Minimum Feature: 0.15 mm slot, 0.20 mm hole, up to 55% open area
• Surface Options: electropolish, passivation, deburring, rolling and seam welding, bead blasting
• Compliance: ISO 9001 process control, RoHS/REACH material traceability

Manufacturing Process / Workflow (8 Steps)

1. Artwork & DFM Review — Convert the basket development into vector artwork and check slot width, pitch, margin and weld allowance.
2. Material Selection — Choose 316L, duplex 2205 or nickel alloy to match the corrosive medium, and confirm flatness and surface grade.
3. Cleaning & Lamination — Degrease the sheet and laminate dry-film photoresist on both faces under controlled heat and pressure.
4. Dual-Side UV Exposure — Expose slot artwork on both faces with registered film so tapered slot inlets and outlets align precisely.
5. Development — Wash out unexposed resist to open the slots, then inspect the narrowest features for residue before etching.
6. Controlled Etching — Spray chemistry matched to the alloy and double-side etch to hold ±0.03 mm and form tapered drainage slots.
7. Stripping & Forming — Remove resist, neutralize, then electropolish, deburr, and roll and seam-weld the screen into the basket.
8. Inspection & Packaging — Verify slot width, open area and flatness against the approved first article, then pack with interleaf protection.

Core Advantages

1. Burr-free slots: Chemical removal leaves no roll-over or slag, so the filtrate stays clean and the screen needs no deburring.
2. No hard tooling: A new slot pattern is a new film, keeping prototype baskets and spare screens economical.
3. High open area: Uniform slots up to 55% open area drain freely without sacrificing slot-to-slot consistency.
4. Tapered double-side slots: Wide-entry, narrow-exit slots drain quickly and resist blinding by the filter cake.
5. Stress-free before forming: Etched sheet stays flat with no residual stress, so it rolls and welds to a stable, round basket.
6. Corrosion-grade flexibility: 316L, duplex 2205 and nickel alloys run on one line, matched to the process medium.

Typical Applications

• Decanter centrifuge baskets: Slotted liners for continuous sedimentation with uniform drainage.
• Peeler centrifuge screens: Perforated screens for knife-discharge machines with clean hole edges.
• Pusher centrifuge slots: Tapered slot screens that resist blinding across pusher stages.
• Sugar and chemical crystal separation: Screens that retain crystals while draining mother liquor.
• Pharmaceutical crystal recovery: Clean, easy-to-sterilize screens for active-ingredient separation.
• Wastewater sludge dewatering: High-open-area screens with good throughput and scour resistance.

Design Notes & Process Considerations

1. Slot versus particle size: Set slot width from the cake particle distribution; too wide loses fines, too narrow blinds the screen.
2. Open area versus strength: State open area and thickness together, since a high open area can weaken the basket under speed.
3. Taper callout: Give inlet and outlet dimensions separately for double-side etched slots, not one blanket tolerance.
4. Forming allowance: Mark seam-weld position and rolling allowance, and require roundness and burr-free edges after forming.
5. Surface and medium: Name electropolish or passivation, since the corrosive and cleaning medium governs material build-up and life.
6. Panelization: Group screens with shared registration marks and archive the digital master so centrifuge screen etching repeats spare orders exactly.