Do you know that cleaning plays a vital role in keeping us healthy and productive?
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One truth we can’t run away from is that washing and cleaning is not an easy task for everyone, especially when it comes to wiping off germs and other contaminants from an object.
But what if there is a cleaning tool that can do the cleaning job for you while you sit, relax, and watch? An ultrasonic cleaning machine can be the right cleaning tool you need to ease the stress of cleaning in your home and office. Here is why:
Read on to know more about the ultrasonic cleaning machine!
Ultrasonic is a science that includes a spectrum of sound frequencies that are not audible to the human hearing. The frequency ranges from almost 20,000 to 100,000 cycles per second. The lower and higher frequencies have a different effect and are sometimes used for special applications.
The use of ultrasonic started after World War 1, but transducers were weak, so ultrasonic cleaning was not really used. However, in the s, things started to take a turn as better transducers were available for more efficient and stronger ultrasonic cleaners.
Today, modern technology has spawned the invention of a more reliable and effective ultrasonic cleaning machine.
An ultrasonic cleaner is a device that cleans items by using ultrasound and water or an appropriate cleaning solvent.
Also, it can be said to be a machine that offers the complete and rapid removal of dirt, germs, and other contaminants from items that are put in a tank of water that is agitated with sound waves having a high frequency.
Every ultrasonic cleaner is not constructed to be equal. There are some with bigger sizes, while you can also get a portable ultrasound machine.
They all serve the same purpose, which is cleaning, but they sometimes meet different, specific needs.
1. The Materials that make up an ultrasonic cleaning machine
Take note that the tank and basket size should be considered when buying an ultrasonic machine. Choose the size based on the objects you want to wash and clean.
2. The Cleaning Mechanism
Once the power cable of an ultrasonic cleaning machine is plugged into a power source and the machine is switched on, the transducer starts changing size almost instantly. It then converts the electrical energy to ultrasonic energy.
Due to the excitement, the transducer increases in size, creates high-frequency compression sound waves and results in rapid formation and collapse of cavitation bubbles.
As the compression waves continue, the cavitation bubbles will grow larger, and when they reach a certain size and can’t retain their shape any longer, the bubbles stir through the liquid, turning it apart.
These bubbles are what impacts against the objects in the tank, causing dust, dirt, germs, oil, pigments, and other contaminants that might have stuck to the items to come off. The same thing occurs when you put a portable ultrasound machine inside a sink or bowl of water.
3. The Frequency
The frequency of ultrasonic waves is measured in thousands of cycles per second, and it is one of the determinants of the cavitation bubble size. High frequencies produce small bubbles that offer gentle cleaning actions.
On the other hand, low frequency produces comparatively large bubbles that collapse inward in a very sudden and violent way. You can hardly distinguish between the sizes of the bubbles visually.
It means if you want to remove dirt and other contaminants from strong and durable items, you need an ultrasonic cleaning machine with lower frequency. But if you want to wash and clean delicate and softer objects like your jewelry and food items you need an ultrasonic cleaner with higher frequencies.
They are also the perfect cleaner for items with tight areas. But frequency of 40 kHz is generally good for most applications. Whether you want to go big or you need a portable ultrasound machine, consider an ultrasound cleaner with dual-frequency if you will be cleaning a variety of objects.
4. Its Ultrasonic Power
I have said it earlier that most ultrasonic cleaning machines operate at 50 watts – 100 watts per gallon. The increase in the power of a cleaner causes an increase in the number of bubbles produced during the cavitation process.
As power increases, the cleaning action of the machine becomes faster. However, it has a limit. Once you exceed the power limit, you risk damaging the items you are cleaning and also wasting energy.
It is good to know that power is described in different ways when it pertains to ultrasonic cleaning. There is the ultrasonic power, which has been discussed above.
Also, we have the total power that drives the entire unit and the peak power, which is the ultrasonic power generated at the sound wave peak.
5. Differences In Ultrasonic Cleaners
Ultrasonic cleaning machines come in different categories. They are:
Industrial heavy duty type – This category comes with heavier compound transducers and hard-bitten generators that generate high wattage per transducers. Their tanks are constructed with heavy-duty welded stainless steel, and the generator is separated from the tank. These types of ultrasonic cleaners are basically used for production cleaning and are very efficacious.
Small lab size tabletop cleaners – They also have heavy transducers but not like the heavy-duty industrial type. The generators are better and are efficient in cleaning lab glass and small objects. Also, the generators are integrated into the same case as the tank. Even though they can be used for a long time, they should not be used for production cleaning because they are not rated for 24/7 operation.
Small toy-like systems – They can be called a portable ultrasound machine. Sonic Soak is a good example of this category of ultrasonic cleaners. They are light-duty cleaning machine that features simple generators and small transducers. This category is used for washing and cleaning jewelry, baby toys, clothes, and food items such as veggies, fruits, meats, and much more.
6. Cleaning Solutions
This is probably the factor that is mostly ignored; however, it is one of the important factors you have to consider when using an ultrasonic cleaning machine.
Consider the characteristics of the fluid you want to use. Don’t just buy a cleaning solution and pour it inside the ultrasonic cleaning machine without taking a closer look. Generally, most of the cleaners are water-based. But you can use other cleaning solutions for a faster cleaning process.
Make sure you go for a solution that does not have an excessively high or low surface tension. Ensure the solution can knock off dirt and hold it in solution. Also, make sure the fluid is safe to use. It should not be too alkaline or acidic but something fairly near neutral.
Additionally, any cleaning solution you want to use should mix well with water and should also degas quickly. Degassing takes three to four seconds in portable ultrasound machines and other bigger ones.
If you are going to use the ultrasonic cleaner for food items, it is advisable you make use of water. However, if it will be used to clean iron or other materials that can rust, ensure the cleaning solution has a rust inhibitor that prevents rusting on objects after cleaning.
Alternatively, you can save yourself the stress of searching for the perfect ultrasonic cleaning solution to use by asking the manufacturer of the cleaning machine.
7. The Cleaning Time
Typically, the cleaning time of portable ultrasound machines and other ultrasonic cleaners varies greatly. It depends on how dirty an object or part is. Not all items can get clean sufficiently within a few seconds.
The normal trial period can be between 2 – 10 minutes. To thoroughly and completely remove contaminants, you may need to perform an ultrasonic cleaning more than once.
There are machines with lower cycle time while there are some with longer cycle time, which is suitable for people who need a machine that requires minimal supervision.
8. Ultrasonic Cleaning Procedure
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To ensure effective cleaning, it may require that you follow some good cleaning procedures.
There are some steps you can follow, but skipping s certain step or not depends on the nature of the items and how dirty or contaminated they are. Generally, ultrasonic cleaning procedures are:
9. All the Items Ultrasonic Cleaning Machines Can Clean
The application of ultrasonic cleaners is vast. It can be used to wash and clean food items, baby toys, jewelry, surgical instruments, household tools, brittle materials, and massive engine parts.
Additionally, there exists some portable ultrasound machine that helps in washing and cleaning clothes. They can be used in place of laundry machines, as they are found effective by some users.
10. How to Maintain and Ultrasonic Cleaners?
Nowadays, most of the ultrasonic cleaning machines come with one to two years warranty, which can be voided if users do not meet certain conditions. Here are some maintenance tips that can help you use the ultrasonic cleaner for a lifetime:
Ultrasonic parts cleaners are manufactured in a tremendous variety of sizes. By “size” we mean the dimensions and capacities of tanks in which ultrasonic parts cleaning is accomplished. For example the Elmasonic E Plus series is offered in 9 tank capacities from 0.25 to 7.5 gallons and the Select Series in 11 capacities from 0.7 to 23 gallons. Industrial-sized units such as SHIRACLEAN can hold 100 gallons or more. This post will help you select the correct ultrasonic parts cleaner size.
Ultrasonic parts cleaning has proved a very effective and economical way to remove all types of contaminants from nearly anything that can be safely immersed in an aqueous biodegradable cleaning solution.
Applications include cleaning and preserving vinyl records, dental instruments, heavy parts degreasing and aircraft engine components.
These and the thousands of other parts that benefit from ultrasonic cleaning have unlike dimensions in terms of length, width and depth. Which brings us to our second point:
An important point to keep in mind when selecting your ultrasonic parts cleaner size is that parts must be fully immersed in the ultrasonic cleaning solution. Dipping one end in for a cleaning cycle then the other end is a no-go.
Fortunately off-the-shelf ultrasonic cleaners are manufactured in a variety of cleaning tank dimensions whether you are cleaning electronics and printed circuit boards or rifles. Custom-designs can be fabricated to accommodate large or oddly shaped parts.
A related point to keep in mind regarding the dimensions of your cleaning tank is that parts being cleaned should not be bunched together. Ideally they will be separated from each other. This both improves cleaning results and helps avoid damage when parts vibrate against each other due to ultrasonic action.
Which brings us to our third point:
So, what the heck is working depth?
Ultrasonic cleaner baskets (described next) are designed to suspend products being cleaned at an ideal distance from the tank bottom. This maximizes the efficiency of the cleaning process. Without going into too much detail ultrasonic transducers are bonded to the underside of the tank bottom, causing it t vibrate, thus creating the cavitation bubbles that do the cleaning.
As with cleaning basket length and width being somewhat less than tank length and width, so too the bottom of the cleaning basket must be above the tank bottom.
Hence the term working depth. It is the distance between the bottom of the basket and the surface of the cleaning solution when the tank is filled to the proper working capacity.
From this one might surmise that to select the correct ultrasonic parts cleaner size based on what you are cleaning an early point to determine is the working depth of the equipment. Perhaps a case can be made that the working depth point should be number one in the selection criteria.
But you got this far in the post, so the point has been made.
We invite you to check out our short video on ultrasonic cleaner size.
Most ultrasonic parts cleaning cycles are accomplished in baskets* that allow parts to be easily immersed in and removed from the cleaning bath. They are essential because they keep parts from contact with the bottom of the cleaning tank where vibration will eventually wear holes in the tank, rending it unfit for further service.
What is important here is cleaning basket dimensions are smaller than cleaning tank dimensions. This allows easy placing and removing baskets using handles that rest over the side of the tank.
It is obvious then, when you select the size of your ultrasonic cleaner you take into full account the cleaning basket dimensions. Makes sense, right?
This information should be readily available from your ultrasonic parts cleaner tank supplier. The correct basket size will allow you to accommodate the dimensions of the parts you are cleaning. Keep in mind that they should not be stacked in the basket for reasons noted above.
Last on our list re ultrasonic cleaner size is what is called displacement. You experience this when you add ice cubes to a glass filled with water. The same applies to ultrasonic parts cleaners. And here’s why:
Ultrasonic cleaners have a maximum solution volume and service solution volume. These statistics are provided in product detail sheets and user manuals. For purposes of discussion we define maximum volume as the amount of cleaning solution needed to fill the tank to its capacity – generally the fill line or other designation indicated in the operations manual.
The service volume is the amount of solution needed to accommodate displacement by parts being cleaned while allowing full immersion.
We use as examples two Elma x-tra ST industrial ultrasonic cleaners. For the x-tra ST 300 the service volume is 5.8 gallons and the maximum volume is 7.9 gallons. For the x-tra ST the service volume is 57 gallons and the maximum volume is 67 gallons.
Neither more nor less cleaning solution is better. Ultrasonic parts cleaners are designed to operate with a designed amount of cleaning solution. Overfilling the tank does not improve efficiency; under filling the tank does not intensify cleaning but instead can damage the tank. This, by the way, is why the service volume statistic is provided. It allows solution mixing, degassing and heating when baskets are empty.
The take-away? Account for displacement when calculating the amount of cleaning solution you need to do the job and take into account the recommended service volume provided by the equipment manufacturer.
Call or chat with the experts at Tovatech. We’ll provide unbiased information and support to ensure you purchase the correct size cleaner for your needs.