Ultrasonic cleaning has certainly been around for decades and has long been used in the aerospace and automotive industries, but it is only recently that it has garnered attention for other industries, particularly the medical sector, printing sector, restaurant sector, and even the jewellery sector, among others. Ultrasonic cleaning can address a wide variety of cleaning purposes, and it is definitely a top cleaning method for the removal of many contaminants, including bacteria, dirt, grease, oil, mould, carbon deposits, limescale, and a lot more. You can also use it on plastics, metal, glass, ceramics, and so on, which makes it highly flexible for many applications. But when you have decided to invest in an ultrasonic cleaner, you want to make sure that your investment is worth it. Here are the top factors you need to remember when selecting an ultrasonic cleaner.
The proper racks or baskets
One crucial aspect to take note of is that the parts or items you are cleaning mustn’t touch the transducers of the ultrasonic cleaner, which are in the tank. The right racks or baskets should, therefore, be chosen specifically for your application. Any basket or part that makes contact with the transducer packs may cause damage to the surface of the transducer packs, resulting in scratching or etching. Even though transducer packs are made from stainless steel when they are etched or scratched, erosion may occur, and this may eventually destroy their integrity. You can’t repair this and will have to replace the transducer instead.
Your cleaning objectives
You need to think about your cleaning objectives when selecting your ultrasonic cleaner as well. The result is particularly important, whether you are in manufacturing, restoration, rebuilding, or other field. When choosing your ultrasonic cleaner, think carefully about what you would like to achieve, and consider the materials your parts are made from as well as how big they are and how many you are planning to clean at any given time.
The wave sweep
Another important consideration with an industrial ultrasonic cleaner is the wave sweep. The wave sweep function is recommended and is highly useful in almost all ultrasonic cleaning processes because when you disperse different frequencies with various wavelengths, this can eliminate the dead or inactive zones in the tank. It, therefore, results in a more effective and uniform clean for all parts or components, especially those with intricate details or minute crevices or grooves. When an ultrasonic cleaner is equipped with a wave sweep function, it will not require a degassing process since when the wave sweep is engaged, it already performs accelerated degassing.
The power and ultrasonic cleaner frequency
Most of the ultrasonic cleaners available today can operate from 28KHz to 120KHz, and a lower frequency one will create larger bubbles in cavitation, resulting in a more abrasive clean. A lower frequency is therefore recommended for coarse or rough cleaning like the removal of contaminants from strong metal surfaces. But if you want to fine-clean more delicate components such as soft metals or jewellery, an ultrasonic cleaner with a higher frequency may be ideal. The most common frequencies are from 38KHz to 40KHz since they are suitable for most industrial and commercial cleaning applications. The power generated by the cleaner should also be able to handle your precise cleaning needs, so look for a cleaner where you can control the power, especially if you require more delicate cleaning at certain times.