An ultrasonic cleaner can address a wide range of contaminants; it can handle cleaning of virtually any type of object. Tool selection is always important; especially so with ultrasonic cleaning equipment. Not every ultrasonic cleaner is created equal and the right equipment should be selected to meet the specific needs of the company. Before purchasing an ultrasonic cleaner, buyers should identify their ultrasonic cleaning needs and goals.
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Size of the parts to be cleaned
Always consider the largest item or part that will be cleaned regularly in the machine. Full measurements of the largest item should be taken and given to the manufacturer so that the proper tank can be specified for the application.
Ultimate cleaning goals
Post cleaning results are of primary concern for people in manufacturing, rebuilding, restoration or the medical field. Ultrasonic is the most thorough process of cleaning known to science. Consequently this methodology is utilized for countless applications around the world today. The time to clean parts is greatly reduced when ultrasonic cleaners are used versus hand cleaning methods. As a result, production is dramatically increased while the cost of cleaning goes down.
Utilizing the correct baskets/racks
The items being cleaned must not touch the ultrasonic transducers located inside the tank. Parts baskets should be utilized and selected specifically for the cleaning application. Any parts or baskets making contact with the ultrasonic transducer packs will eventually cause the surface of the pack to etch or scratch. Even though the packs are constructed of stainless steel, once etching occurs erosion will follow and will over time destroy the integrity of the transducer pack. This damage cannot be repaired and the transducer pack will eventually need replacement.
Ultrasonic cleaners create heat energy as they run. The heat will rise during the cleaning process due to the friction of the cavitation activity being created within the cleaning vessel. The rise in temperature cannot be avoided. Heaters are required to bring the cleaning solution to the desired starting temperature. They are also a necessity when cleaning contaminants such as carbon oil and grease residue. High temperatures help break down these contaminants to better facilitate the cleaning process.
Generator adjustability and wave sweep
Wave sweep is utilized and recommended in virtually all cleaning situations. By dispersing various frequencies with different wave lengths, wave sweep effectively eliminates in active and dead zones in the cleaning tank. This results in more uniform and effective cleaning of all parts especially those of intricate detail. Ultrasonic cleaners equipped with wave sweep do not require degassing modes as engaging the wave sweep accomplishes accelerated degassing of solutions.
Ultrasonic frequency and power
Most ultrasonic cleaners operate between 28 and 120 KHz. The lower frequencies produce larger cavitation bubbles with more abrasive cleaning. These frequencies are recommended for coarse cleaning needs such as removal of lapping compounds from durable metal surfaces. For fine cleaning of very delicate items such as jewelry and soft metals with polished surfaces, higher frequency may be more suitable. The most commonly utilized frequencies are 38 to 40 KHz because they are ideally suited for the vast majority of both commercial and industrial cleaning applications. The power generated by an ultrasonic cleaner should be capable of dealing with the client’s most difficult cleaning applications. Controls on the ultrasonic generator allow the operator to dial down the power whenever more delicate cleaning applications are addressed. Because power can be dialed down there is no need to buy cleaners with minimal power capability. Even cleaning delicate items may require more energy when multiple parts are cleaned at one time.
For more than two decades, Ultrasonics International has helped businesses improve profitability by providing their clients with ultrasonic cleaning equipment that feature the latest advancements in wave sweep technology. Our ultrasonic cleaning equipment has a reputation for reliability and longevity. Utilizing the proper ultrasonic cleaning equipment saves money and improves cleaning processes. Cleaning results will be measurably better and less time will be required to complete the cleaning process. Production numbers go up and labor hours go down dramatically because multiple parts can be addressed simultaneously.
At Ultrasonic International Corp. we serve many industries including automotive, marine and government agencies and more. In addition to our wide selection of standard units we consistently and regularly custom-design equipment to suit the needs of the individual customer.
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New tool day brings a special feeling. It’s born of bliss, measured in hours, playing with the latest addition to the garage arsenal. We never tire of broadening our “I can fix that” aptitude to corners of the automotive that were previously inaccessible. “No longer,” we say as we swipe the credit card or hand over cash at a garage sale. “This weekend will be different.”
When the big brown truck of possibilities dropped off a large box for me last week, I recited these very words. Because of all the tasks that fill my time each week, the one I’d love to streamline is cleaning parts and pieces. The process usually soaks up mountains of minutes and, at the end, often leaves me feeling only mildly accomplished. Lacking the space for a large parts washer or a solvent tank for soaking, I turned to an ultrasonic cleaner. Listen up, ye wrenchers: I am here to evangelize the high-frequency gospel.
The ultrasonic cleaner on my workbench is essentially a speaker box. But instead of music it produces the most annoying noise on Earth this side of Ford’s seatbelt reminder chime. The speaker is actually a transducer mounted in the tub of the machine, where you’d normally expect to find a center drain. The transducer emits high-frequency sound waves into the tub. Normal sound waves are referred to as sonic waves, while these high-frequency waves are considered ultrasonic.
The sound waves agitate the solution inside the tub and in turn cause cavitation—the formation and collapse of very small bubbles up against the surface of the object submerged in the solution. Cavitation effectively scrubs the part and in turn removes oil, dirt, and debris. Adjusting the solution, or even just the temperature of it, can change the cleaning power from extremely mild to decently aggressive.
Yes, ultrasonic cleaners can replace all the hand-cleaning that ordinarily needs to be done for a part-cleaning project. That is indeed the beauty of this tool, but the best practice still involves a little bit of elbow grease. The best approach is to knock the worst grime or filth off any part before it goes into the bath, if for no reason other than to keep the solution and tank cleaner for longer. Doing this preemptive work also allows for shorter cleaning times and, ultimately, better results. Just a quick scrub with a wire brush is enough, plus a wipe with a rag. Then on into the solution.
Once submerged, the part will be subject to the aforementioned cavitation. That will break free everything else that is stuck onto it—including whatever gunk is hiding deep inside the part, as in small passageways or nooks and crannies left from the casting process. Suddenly, all those pain-in-the-butt places to clean are no longer a pain. Drop the part in the tub, press start, and move on to the next piece.
The key items that prompted me to invest in an ultrasonic cleaner are these motorcycle engine case halves, plus the side covers. The oil passageways snake through the castings, and the last thing I wanted to do while cleaning was accidentally damage the threads for the banjo bolts that carry oil to the notoriously delicate valvetrain. The ultrasonic cleaner allows me to drop in those parts, fiddle with a few other things around the garage, come back and rinse the parts, then blow dry. That’s it; no solvents, no gloves. Heck, I don’t even have to worry about caustic liquid drips when I pull parts out, because my cleaning solution of choice is just distilled water and a little dish soap. Harmless!
An ultrasonic cleaner does have a downside: maintenance. The tub is a closed system—no circulation pump or anything—meaning the solution inside quickly becomes a broth of all the nasty things that the cavitation broke free. Some of the time you save cleaning parts translates into time cleaning the machine. Luckily, the Vevor unit I bought has an integrated drain inside what is not much more than a stainless-steel tub. Easy enough to wipe up and then refill.
There is an even savvier strategy available for those who find even a simple wipe-up to be a little annoying. (Or maybe the idea of hazardous, oily water sitting around is something you’d prefer to keep contained.) That’s where jars or other sealed containers—filled with cleaning solution—come in handy; this method leaves you with smaller amounts of dirty broth.
Sound waves travel freely through plastic or glass with no diminished cleaning efficacy. The ultrasonic cleaner therefore does not care if the parts are submerged in the primary solution or the contained solution inside the jar. The water in the tub stays clean this way, which means the machine is always ready. Just toss your part in a jar and into the water and let the machine run. It’s a great option for smaller parts, in particular.
Not for me, anyway. I pictured just dropping parts in the first time, pushing a button, and pulling them out looking perfect and ready to go. Instead, there is a learning curve when it comes to choosing solutions and an overall process.
For me it meant getting over the fear of cleaning aluminum. Choose the wrong solution and there is a chance of cavitation pitting or even lose material. Lower frequency, like the 40-Hz found in most home machines, creates larger bubbles which are more powerful when they collapse—powerful enough that it can tear soft aluminum. Try a sheet of tin foil in an ultrasonic cleaner and watch it get torn to shreds; that could happen to the surface of the piece you are trying to restore.
So with that in mind, this is †not the be-all end-all garage accessory. It is a really handy thing, though. If you are at all like me and have the basics tools for DIY maintenance and upkeep of vintage machines already covered, an ultrasonic cleaner might be worth it. The cost has come down enough that even ones like the 15-liter unit I purchased can be had for under $200. With this tool in my arsenal, my favorite sub-$, “just needs carb work” motorcycles from online classifieds don’t stand a chance against my newfound cleaning confidence.
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