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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An Industrial Ultrasonic Cleaner Specification Guide
The ultrasonic cleaning equipment market is expected to exhibit a 3.3% CAGR by 2027 backed by increasing global adoption of industry 4.0 (the 4th Industrial Revolution), according to a report in Fortune Business Insights™ “Industrial Ultrasonic Cleaning Machine Market” 2022 focuses on short-term and long-term trends affecting the market landscape. Industrial ultrasonic cleaners play an important role in the economy. This post will help you pick a unit that best meets your requirements.
What is an “Industrial” Ultrasonic Cleaner?
Industrial ultrasonic cleaners are defined by task, not size. Industrial sonic cleaners include bench and tabletop units all the way up to multi-gallon floor mounted units.
It’s what these units must do vs. their size that’s important. So let’s begin our specification guide.
When to Specify an Industrial Ultrasonic Cleaner
To start with industrial ultrasonic cleaners are employed for tough and often long-term cleaning cycles. These units may be required to continuously operate for hours and must be designed to meet these rigorous operating conditions.
Here’s a start on points to consider:
- Type of contamination to be removed. There’s a big difference, as you can imagine, between removing coolant from machined parts and baked on residues on costly plastic injection molds.
- There are also different requirements for removing varnish deposits from a carburetor and solder residues or other contaminants from delicate printed circuit boards.
- The composition of products being cleaned. Different parameters apply to cleaning aircraft engine components and PCBs. You’ll need compatible cleaning solution and ultrasonic cleaning frequency.
- A particularly tough requirement is cleaning adhesive guns and spray paint components.
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 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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