How to Specify Equipment Size and Options for an Ultrasonic Cleaner

Selecting the right equipment size and options for industrial ultrasonic cleaners is just as important as using the right frequency to obtain optimum cleaning performance. Depending on the cleaning application requirements, either a flexible system or a system designed for one particular task may work best.  Also selecting the corresponding options will influence how the system can be used.

In ultrasonic cleaning systems, the parts to be cleaned are immersed in a solution contained within ultrasonic cleaning tanks. The tank should be big enough to hold the largest parts or parts with unusual shapes (for tanks of custom shapes), but the power of the system also has to be adequate to fill the tank with ultrasonic sound waves.

Small or delicate parts may be easily damaged by vibrations if they come into contact with the walls and/or bottom of the tank. Placing the parts in a basket will help in reducing the possibility of vibration damage, so the basket has to be large enough to hold the parts and the tank has to be large enough as well to hold the basket.

Ultrasonic transducers can be immersible, bolt on or permanently installed on the cleaning tank. Among the three, immersible transducers are the most flexible because they are independent units that can be placed into any cleaning tank, whenever they are needed. Bolt-on transducers can be removed or replaced when needed, while mounted transducers are usually the part of a turn-key ultrasonic system that can’t easily be changed.

Ultrasonic cleaning generators produce an electrical signal at the selected ultrasonic frequency. A generator can be designed to produce just one frequency, several frequencies or a wide range of frequencies. Depending on the cleaning requirements and the application, an ultrasonic system may need a generator that produces one or multiple frequencies.

Customers can choose industrial ultrasonic cleaners that are turn-key, or they can have them assembled from the individual components to meet their requirements.

Read the complete article, “How to Specify Equipment Size and Options for an Ultrasonic Cleaner” to learn more. For questions or to schedule a free consultation, contact Kaijo at 408-675-5575 or email info@kaijo-shibuya.com.

Tuning into the Right Frequency for Your Ultrasonic Cleaning Application

Ultrasonic cleaning is an excellent solution for removing contaminants from a variety of components and parts without the use of strong, corrosive cleaning chemicals or mechanical brushing. It provides a faster, safer and a more effective solution for many different cleaning applications.

The key to successful ultrasonic cleaning is choosing the right operating frequency. This is to avoid damage of the parts to be cleaned and for rapid and complete removal of contaminants.

An ultrasonic cleaning generator produces the selected frequency for the system. When the ultrasonic waves pass through the cleaning solution, they produce cavitation bubbles that form and collapse quickly. As these bubbles collapse, they produce a powerful jet that dislodges dirt, contaminants and other foreign matter from the surface of the parts that are being cleaned. It is important to choose the right ultrasonic generator for the application to optimize the cleaning power but avoiding damaging the part being cleaned.

Low frequency (25 kHz) – the lowest ultrasonic frequencies produces bigger cavitation bubbles, stronger jets, and a powerful cleaning action. This is used for removing heavy contaminants from parts with hard and durable surfaces. This frequency is not recommended for delicate parts as they could be damaged and soft surfaces could suffer pitting.

Intermediate frequency (40 kHz) – suitable for any common cleaning applications, the bubbles are smaller compared to those generated by low frequency and therefore this frequency is suitable for cleaning glass, jewelry, and machined parts.

High frequency (80 kHz) – this frequency produces smaller cavitation bubbles and a gentler cleaning. This is ideal for cleaning more delicate parts with a fragile surface finish, such as hard disc drives, LCD's and aluminum parts. The gentle cleaning action avoids pitting or roughening of softer parts.

Highest frequencies (130-160 kHz )- the highest frequencies are used for very fragile parts or parts that have soft surfaces. The cleaning action is light but effective for applications that include electronic components, semiconductors, and delicate medical instruments.

The complete article titled “Tuning into the Right Frequency for Your Ultrasonic Cleaning Application” provides more details on choosing the ultrasonic cleaning generator. Contact Kaijo at 408-675-5575 or email info@kaijo-shibuya.com if you have questions or would like to discuss your particular cleaning requirements.