Ultrasonic Cleaners
Ultrasonic Cleaners with Remote Generators
Industrial-scale ultrasonic cleaning involving flammable solvents with low flash points* requires special equipment as well as special procedures. The American Chemical Society publishes a table of common organic solvents that includes flash points. In terms of equipment specifications, you will need ultrasonic cleaners with remote generators to comply with NEC and NFPA as well as local codes to minimize dangers of fire or explosions.
Ultrasonic Cleaner Generators – What they Do
Benchtop ultrasonic cleaners and most floor-mounted industrial-sized units used with non-flammable aqueous cleaning chemicals have self-contained ultrasonic generators mounted in the unit casing along with the ultrasonic bath tank, transducers, control panel and, if so equipped, heaters.
These generators power the ultrasonic transducers that create billions of microscopic bubbles that implode on contact with items being cleaned to blast and carry away contaminants. For more on this see our post on how ultrasonic cleaners … Read the rest
Using Acetone Solvent as an Ultrasonic Bath
Acetone, a solvent and thinner available in paint and hardware stores, carries on its container a warning that it is extremely flammable and quickly evaporates. These two characteristics are always important to users but particularly important when acetone solvent is used as a degreaser in ultrasonic bath for residue-free removal of contaminants. This post provides information on the safe use of acetone solvent as an ultrasonic bath.
But first, some background.
Why Caution is Critical with Acetone
Acetone and similar solvents such as toluene and IPA are characterized by relatively low flash points.
A flash point is the temperature at which a particular organic compound such as an acetone cleaner gives off sufficient vapor to ignite in air when given an ignition source. And as noted above, acetone evaporates quickly.
The American Chemical Society publishes a table of common organic solvents that includes flash points. Acetone’s flash point … Read the rest
Ultrasonic Cleaning Tanks: What You Should Know
While a variety of ultrasonic cleaners are the market, one component they have in common is the ultrasonic cleaning tank where cleaning action takes place. Whether you select a basic model ultrasonic cleaner, an advanced benchtop or a floor-mounted industrial-scale model, long-term reliability depends on the industrial ultrasonic cleaning tank and how you use and care for this essential component.
Ultrasonic Cleaning Tank Size
Cleaning tank size – which also governs the cleaning solution capacity – must be sufficient to accommodate whatever you are cleaning in such a way that parts are fully immersed in the ultrasonic cleaning solution.
Although this may seem a no-brainer, remember that parts being cleaned must not be in contact with each other or the tank itself. Otherwise, parts can be damaged, and perhaps more seriously, the tank itself can be damaged due to ultrasonic vibration.
That is why most cleaning is accomplished in … Read the rest
Selecting a Heated Ultrasonic Cleaner
Just as soapy hot water is better than cold for cleaning greasy dishes, pots and pans (and even you!), a heated ultrasonic cleaner solution often “works best” solving tough cleaning challenges. That’s why you should select a heated ultrasonic cleaner to remove deposits of heavy grease, burned on carbon deposits and grime from used engine parts, cutting oils from newly machined components, residues in plastic injection molds, and similarly difficult cleaning challenges.
The Role of a Heated Ultrasonic Cleaner
If you are new to the process of ultrasonic cleaning, we invite you to review our post on how ultrasonic cleaners work. Otherwise, please continue reading about selecting a heated ultrasonic cleaner.
Fast, safe and efficient ultrasonic cleaning cycles call for a judicious blend these variables:
- cleaning solution chemicals
- cleaning solution temperature
- cleaning cycle time
- ultrasonic frequency
Cleaning solution chemicals are selected based on the project … Read the rest
Two Practical Solutions to Clean Lab Sieves
Cleaning fine mesh particle analysis lab sieves becomes more difficult as mesh size decreases, making it more likely that particles become trapped in fine sieve openings. Manual cleaning test sieves has drawbacks including potential damage to the mesh and failure to achieve 100% particle removal. Here are two practical solutions to clean lab sieves as well as perform other important functions in food and pharmaceutical research facilities.
Lab Sieve Cleaning Solution No. 1
One way to solve the problem is by combining the 7.5-gallon Elmasonic EP300H ultrasonic cleaner with the Elma SRH 4/200 sieve rotation holder.
Ultrasonic cavitation produced by the Elmasonic EP300 H creates billions of minute vacuum bubbles. These implode vigorously against the surfaces of objects being cleaned to quickly and safely dislodge contaminants.
The unit operates at 37 kHz ultrasonic frequency. Features include a heater (30⁰ – 80⁰C) and a timer (1 … Read the rest
Fast, Safe Ultrasonic PCB Cleaners for New and Reconditioned Boards
Removing soldering flux and residues from new PCBs and dirt when reconditioning PCBs by using an ultrasonic PCB cleaner is faster and more gentle than soaking and scrubbing with sprays and solvents. Manual PCB cleaning is time consuming, can damage delicate PCB assemblies and can be environmentally unfriendly. An ultrasonic PCB cleaner provides your best assurance that contaminants have been completely removed from new or reconditioned board configurations.
How an Ultrasonic PCB Cleaner Works
If you are familiar with ultrasonic cleaning proceed to the next section.
Ultrasonic cleaners come in a variety of sizes and capacities ranging from benchtop to floor mounted industrial units. Regardless of size, ultrasonic cleaners work in the same way.
A tank sized to accommodate objects being cleaned contains a biodegradable cleaning solution formulated for the task at hand.
Controls range from a simple on-off switch to more sophisticated timers, heaters and other features such as … Read the rest
Ultrasonic Cleaning Once-Fired Brass
A Tovatech Case Study
A recent report by IBISWorld states that the U.S. Shooting Range Industry market is estimated at $4 billion and encompasses more than 11,000 businesses. Many shooting enthusiasts, whether pistol or rifle, save on the cost of purchasing new ammo by cleaning and reloading spent cartridges, called once-fired brass. Here we describe how a professional employs an ultrasonic cleaner to restore some 250 pistol casings a week and 200 rifle casings a month.
A Case Study on Cleaning Once-Fired Brass
Seattle resident Subhro Kar is a Product Security Engineer for Red Hat Software and volunteers as a search and rescue pilot. Hobbies include photography, hunting and participation in precision shooting competitions. He shares with Tovatech his recommendations on employing ultrasonic energy to clean once-fired brass.
Tovatech: What led you to investigate then adopt cleaning and reloading once-fired brass?
Mr. Kar: I do … Read the rest
More on Selecting Ultrasonic Cleaning Solutions
As we suggested in our blog post How to Select Ultrasonic Cleaner Solutions* cleaning solution chemistry has an important bearing on the success of operating an ultrasonic cleaner. Here we will look at some other considerations to keep in mind.
For example, the choice of a cleaning chemistry depends not only on the surface material and contamination, but also on the use and level of cleanliness required after cleaning. Here are but two of many examples we could share:
For precision cleaning prior to coating operations you need a cleaner that easily rinses residue-free. This helps ensure that coatings such as powder, anodizing, chromium plating or paint will fully adhere to the surface. For applications such as these we strongly suggest EC 260 d&s neutral foam-inhibited concentrate.
There are less-demanding levels of cleanliness for other applications. If your shop cleans, repairs or reconditions used equipment made of materials such … Read the rest
Lab Ultrasonic Cleaner Features Uniform Sonication
Uniform sonication, or perfect sound field distribution, a desirable feature for ultrasonic cleaners used in analytical and medical laboratories as well as other professional settings, is achieved in the multi-functional Elmasonic P30SE available from Tovatech. Uniform sonication assures users that instruments and lab samples in flasks or beakers receive “equal treatment” regardless of their position in the tank.
The Secret to Uniform Sonication
Elma researchers determined that the 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: cavitation in a beaker suspended on the drain side of the tank was not nearly as vigorous as in the beaker on the opposite side. Based on this the 0.75 gallon P30SE has no drain and demonstrates homogeneous sonication.*
A Highly Versatile Lab Ultrasonic Cleaner
The dual range 37/80 kHz frequency Elma … Read the rest
Ultrasonic Cleaners and How they Work
Ultrasonic cleaners will probably never rank as high as a hot air fryer or microwave oven on a family wish list but according to recent statistics the market for versatile and thorough ultrasonic cleaners will grow to $738.1 million in 2027 from $604.8 million in 2019. While householders and DIY mechanics are increasingly attracted to ultrasonic cleaners the study citied key growth areas as
- The healthcare industry, where they are used for cleaning surgical, medical and dental instruments to meet strict standards
- The automotive industry for thorough cleaning complex engine parts such as carburetors and fuel injectors
- The aerospace and defense industry to remove contaminants from critical parts during manufacture as well as for maintenance and operation procedures
- The electronics industry both for manufacturing and reconditioning PCBs and similar delicate components found in computers and mobile devices
Ultrasonic Cleaners: Not a “New” Technology
Author Timothy J. Matson notes in … Read the rest
