Ultrasonic Parts Cleaner Specification

Ultrasonic Parts Cleaner Specification Tips

You most likely have parts cleaning challenges not easily resolved by brushes, solvents, wash tanks, sprays and other manual methods that fail to yield satisfactory results. These can all be solved with an ultrasonic parts cleaner.

Here you will learn that cleaning parts, whether new or refurbished, is best accomplished in an ultrasonic parts cleaner.  And why mechanics, hobbyists, collectors, manufacturers and others dealing with dirt of most any type rely on an ultrasonic parts cleaner for fast, damage-free results. 

Examples Where Ultrasonic Parts Cleaners Shine

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Sample Preparation in an Ultrasonic Bath

The Role of Sonicator Baths in Sample Preparation

Sonicator baths are often employed for sample preparation steps in research and development activities. For example, a sonicator bath may be  used to extract an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) from its carrier, or excipient, prior to conducting content uniformity and potency assay tests.  Many USP monographs recommend using a sonicator bath to dissolve samples prior to analysis.

As noted in Chapter 8 of Optimization of Pharmaceutical Processes, “A  growing need for developing novel technologies for obtaining better quality products with enhanced process efficiency has created promise for application of ultrasound in the area of food and pharmaceutical processing.” 

The chapter “offers discussion on the governing mechanisms for the improvement based on the use of ultrasound, different ultrasonic reactor configurations, as well as the selection of operating conditions for the specific applications of encapsulation and crystallization.”

In chapter 2 of Sample Preparation of Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, discussing agitation and particle size reduction, it is noted that “techniques include grinding, milling or blending, homogenization, and sonication.”

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Ultrasonic Cleaning Solutions from Elma

Cleaning Solutions for Ultrasonic Cleaning Tasks

The old saw “the key to good work is using the right tool for the job” applies equally well to ultrasonic cleaning jobs. In this case the “tool” is selecting one of the many ultrasonic cleaning solutions available to assure the desired results. As you will learn here, there are many cleaning solution formulas available.  This post will help you make the right choice(s). There may be instances where you may need more than one formula.

The Ultrasonic Cleaning Solutions Market

Definitions might seem confusing.  In some cases cleaning solutions are called chemicals, in other cases “soaps.”  In any case, these solutions represent a major market.  According to a Dataintelo report “The ultrasonic cleaning chemicals market was valued at USD 2.1 billion in 2018.  The report projects a “CAGR of 4.4% during 2019-2030.” 

First Step in Cleaning Solutions Selection

To help assure best results, you must be aware of these critical points.

  • What is being cleaned?  As you might surmise the requirements to clean engine and drive train assemblies, plastic injection molds, PCBs, and surgical instruments vary substantially.
  • What are the contaminants?  Gross deposits of grease and grime; burned on residues, oils, flashing and grease; solder flux, blood and other contaminants require different procedures.
  • What is the product made of?  Aluminum, steel, glass, plastic, and composites are examples. (Note that chromium-plated products are not suitable for cleaning with ultrasonic energy.)
  • Product configuration is important.  Simple?  Complex?  Characterized by blind or narrow holes?
  • Are there post-cleaning requirements?  Some may require one or more rinsing steps to remove cleaning bath residues either for sanitation reasons or to prepare the product for further finishing steps such as painting, plating or powder coating. 
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Selecting Ultrasonic Cleaner Frequency

Selecting Ultrasonic Cleaner Frequency

Ultrasonic frequency is a key selection criterion when operating an ultrasonic cleaner.  The correct frequency yields superior results in terms of efficiency, thoroughness, and in certain cases avoiding damage to parts being cleaned. Moreover, there are projects where more than one frequency is recommended, or when you are cleaning a variety of products calling for different ultrasonic frequencies.

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Maintain Plastic Injection Molds with Ultrasonic Cleaning

Ultrasonic Cleaning Plastic Injection Molds

The global plastic injection molding machine market was valued at $10.4 billion in 2022 and projected to grow to $12.4 billion by 2027 according to a Markets and Markets report.  Unrecognized in such reports are the importance and costs of plastic injection molds that support this growth and the role of ultrasonic cleaning in plastic injection mold maintenance.

Ultrasonic Cleaning and Injection Mold Maintenance

According to Rex Plastics, “A small and simple single cavity plastic injection mold usually costs between $1,000 and $5,000. Very large or complex molds may cost as much as $80,000 or more. On average, a typical mold that produces a relatively simple part small enough to hold in your hand costs around $12,000.”

For cost reasons alone injection mold maintenance should figure high on a list of priorities for companies involved in producing injection-molded parts.  Here you’ll learn how ultrasonic cleaning plastic injection molds preserves investments without causing wear or the use of harsh chemicals.

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Woman Cleaning Sieves

Clean Lab Test Sieves with an Ultrasonic Cleaner

Ultrasonic energy proves highly effective in removing particles trapped in fine mesh lab test sieves. Ultrasonic cleaning is fast, avoids potential damage caused by brushing, and can achieve 100% particle removal.  This post describes two ultrasonic cleaner configurations to clean test sieves and find additional utility in food and pharmaceutical research labs.  

Clean 4 Sieves With an Electric Sieve Rotation Holder

The electrically powered SRH 4/200 sieve rotation holder offered by Elma ultrasonic cleaners holds up to 4, 200-mm (8 inch) lab sieves.  Clamped in a slightly canted position they are rotated into and out of a cleaning solution in an ultrasonic unit described below.  Because the screens are canted, particles fall to the bottom of the ultrasonic cleaner tank.

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Ultrasonic Cleaner Capacity Selection Tips

One of the first if not the first point in selecting an ultrasonic cleaner is the ultrasonic cleaner capacity.  By capacity we mean not the size of the ultrasonic cleaner itself but the size, or dimensions, of the cleaning tank. That’s where cleaning action takes place.  If the parts you want to clean can’t be completely immersed in the ultrasonic cleaning solution, you have a problem.  This post helps you calculate your ultrasonic cleaner capacity.

Two Basic Approaches to Ultrasonic Cleaner Capacity

You can specify an ultrasonic cleaner in terms of cleaning solution capacity or its ability to completely immerse parts being cleaned.  A simple illustration:  There’s not much depth to a gallon of water in an 8 quart baking pan.   Contrast that depth to a gallon of water in a gallon water jug.

With that in mind, let’s proceed.

Fortunately, ultrasonic cleaners are manufactured in a tremendous variety of sizes.  And as suggested, there are two approaches to sizes when speaking in terms of ultrasonic cleaner capacity.

First, “size” can be defined in terms of the tank’s cleaning solution capacity.  Second, “size” can be defined in terms of tank dimensions, or its ability to accommodate parts being cleaned.

As you can see by checking our page on the Elmasonic E Plus series, there is a selection 9 tank capacities from 0.25 to 7.5 gallons, all with differing tank dimensions, offered in this series.  Industrial-sized units such as the xtra ST series can hold up to 67.4 gallons.  Larger-capacity units are also available.

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Why you Need an Ultrasonic Dental Cleaner

Ultrasonic Dental Instrument Cleaner

An ultrasonic cleaner is one of options recommended by the CDC to clean reusable dental instruments prior to sterilizing. Uniform sonication in an ultrasonic dental instrument cleaner provides added assurances that blood and tissues are thoroughly removed before sterilization. More on this below but first,

How Uniform Sonication Cleans Dental Instruments

Uniform sonication assures technicians in the central processing area that their dental instruments receive “equal treatment” regardless of their position in the ultrasonic cleaning bath.  An example of a dental instrument cleaner providing this advantage is the Elmasonic P30SE available from Elma. 

Research at Elma disclosed that key impediment to uniform sonication is interference due to the tank drain duct found on most benchtop ultrasonic cleaners.  This was visually demonstrated in a drain-equipped unit: ultrasonic cleaning action on the drain side of the tank was not nearly as vigorous as on the opposite side. 

Based on this, the 0.75 gallon P30SE has no drain assuring that powerful cleaning action on reusable dental instruments is uniform during the cleaning cycle.  The process is called homogeneous sonication.

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How to Clean and Restore Mobile Devices and PCBs

Restore Mobile Devices with Ultrasonic Cleaners

The consumer electronics market size was valued at over USD 1 trillion in 2020 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of more than 8% from 2021 to 2027, according to a Global Market Insights report.   It defines electronics as computers, laptops, mobile devices, smart wearables, TVs, appliances, etc.  Ultrasonic electronics cleaners contribute to reliable operation from manufacturing through servicing these products.

Common to most if not all consumer electronics products is the ubiquitous printed circuit board or PCB.  That’s why PCB fabricators or those who sell or service equipment incorporating PCBs and other delicate electronic components include an ultrasonic electronics cleaner in their equipment inventory.

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Elmasonic Select Series Header

Introducing the Elmasonic Select Line: Programmable Cleaning, Five Ultrasonic Modes

Elmasonic Select ultrasonic cleaners available from Elmaultrasonic feature 5 ultrasonic modes to simplify task setting and supervision for parts cleaning and maintenance, sample prep, and solvent degassing plus up to 4 commonly used programs for quick call up and reproducible results. 

  • 5 ultrasonic modes for powerful, rapid, thorough, reproducible cleaning and mixing
  • 3 cleaning cycle parameters:  mode, temperature to 80⁰C/176⁰F, and timer to 6 hours
  • Store up to 4 programs for quick call-up and reproducible results
  • Brilliant digital display clearly shows all operating parameters
  • Audio/visual signal at cycle completion
  • 11 tank sizes from 0.7 to 24 gallons
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