Selecting the Right Ultrasonic Tank and Transducer for Your Application

An ultrasonic cleaning system consists of several different components:

• Ultrasonic generator – Produces the electric ultrasonic frequency;
• Transducer – Converts the electric signal to sound waves; and
• Tank – Holds the cleaning solution and the parts to be cleaned.

Choosing the right ultrasonic cleaning tank and transducer for your specific application helps ensure that the ultrasonic cleaning system works as expected and satisfies the requirements of your cleaning application.

When selecting the right tank, you need to consider several characteristics:

• Size – the tank must be large enough to hold the cleaning solution and the parts to be cleaned and not over-sized which results in inefficient operation.
• Basket – the basket holds the smaller parts, so that they won't be damaged against the tank’s bottom and walls from the vibration caused by the ultrasonic frequency.
• Heating – some cleaning applications will benefit from a tank that can distribute heat in the cleaning solution.
• Thickness of tank material – the thickness of the tank enhances the sound distribution and prevents cracking.

Ultrasonic cleaning transducers are sealed metal containers that can be either immersible, bolt-on, or directly mounted types:

• Immersible ultrasonic transducers – are the most flexible type of transducers because they can be moved and placed in any tank. It is waterproof and is attached to a cable, which is then plugged into the ultrasonic generator. It can be suspended in the cleaning solution to produce the ultrasonic sound waves.
• Bolt-on transducers – are fixed to the bottom or sides of the cleaning tank. Bolt-on transducers can be exchanged but they are not as flexible as immersible transducers.
• Mounted transducer – it is fixed to the bottom or sides of the cleaning tank. Mounted transducers often come with turnkey systems and are integrated into the ultrasonic cleaning system.

 It is also important to choose the right ultrasonic cleaning tank and transducer combination. Kaijo provides expert advice for ultrasonic cleaning installations to ensure your system delivers the performance you expect.

Read the complete article “Selecting the Right Ultrasonic Tank and Transducer for Your Application” to learn more. Contact Kaijo Shibuya at 408-675-5575 or email info@kaijo-shibuya.com if you have questions or want a free consultation on choosing the right ultrasonic system for your needs.

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.

How to Select an Ultrasonic Tank for Your Industrial Cleaning Application

An ultrasonic cleaning system consists of an ultrasonic generator one or more transducers and the ultrasonic cleaning tank that holds the cleaning solution where the part is cleaned. In a well-designed system, the selected frequency of the generator, system power and tank characteristics all contribute to providing optimum cleaning performance.

The size of the ultrasonic tank is crucial to the ultrasonic cleaning system’s overall cleaning performance. If the ultrasonic cleaning system is a single-use installation, the cleaning tank can be sized to exactly contain the parts to be cleaned. For parts are big, long, or have odd shapes, it’s best to have a custom tank sized to meet the needs of the application. For ultrasonic cleaning systems that are used for many different cleaning applications, the choice of the tank size is critical so as to not limit the cleaning system’s flexibility.

 After determining the size of the largest part or items to be cleaned, the minimum tank size needed for the application will be known. For cleaning smaller and/or more delicate parts, a parts basket can be used to hold the parts and prevent them from coming into contact with the vibrating tank on the bottom as well as on the sides. Therefore, the tank should be a bit larger to hold the parts inside the part basket.

 The bigger the tank, the more transducers may be required to ensure that the amount of bubbles is generated evenly throughout the cleaning solution. The type of transducer impacts the design of the cleaning tank. They can be bolt-on transducers (fixed onto the tank) or immersible transducers (submerged in the cleaning liquid inside the tank).

Kaijo’s ultrasonic cleaning tanks can be customized for your cleaning application. Read our complete article “How to Select an Ultrasonic Tank for Your Industrial Cleaning Application” to learn more about what Kaijo can do to help you. If you have questions, or would like to schedule a free consultation, call 408–675–5575 or email info@kaijo-shibuya.com.

How Industrial Ultrasonic Cleaners Enhance Aerospace Safety

Aerospace parts and components used in rockets and aircraft need to withstand the extreme temperatures and operating conditions in which they are normally used. Part of the maintenance requires that they are cleaned from contaminants and checked regularly to maintain their functionality. Cleaning needs to be thorough to ensure that they won't malfunction during operation and put the passengers' and crew's safety at risk. Industrial ultrasonic cleaners are the better alternative in cleaning aerospace parts and components because they provide a more thorough and more efficient cleaning solution.

Ultrasonic cleaning systems work by generating an electric signal and converting it into sound waves inside the cleaning tank, which usually contains water (or water added with only a mild cleaning solution) and the part or component to be cleaned is immersed in it. With the ultrasonic sound waves travel through the cleaning solution, they produce pressure peaks and troughs.

Microscopic bubbles form in the pressure troughs and collapse in the peaks. These are called cavitation bubbles – high-energy bubbles that produce a powerful jet which removes contaminants from the surface of the object being cleaned. These bubbles can even clean inaccessible areas as well as irregular curves, holes and crevices of the contaminated aerospace parts, something which mechanical brushing cannot do. The result is a more complete and thorough cleaning action of these industrial parts.

Ultrasonic cleaning systems do not use harsh chemicals, intense mechanical brushing and pressure washing which are typical in conventional cleaning methods. With heavy contamination, conventional cleaning methods may not remove all the contaminants completely, and aggressive cleaning may damage parts or reduce their useful life.

High-Performance industrial ultrasonic cleaners deliver quick, thorough and comprehensive cleaning action that makes them suitable for a wide variety of cleaning applications. Since ultrasonic cleaning tanks do not involve the use and disposal of harsh chemicals, they are a safer and more environmentally-friendly choice for cleaning industrial parts.

Kaijo has a complete line of industrial ultrasonic cleaners and also provides expert help and assistance in helping customers use the right system for their specific application. For more details read the complete article, “How Industrial Ultrasonic Cleaners Enhance Aerospace Safety”. Call Kaijo at 408-675-5575 if you have questions or would like to get a free consultation.

How Cleaning Ultrasonic Tanks Work

Ultrasonic cleaning tanks hold the water or cleaning solution that cleans parts and components through the action of cavitation bubbles produced by the ultrasonic sound waves. The sound waves come from the ultrasonic generator that is mounted inside the tank.

The cavitation bubbles provide the intense scrubbing and cleaning action through the liquid and can lift dirt even in hard-to-reach places such as tiny holes and crevices of the components being cleaned.

Kaijo's ultrasonic cleaning tanks are made of thick gloss polished stainless steel. They're specifically designed to withstand the cleaning action and vibrations generated by the transducers. Usually mounted on the tanks, the transducers convert the electric signal (from the ultrasonic generator) into sound waves, which produce the cavitation bubbles that provide the cleaning action. The ultrasonic tanks are specifically designed to withstand the cleaning action and vibrations created by ultrasonic transducers and are constructed to satisfy many different cleaning requirements.

Ultrasonic cleaning tanks are designed for use in a wide variety of industrial cleaning applications. They come in various sizes depending on the cleaning power required for a specific cleaning application. With over 60 years of experience in ultrasonic cleaning technology, Kaijo can help analyze your cleaning requirements and offer solutions to your specific needs.

Kaijo’s ultrasonic cleaning tanks are available with mounted transducers and generators that operate at either 26 kHz, 38 kHz or 78 kHz. These cleaning tanks are complete systems that deliver robust cleaning performance that clean most part in about 10 minutes. Kaijo’s Phenix III generator can be combined with these ultrasonic cleaning tanks and mounted transducers to provide a cost-effective and complete turn-key system.

The complete article titled “How Cleaning Ultrasonic Tanks Work” explains in more detail. If you want a free consultation or quote, contact info@kaijo-shibuya.com or call at 408-675-5575.