Using Industrial Ultrasonic Cleaners to Clean Disk Drives

Disk drives and components that include aluminium disk platter blanks and metal read/write heads are usually manufactured in standard industrial facilities. The processes used in their fabrication includes machining, stamping, punching, polishing, and molding using industrial chemicals for cooling, lubrication and as abrasives.

Before they are sent to special facilities for assembly, the hard drive components arriving from the industrial manufacturer must be cleaned thoroughly. Traces of industrial chemicals, contaminants added during shipment and particles adhering to platter surfaces must be removed completely. The components of hard disk drives must be especially clean, since the heads float very close over the platter surface and excessive contamination will not allow them to gather and store data.

High performance industrial ultrasonic cleaners can perform these types of cleaning tasks quickly and effectively. An industrial ultrasonic cleaning system produces microscopic cavitation bubbles in the solution of a cleaning tank. The bubbles form and collapse in time with the ultrasonic frequency. When a bubble collapses by the surface of a hard disk component, it produces a scrubbing action that removes dirt and contaminants. The bubbles form wherever the cleaning solution can penetrate, even around crevices, tinier holes and irregular shapes of disk read/write head.

To achieve optimum cleanliness, hard disk drive manufacturers usually use several frequencies to clean various components to remove specific contaminants. Deionized water is the preferred cleaning solution since cleaning agents leave traces that then have to be removed as well. For components that have surface lubricants, a mild detergent and/or heating the cleaning solution may make complete removal easier.

Kaijo offers free consulting to help customers choose the right industrial ultrasonic cleaners that will meet their requirements. Read the complete article “Using Industrial Ultrasonic Cleaners to Clean Disk Drives” to learn more. If you would like a free consultation or have questions, contact Kaijo at 408-675-5575 or email info@kaiijo-shibuya.com.