Ultrasonic cleaning is fast and safe way to remove mold support and other surface contaminants from simple and complex 3-D printed parts. Results are far superior to time-consuming water soaking and the risk of possibly damaging part geometries if manually cleaned using brushes. Here you’ll learn how 3-D printed parts are made, then how ultrasonic energy is used to remove 3D printing mold support from your parts.
How 3-D Printed Parts are Made
3D part printing techniques use a variety of plastics and resins. Examples include ABS, PLA, polyamide (nylon), glass filled polyamide, stereolithography materials (epoxy resins), silver, titanium, steel, wax, photopolymers and polycarbonate.
A popular technique combines two moldable thermoplastic formulations such as ABS for the part itself and PLA for removable mold support. This is a quick means to produce highly complex configurations.
In this instance a key to the efficiency of the process is fast, safe removal of the PLA mold support without risking damage to the ABS part. An ultrasonic cleaner is proven far faster, safer and more effective than water sprays or manual scrubbing.
Other techniques called SLA (stereolithography) and LFS (low force stereolithography) use lasers to build the part without the need of mold support. In these cases uncured resin on the finished product requires removal best accomplished by ultrasonic energy.
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Maintain Plastic Injection Molds with Ultrasonic Cleaners
Companies involved in the production of products produced by plastic injection molding are well aware of the costs of dies used to produce their products. According to this U.S. manufacturer, plastic injection molds can range from $1,000 to $80,000 and more, with an average mold price of $12,000. These costs provide a substantial incentive to maintain plastic injection molds thereby prolonging service life.
Ultrasonic cleaners provide a way to clean costly injection molding dies and their components in a timely and cost-effective fashion that doesn’t cause wear or require harsh chemicals. In this article we detail how ultrasonic cleaning can address your plastic injection mold cleaning challenges. It includes a case study describing real-life operations.
Read moreThe Best Way to Clean PCBs
The PCB market is expected to reach an estimated $89.7 billion by 2024 with a CAGR of 4.3% from 2019 to 2024 according to a report by Lucintel. Important to both manufacturing and maintaining PCBs is keeping them clean. Delicate PCB circuitry is affected by contaminants introduced during fabrication and by exposure to moisture and other elements in daily use. This post explains why fabricators, computer and mobile device repair services use ultrasonic cleaners as the best way to clean PCBs.
Why Ultrasonic Cleaning is the Best Way to Clean PCBs
If you manufacture PCBs, sell or repair mobile devices or other products utilizing printed circuit boards an ultrasonic cleaner should be part of your equipment inventory. Unlike potentially damaging mechanical cleaning PCBs with brushes and solvents, these units use the power of ultrasonic cavitation to quickly, thoroughly and safely remove contaminants from all surfaces immersed in a biodegradable ultrasonic cleaning solution.
Read moreUse Ultrasonic Energy to Remove 3D Printing Mold Support
Ultrasonic cleaning is fast and safe way to remove mold support and other surface contaminants from simple and complex 3-D printed parts. Results are far superior to time-consuming water soaking and the risk of possibly damaging part geometries if manually cleaned using brushes. Here you’ll learn how 3-D printed parts are made, then how ultrasonic energy is used to remove 3D printing mold support from your parts.
How 3-D Printed Parts are Made
3D part printing techniques use a variety of plastics and resins. Examples include ABS, PLA, polyamide (nylon), glass filled polyamide, stereolithography materials (epoxy resins), silver, titanium, steel, wax, photopolymers and polycarbonate.
A popular technique combines two moldable thermoplastic formulations such as ABS for the part itself and PLA for removable mold support. This is a quick means to produce highly complex configurations.
In this instance a key to the efficiency of the process is fast, safe removal of the PLA mold support without risking damage to the ABS part. An ultrasonic cleaner is proven far faster, safer and more effective than water sprays or manual scrubbing.
Other techniques called SLA (stereolithography) and LFS (low force stereolithography) use lasers to build the part without the need of mold support. In these cases uncured resin on the finished product requires removal best accomplished by ultrasonic energy.
Read moreHow Can I Use Flammable Solvents in an Ultrasonic Cleaner?
First, let us congratulate you for asking this question. Any time flammable solvents are used for cleaning purposes there is risk of fire or explosion due to ignition of volatile vapors by a flash source. Ignition can occur from any source due to spills or as flammable solvent vapors spread. This post explains how you can safely use flammable solvents in an ultrasonic cleaner.
An example of a widely used flammable solvent is isopropyl alcohol (IPA). References to its use are presented in this post.
Things to Know about Flammable Solvents and Ultrasonic Cleaners
Before you select and use an ultrasonic cleaner for your application(s) you should be familiar with options available as well as other factors that go into the decision process. Here you will learn about
- the definition of “flash points”
- flash points of commonly used flammable solvents
- where ultrasonic cleaners are used with flammable solvents
- ultrasonic equipment options when cleaning with flammable solvents
- other safety precautions when using flammable solvents in an ultrasonic cleaner
Read moreWhy you Need an Ultrasonic Dental Cleaner
An ultrasonic dental cleaner is a critical necessity if your dental practice employs reusable dental instruments. Examples include mirrors, probes, burs, excavators and forceps. These and similar instruments must undergo rigorous cleaning and sterilization procedures.
Ultrasonic dental cleaners are also required for
The key word here is ultrasonic dental cleaning because there are other options. Here you’ll learn why you need an ultrasonic dental instrument cleaner.
Read moreHow to Select an Industrial Ultrasonic Cleaner: 10 Tips from Elma
When you consider purchasing an industrial ultrasonic cleaner you’ll find there are many options from which to choose. If your tasks include tough cleaning or require long-term cleaning cycles to get your job done, you’ll need a unit that can handle heavy-duty cleaning over long cleaning cycles. We hope this post on industrial ultrasonic cleaner tips will help.
A Definition of Industrial Ultrasonic Cleaners
Let’s make one thing clear at the outset: As suggested above, industrial ultrasonic cleaners are defined by task, not size. In fact, industrial sonic cleaners include bench and tabletop units all the way up to multi-gallon floor mounted units.
It’s what these units can do vs. their size that’s important. BUT! Size is important too so here we go on our selection tips.
Read moreHow Ultrasonic Cleaning Accessories Improve Efficiency
From cleaning your house to getting more utility from your automobile the right accessories can make a big difference. So it is with your ultrasonic cleaner. Small investments in the right accessories can pay big dividends in cleaning results, faster throughput and in expanding the services you can offer. This post describes a selection of the many ultrasonic cleaning accessories available from Elma Ultrasonic Cleaners and how they can improve your efficiency.
Read moreHow to Clean Hot Melt Adhesive Guns and Spray Paint Nozzles
Firms using hot melt adhesives and spray painting as part of daily routines know that cleaning their equipment after use can be more cost effective than constantly replacing precision components. A cursory Google search discloses common cleaning recommendations include soaking in solvents and running wires through openings. Here we describe how ultrasonic energy can clean hot melt adhesive guns and spray paint nozzles in minutes and more thoroughly than manual methods.
Read moreHow Ultrasonic Cleaning Speeds Aircraft Engine Maintenance
Rigorous procedures are spelled out in maintenance manuals for aircraft engine parts, whether jet, turbine or piston. Ultrasonic energy plays an important role both for cleaning and nondestructive testing (NDT) operations by aviation maintenance technicians (AMT), aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) organizations and airlines’ own maintenance facilities. Here are examples of how ultrasonic cleaning speeds aircraft engine maintenance.
Read moreHow to Quickly Clean Glass Components Used in Cannabis Processing
Cannabis processors using glass components for short path distillation must deal with accumulated baked-on, polymerized and other contaminants that are extremely difficult and time consuming to remove. These glass components represent substantial investments and, unfortunately, can be easily broken unless handled carefully. This post explains why ultrasonic cleaners are often the answer to quickly clean glass components used in cannabis processing.
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