This helps manufacturers ensure the parts created are clean and the machines work with the expected precision and efficiency.
Due to their unique combination of precision, power, and gentleness, ultrasonic cleaners are used in a wide range of manufacturing operations, from medical instruments to automotive parts. If you run a manufacturing business, you can get an ultrasonic cleaner from a supplier like RS, but you need to do some evaluation before selecting one.
Why Ultrasonic Cleaning?
Ultrasonic cleaners have become the gold standard of cleaning across industries due to the many benefits they offer. One of these is that the devices can clean even the tiniest of crevices, which isn't possible with traditional methods of cleaning. While doing so, ultrasound cleaners remain very gentle as the bubbles they produce are mostly microscopic. This means that they are quite effective at cleaning parts that could be easily damaged when scrubbed by hand or by regular cleaning machines.
Ultrasound cleaners are also versatile across industries, as you only need to dip the part that needs cleaning. And due to their effectiveness, businesses can save a lot on time and labour.
Key Factors to Consider
Before you buy an ultrasonic cleaner, you need to do some proper evaluation.
Your Cleaning Requirements
The items you want to clean are the first consideration. After all, different industries have different parts that present unique cleaning challenges. So, are they delicate items like circuit boards and surgical instruments or items with hard-to-reach areas? What contaminants do they have, and how much batch cleaning do you want to do?
These will help you narrow down to an ultrasound cleaner that meets your unique needs. They will help you determine other considerations we'll talk about, such as the frequency, power output, and capacity.
Size and Tank Capacity
You don't want to buy an ultrasonic cleaner that can't fit the items you want to clean or the number of items. This means that you should first identify the items and consider the size and frequency of cleaning.
If you only want to clean items like jewellery and small electronic components, a small ultrasound cleaner will be fine. If it's automotive parts, you'll need a larger one with more power.
Operating Frequency & Power Output
All ultrasonic cleaners use high-frequency sound to create cavitation bubbles, but the frequency varies depending on the cleaner and the intended purpose. Some come with lower frequencies of 25-40 kHz, and these produce large bubbles that are quite powerful. They are ideal if you want to clean tough contaminants such as grease, rust, or carbon deposits in engine parts and other machinery.
Mid frequencies of around 40-80 kHz generate small bubbles that are more gentle. They are suitable for delicate items such as medical instruments and circuit boards. But if you operate in even more sensitive industries like semiconductor manufacturing, you'll need cleaners above 80 kHz. They remove even microscopic particles.
Advanced Features
Depending on the cleaning job, you can then look at the specific features you want in your cleaner.
Some of these include an adjustable frequency, a degassing mode, heated cleaning, a filtration system, and a multi-tank system. The more the features, the better the capabilities, but you don’t need all of them. You can analyse the features offered by different ultrasound cleaners and then balance this with your needs and budget to get the best fit.
