SME5300 Fixture Cleaning Machine Guide by Southern Machinery
Fixture cleaning machine SME5300 from Southern Machinery cleans 20~40 reflow and wave soldering fixtures per batch in a 1 m rotating basket, then rinses and hot-air dries them automatically. Closed-loop filtering reuses detergent and rinse water, PLC touch-panel control makes cycles repeatable, and pressure sensors protect the machine. This guide gives a four-step evaluation method, the key specification table from the source datasheet, an example payback formula, and notes on fitting fixture cleaning beside wave soldering, board handling and inspection equipment in a complete PCB assembly line. Figures are per source datasheet; confirm final configuration with Southern Machinery.
Oct 26, 2026 · Updated Oct 26, 2026 · Southern Machinery
Fixture cleaning machine SME5300 is a batch cleaning system for reflow oven and wave soldering pallets, plates and flux-contaminated machine parts. According to the source datasheet, its 1 m diameter rotating basket cleans 20~40 fixtures per load, then rinses and hot-air dries them in one automatic cycle. This guide shows how to decide whether it replaces your manual pallet-cleaning routine.
Why is manual pallet cleaning costing more than it looks?
Nobody budgets for the brush. Yet the source lists the real costs of cleaning pallets by hand: it takes a long time, fixtures are cleaned one by one, labor cost is high, and the work is unpleasant and harmful to operator health. Iron brushes can scratch fixtures, so surface damage becomes a hidden consumable cost.
The quiet problem
Your line looks fine until a dirty pallet shows up as a process question. Cleaning gets pushed to whoever has a spare hour, so results vary by person and by shift. That variability is what a machine removes.
What is a repeatable way to evaluate a cleaning machine?
Use a four-step check before any purchase:
- Inventory the load. Count pallets, plates and parts per day, and note their materials. The source covers composite stone, steel and aluminum fixtures.
- Time the manual process. Record minutes per fixture and staff involved.
- Compare against cycle time. Source figures: clean 3 ~ 20 min, rinse 1 ~ 2 min, dry 10 ~ 20 min, per batch.
- Check the footprint and utilities. See the table below.
Example payback formula
Monthly saving = (manual labor hours saved x hourly labor cost) + (fixture damage avoided) + (cleaning liquid saved) - consumables. All inputs are your own; this is an example method, depending on configuration and subject to final technical confirmation. No ROI is guaranteed.
How does the SME5300 clean a batch?
The vehicle for the framework is the SME5300 from Southern Machinery.
Cleaning action
Cleaning liquid is sprayed from 3 spray rods (upper, lower, front) while the basket rotates. The source quotes liquid pressure up to 6 kg/cm2 and describes complete 720 degree coverage. A hot-air dry stage leaves fixtures ready for use.
Closed-loop liquid handling
Cleaning detergent and rinse water are filtered and reused inside the machine. The cleaning filter has three grades (2 mm screen, 100 um screen, 20 um filter core for flux); the rinse filter has two. The source says 5 cleaning filters are normally replaced every 15~30 days, depending on cleaning condition.
Control and protection
PLC control with a touch panel (English interface) lets you set and change cleaning parameters. One-button operation runs high-pressure clean, rinse and hot-air dry automatically. Pressure sensors on the cleaning and rinsing pipes alarm when pressure is above or below the set value, protecting the machine and prompting maintenance. The source lists Mitsubishi PLC, touch screen and inverter, CKD solenoid valves, and Omron power unit components, with an all SUS304 structure and no PVC or PPH tubes.
Which specifications matter when choosing it?
| Item | SME5300 (per source) |
|---|---|
| Cleaning basket | 1000 mm diameter x H200 mm |
| Batch size | 20~40 fixtures per load |
| Cleaning / rinse tank | 80 L / 80 L |
| Clean / rinse / dry time | 3~20 min / 1~2 min / 10~20 min |
| Liquid and hot air heating | 9 kW each, room temperature ~90 C |
| Pump power | 2.2 / 1.1 kW |
| Blower | 3.7 kW |
| Air supply | 0.5~0.7 MPa, 800-1000 l/min |
| Power | 380 VAC, 3 phase, 50/60 Hz, 34 kW (13 kW normal operation) |
| Machine size | 1380 x 2000 x 1400 mm |
| Net weight | 600 kg |
A customized basket of 1200x310x360 mm is also shown in the source for pallet holders. Price and delivery: not specified in source, contact Southern Machinery to confirm.
Where does it fit in a full PCB assembly line?
Fixture cleaning sits beside your thermal processes. Wave soldering pallets and reflow fixtures are the main targets, so it supports wave soldering lines and the wider THT machine range. Pair it with board handling systems and inspection equipment for a complete line. Southern Machinery, founded in Shenzhen in 2011 and serving 237+ global customers, supplies SMT and THT lines with global service, spare parts support and professional training.
FAQ
What can the SME5300 clean? Reflow and wave oven fixtures and pallets in composite stone, steel and aluminum, plus flux-covered parts such as coolers, filters and chains, and greasy plastic, hardware or electrical parts.
How many fixtures per batch? 20~40 pieces, per the source.
Does it reuse cleaning liquid? Yes, closed-loop filtering of detergent and rinse water; it also has automatic fill and discharge.
How often are filters replaced? Normally every 15~30 days for the five cleaning filters, depending on conditions.
What power does it need? 380 VAC, 3 phase, 34 kW installed, 13 kW in normal operation.
What should you read next?
Next in this series: how the S-1688 stencil cleaner fits the same cleaning routine, and a maintenance calendar approach. Browse the auto insertion range meanwhile.
Ready to size your cleaning cell?
Send your pallet sizes and daily volume via get a quote and Southern Machinery will confirm configuration for you.
Comments