Ultrasonic Parts Cleaner Specification Tips

Learn why 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. 

Where Ultrasonic Parts Cleaners Shine

• Eliminating damage from manually removing contaminants from costly plastic injection molds
• Removing contaminants from dental instruments
• Cleaning carburetors, fuel injectors and other critical engine components
• Cleaning diesel particulate and exhaust gas recirculation filters
• Cleaning once fired brass cartridge casings prior to reloading 
• Cleaning finely machined parts to remove cutting oils and abrasive compounds
• Nondestructive testing aircraft engine components as part of maintenance and operations

How Ultrasonic Parts Cleaners Work

Ultrasonic parts washers are offered in a variety of sizes from tabletop units holding under a gallon to industrial units holding multiple gallons of biodegradable ultrasonic cleaning solution (examples provided below).

When the unit is activated generator-powered transducers affixed to the tank are excited and vibrate at ultrasonic frequencies such as 37,000 cycles per second (37 kHz).

The vibrations cause the formation of microscopic vacuum bubbles that implode violently on the surfaces of parts immersed in the solution. 

These powerful implosions loosen and carry away even the most tenacious contaminants from the surfaces.  And because the bubbles are so small, they penetrate fine cracks, crevices and blind holes of products being cleaned – surfaces impossible to reach via mechanical brushing.   This cleaning process is called ultrasonic cavitation.

For more information on this please check our post on ultrasonic frequency selection.

Specifying your Ultrasonic Parts Cleaner

Operating Features

Today, ultrasonic cleaner features range from a simple on/off switch to those offering multiple operating features.  Here is a brief rundown of select features and benefits that may be useful.

1. Temperature Controls let you set cleaning solution temperature to the level recommended by the cleaning solution manufacturer.
2. Timers control the duration of the cleaning cycle. Some units are designed to start cleaning when the selected temperature is reached and shut down at the end of the cycle.
3. Degas speeds the removal of trapped air in fresh cleaning solutions.
4. Sweep provides a slight +/- fluctuation in the ultrasonic frequency and serves to even out the cleaning action to avoid “hot spots” or possibly damaging cavitation action, “dead zones” or no cleaning action, and harmonic vibrations that could damage delicate and highly finished parts.
5. Pulse boosts ultrasonic power up to 20% to remove stubborn contaminants.
6. Dynamic alternates between sweep and pulse for optimized cleaning.
7. Eco provides reduced power for gentle cleaning and quieter operation.
8. Variable Power adjusts to the properties of materials being cleaned.
9. Programmable Cycles increase efficiency and accuracy of repetitive tasks.

Know Your Requirements

The number and size of parts you’ll be cleaning, as well as the degree of contamination to be removed, serve as a guide to the type of unit you’ll need. If your requirements are minimal, we suggest considering the Elmasonic E+ series available in cleaning solution capacities from .25 to 7.5 gallons.

Should your parts be heavily contaminated and require long-term cycles a suggestion is the Elmasonic Xtra units in 5 tank sizes from 1.0 to 7.9 gallons.

Elma Xtra series ultrasonic parts washers feature heavy-duty stainless steel tanks that can operate continuously up to 6 hours a day.  Operating at 37 kHz, they offer a Dynamic Mode for powerful, consistent, uniform cleaning, and an energy-saving Eco Mode for gentle cleaning less-soiled parts

If your ultrasonic parts cleaning operations are large scale, take a look at the floor mounted Elmasonic xtra ST series in 7 tank sizes with cleaning solution capacities from 8 to 67 gallons, operating up to 6 hours a day at 25 kHz for heavily soiled parts or 45 kHz for finer cleaning.

Positioning Parts in an Ultrasonic Parts Washer

For maximum parts cleaning efficiency you should position parts to allow maximum exposure to sonication. Ideally, they should be positioned in a single layer. Otherwise, parts above the bottom layer will experience diminished cavitation cleaning action.

Parts with machined holes should be placed so the holes are vertical or diagonal in the bath. This allows contaminants to fall out as they are blasted away by sonic action.

Blind holes can trap air prohibiting cleaning solution entry. If parts contain blind holes they must be positioned and repositioned as necessary to remove trapped air before cleaning.

Elma offers a broad range of accessories to fit their modular baskets for benchtop ultrasonic cleaners. These options will help you design the best support system to assure efficient parts cleaning.

Consider a Programmable Unit to Simplify Repetitive Tasks

Research labs, medical offices and similar facilities performing repetitive tasks can simplify procedures with ultrasonic cleaners with programmable cycles.  An example is the Elmasonic Select series in 12 capacities that store up to 4 programs for quick call-up and reproducible results. 

Avoid Potential Product Damage

Excessive ultrasonic power can damage highly finished and delicate surfaces.  If your requirements call for cleaning such parts consider equipment offering variable power  The dual-frequency 37/80 kHz Elmasonic P parts cleaners allow you to adjust the power from 30% to 100%.  This combination of frequency and power control along with other P series features helps assure safe, damage-free cleaning.

As an additional consideration, sonic vibration in the ultrasonic cleaner basket will cause parts to vibrate against each other and the basket. This vibration can damage highly finished or machined surfaces.

If protecting product finish is highly critical, separate and position parts on a silicon mat fitted to the basket to help avoid damage.

Proper Accessories Support Efficient Ultrasonic Parts Cleaning

As with any project, the right tools make the job go smoother. Expanding on avoiding parts damage, efficient parts cleaning is dramatically supported with the proper accessories.  In fact, with the right ultrasonic cleaner accessories, you can increase your ultrasonic cleaner ROI.  

Selecting Ultrasonic Parts Cleaning Solutions

As with accessories, the correct cleaning solution formulation can make all the difference in achieving satisfactory results. And there are many from which to choose.  Most are offered as biodegradable concentrates, which increase efficiency and reduce disposal concerns common to earlier formulations.

As one example, a widely used cleaning solution formulation is elma tec clean A4 used on engine parts, metals, glass and ceramics to remove oil, grease, combustion residues and other contaminants. It is diluted to 2 to 5% with water, making it extremely economical for an ultrasonic parts cleaner.

To help you select the correct formula or formulas to handle your tasks we invite you to check our cleaning solution selection tips.

And to get the most performance from you selection, follow our advice on extending cleaning solution performance.

Protecting Your Investment

Elma ultrasonic cleaners featured in this post are manufactured in an ISO certified facility and come with a 2-year warranty to help protect your investment.  Servicing and full technical support, both for equipment and cleaning solution selection, is provided by Tovatech, the authorized U.S. reseller of Elma Ultrasonic Cleaners based in Plano, Texas.

Questions? Call or Chat with Us

If you have questions about selecting and using an ultrasonic parts cleaner, accessories, or cleaning solution formulations, contact Tovatech’s staff of scientists and ultrasonic cleaning professionals. Our experts can recommend safe, compliant, and effective cleaning systems tailored to your application.