How Ultrasonic Cleaners Are Used for Engine Block Cleaning

Cleaning engine blocks with traditional methods can be difficult and time-consuming. Plus, they do not guarantee thorough cleaning. The use of ultrasonic technology to remove heavy surface grease and dirt from part surfaces is an attractive alternative to these traditional cleaning methods.

Automotive ultrasonic cleaners work by generating microscopic bubbles in the cleaning solution. The bubbles form and collapse in tune with the ultrasonic frequency. When they collapse, they create a tiny but energetic jet that strikes the engine block surface and dislodges deposits.

Low frequencies create comparatively larger cavitation bubbles and correspondingly powerful jets. The bubbles’ powerful cleaning action is suitable for robust parts with hard surfaces such as engine blocks.

Higher frequencies, on the other hand, create smaller cavitation bubbles and a gentler cleaning action. This makes these bubbles suitable for cleaning automotive parts with softer surfaces or delicate surface coatings to avoid pitting.

To clean the large automotive parts such as engine blocks, the parts have to be completely submerged in the cleaning solution. A suitable ultrasonic cleaning tank will hold the engine block with an allowance of several inches to facilitate the proper circulation of the cleaning solution and the cavitation bubbles, which form everywhere the cleaning solution can penetrate, even inside cavities and threaded holes. The complex shapes and surfaces that make an engine block hard to clean with traditional methods are easily cleaned by the cavitation bubbles in the ultrasonic cleaner.

Since automotive ultrasonic cleaners can quickly and efficiently remove heavy deposits from engine blocks and other automotive parts, they can provide significant benefits to automotive restoration and maintenance shops that use them. If they transition to ultrasonic technology, shops can achieve better cleaning performance, reduced costs, increased efficiency and a safer working environment.

For more details read the complete article titled “How Ultrasonic Cleaners Are Used for Engine Block Cleaning”. If you have questions or you would like to set up a free consultation, contact Kaijo via email at info@kaijo-shibuya.com or call 408-675-5575.

Ultrasonics Clean Semiconductor Components for Heart Pacemakers

Implants used in medical procedures are subject to extremely high standards of cleanliness and sterilization.

Traditional cleaning methods including manual cleaning, using parts washers and steam sterilization are often not effective for implants using new technology. Semiconductors are fragile and sensitive to heat; thus, they could be damaged from the traditional cleaning methods or excess heat.

Ultrasonics provide an attractive alternative to the traditional cleaning methods.  Medical ultrasonic cleaners can clean implants with complex shapes and crevices, heat-sensitive semiconductor parts and other medical devices to achieve cleanliness and sterilization standards without damaging fragile components.

Ultrasonic cleaners use the scrubbing action of microscopic cavitation bubbles in the cleaning solution to clean parts quickly and effectively. An ultrasonic generator produces a high-frequency electric signal, and an ultrasonic transducer converts the signal to sound waves in the cleaning solution. As the sound waves travel past the parts to be cleaned, they generate the tiny bubbles. The bubbles form and collapse in tune with the ultrasonic frequency, delivering a powerful scrubbing action against the surfaces of the parts to be cleaned.

While ultrasonic cleaning technology itself removes all traces of contaminants from the parts surfaces, it does not sterilize them. Therefore, a mild disinfectant or solvent can be added to the cleaning solution so that the parts can be cleaned and sterilized in the ultrasonic bath.

Some medical parts are robust with hard surfaces while others may be mechanically fragile or have delicate surfaces. Low frequencies (around 26 kHz) produce comparatively large bubbles with intense cleaning. Higher frequencies, on the other hand, deliver gentler cleaning with smaller bubbles. The frequency used with an medical ultrasonic cleaner needs to be chosen appropriately for the application to produce the right cleaning intensity.  Kaijo works with medical equipment manufacturers to provide expert guidance on using the right frequency and system for the specific application.

Read our newest article, Ultrasonic Clean Semiconductor Components for Heart Pacemakers, to learn more. If you would like to set up a free consultation to discuss your needs, or have questions, contact Kaijo Shibuya at 408-675-5575 or email info@kaijo-shibuya.com.

Can an Ultrasonic Cleaner Effectively Clean Aluminum Engine Parts?

An ultrasonic cleaner can clean all types of engine parts no matter how contaminated they are, as long as they are adapted carefully for a specific cleaning action. For automotive parts made from hard metals, such as steel or cast iron, ultrasonic cleaners operating at low frequency (19.5 to 26 kHz) can deliver fast, robust, and effective cleaning to such parts.

Since aluminum is a highly reactive metal with relatively soft surfaces, cleaning with an ultrasonic system must be carefully adapted to the properties of the parts and their contaminants. For aluminum parts ultrasonic cleaners must be used at higher frequencies and combined with special cleaning agents to deliver excellent cleaning performance.

Ultrasonic cleaners remove contaminants from the surface of the parts by producing microscopic cavitation bubbles in water within a cleaning tank. The bubbles form and collapse in tune with the ultrasonic frequency. When the bubbles burst, they release a powerful jet that strikes the part surface. The scrubbing action of the bubbles dislodges dirt and contaminants from part surfaces, allowing them to be rinsed away.

Low frequencies produce comparatively large bubbles that produce jets that are powerful enough to wear tiny holes on soft materials. That is why this type of frequency is ideal for cleaning parts with hard and durable surfaces but are not recommended for cleaning parts with soft and delicate surfaces.

High frequencies, on the other hand, produce smaller bubbles that produce less energetic jets that are too weak to cause pitting, even on the most delicate surface of parts to be cleaned, but still powerful enough to dislodge dirt and contaminants. The gentler cleaning action of the small bubbles produced by this type of frequency is deal for cleaning engine components with soft or delicate parts.

Customizing ultrasonic cleaners can help with cleaning of aluminum engine parts. For cleaning hard and more robust engine parts, customization may not be needed because the cleaning action is already very intense.

For cleaning aluminum parts an ultrasonic cleaner must be used at higher frequencies at or above 38 kHz to prevent damage. The use of neutral detergents can help remove traces of films and contaminants. For hardened greasy or oily deposits, heat can help soften the contaminants and make them easier to remove. Ultrasonic cleaning tanks can be fitted with heaters to warm the cleaning solution which helps remove oil and grease.

For more information read the complete article, Can an Ultrasonic Cleaner Effectively Clean Aluminum Engine Parts? If you have questions, or would like to set up a free consultation, contact Kaijo Shibuya at Info@kaijo-shibuya.com or call 408-675-5575.

Why Ultrasonic Cleaners Are Used by Food and Drug Companies

 

Ultrasonic cleaners are excellent alternatives to traditional cleaning methods as they can clean parts and components with complex shapes and impossible-to-reach blind holes and crevices.

More industries, including food and drug industries, are choosing industrial ultrasonic cleaners to clean equipment used in producing and manufacturing their products. Industrial ultrasonic cleaners use a mechanically based cleaning method that can be enhanced with other cleaning agents (such as the use of heat in the cleaning solution or adding mild and benign solvents). The resulting cleaning performance is better compared to traditional cleaning methods, such as scrubbing or soaking in harsh cleaning chemicals.

When equipment used by food and drug companies has to be cleaned, the need for effective and complete cleanliness runs into the requirement to avoid contamination with aggressive and toxic cleaners. Strong cleaning chemicals and agents may easily remove some dirt but may leave harmful residues that can contaminate food and medicine products.

Industrial ultrasonic cleaners do not need such harsh and harmful cleaning chemicals and agents. They rely on the cavitation bubbles produced by the ultrasonic sound waves in the cleaning solution.

Industrial ultrasonic cleaners typically require a simple water bath in an ultrasonic cleaning tank to clean parts. They work by using ultrasonic generators to produce a high-frequency electric signal. Transducers immersed in water convert the electric signal to ultrasonic sound waves. As the sound waves travel through the water, they generate millions of microscopic cavitation bubbles that form and collapse in tune with the ultrasonic frequency.

As the bubbles collapse, they produce a tiny but energetic jet of water that hits the surface of the components being cleaned inside the tank, dislodging food and drug residues. The surface is cleaned quickly and completely, while the cleaned-off parts can be rinsed away.

Unlike cleaning the parts using harsh chemicals, industrial ultrasonic cleaners leave no harmful residues that can contaminate food and drug products.

While chemicals are not needed for effective ultrasonic cleaning, mild non-toxic cleaning agents can help speed up the cleaning process. For parts with heavy deposits of oil, fat, and grease, heating the cleaning tank to soften the residue can also improve cleaning performance.

Discover additional information by reading our recent article, Why Ultrasonic Cleaners Are Used by Food and Drug Companies. You may call Kaijo at 408-675-5575 or send an email to info@kaijo-shibuya.com, if you have questions or would like to set up a free consultation.

How Auto Manufacturers Achieve Cost Effective Cleaning with Ultrasonic Cleaners

Automotive parts are often contaminated by the manufacturing process, so manufacturers have to clean the parts they produce before using them, processing them further or delivering them to customers.

These automotive parts often have complex shapes or hard-to-access cavities, that's why cleaning them in traditional methods can be costly, labor-intensive, and time-consuming. Fragile parts and parts with delicate coatings may be damaged by manual cleaning methods or caustic cleaning chemicals.

Automotive ultrasonic cleaners are the ideal alternative to the traditional cleaning methods, such as manual scrubbing and soaking in cleaning chemicals.

Ultrasonic cleaning systems are made up of ultrasonic generators, transducers, and cleaning tanks. The ultrasonic transducer is placed in the cleaning solution and generates sound waves responsible for the cleaning action. The sound waves penetrate everywhere, even inside threaded holes, along cracks and inside nozzles. As a result, parts with complicated shapes are cleaned quickly and easily.

The ultrasonic generator produces the frequency at which the system operates. One of keys to successful cleaning is choosing the right frequency for certain parts to be cleaned. Low frequencies deliver powerful cleaning action for machined steel parts, cast metal parts, and metal fasteners. Medium frequencies can safely clean metal parts that are softer, plastic parts, or parts with a delicate coating. The highest frequencies can clean delicate nozzles, gaskets, and other fragile parts without damaging them. For general purpose applications, a system that can operate at several frequencies may be the best solution.

With automotive ultrasonic cleaning, there's no need for manual scrubbing of the parts or soaking them into a cleaning solution. There's also no need for caustic chemicals, therefore reducing chemical costs. If all parts are contaminated with a specific material from the manufacturing environment, a heater can be fitted into the cleaning tank to heat the cleaning solution and soften hard, greasy, or oily deposits. A mild detergent can also be added to the cleaning solution to speed up cleaning.

The ultrasonic cleaning process is safe and does not need constant monitoring. All that manufacturing facility workers can do is to place the parts to be cleaned in the ultrasonic bath, set a timer, and come back later to remove the newly cleaned parts. Ultrasonic cleaners can replace traditional cleaning methods for most automotive part cleaning applications.

If you have questions, read the complete article “How Auto Manufacturers Achieve Cost Effective Cleaning with Ultrasonic Cleaners”, for additional information. Contact Kaijo Shibuya at 408-675-5575 or email info@kaijo-shibuya.com if you have other questions or would like to set up a free consultation.

Why Is an Ultrasonic Cleaner Essential Equipment at a Medical Facility?

Many modern medical instruments are heat-sensitive, so they cannot be cleaned with high-pressure steam and sterilized in an autoclave. Parts such as electronics and optical fibers can be damaged when subjected to high temperatures. Since many medical instruments are delicate and have complex shapes, manual cleaning cannot clean them completely and can even damage them.

Medical ultrasonic cleaners are an excellent way for medical facilities to keep their high-tech medical instruments and devices clean and sterile.

How do ultrasonic cleaner systems work in cleaning temperature-sensitive medical instruments and devices?

The high-frequency sound waves produced by the ultrasonic cleaners remove organic matter, contaminants and other particles from part surfaces quickly and effectively. An approved disinfectant may be added to the solution in the ultrasonic cleaning tank to sterilize the parts.

One of the great things about medical ultrasonic cleaners is that they don't have to be monitored constantly. Medical personnel can place the devices and instruments into the ultrasonic cleaning tank, set the timer, and come back to remove the newly cleaned and sterile parts. To add, ultrasonic cleaners can provide highly effective cleaning and sterilizing solutions for these different tasks.

Several medical devices have hard-to-reach crevices and complicated shapes, which retain contamination even after sterilization. Such residues can cause infection. Ultrasonic cleaners remove all contamination, improving patient outcomes. There's also need for soaking in harsh cleaning solvents, therefore reducing chemical costs. Surgical instruments and other sharp medical devices can cause injury when they're cleaned manually. With ultrasonic cleaners, manual scrubbing and cleaning of sharp instruments is eliminated.

Ultrasonic cleaners are essential for cleaning temperature-sensitive medical instruments and devices. Medical facilities have different cleaning needs, such as cleaning newly manufactured devices and implants and cleaning re-usable instruments. All these cleaning needs can be fulfilled by ultrasonic cleaning systems that are specifically configured for a medical cleaning application.

For more details read the article, Why is an Ultrasonic Cleaner Essential Equipment at a Medical Facility? If you would like a free consultation or have questions about using an ultrasonic cleaner for your medical cleaning application, contact Kaijo at info@kaijo-shibuya.com or call 408-675-5575.