There is little question in our opinion that an ultrasonic cleaner is the best cleaning method available today. Be it for a small business or personal use, this cleaning method is far more efficient than hand-cleaning, power washing, or soaking. Having said that, the machine must be maintained to ensure it is working correctly. So, we put together a quick list of tips so you will know if your ultrasonic cleaner is working properly or not and possibly in need of repair or maintenance.
Testing Your Machine
Several basic tests can be done to ensure the machine is working properly. These are:
- Foil Test
- Graphite on Ceramic Test
- Generator and Transducers Test
- Cavitation Meter Test
Foil Test
When it comes to testing your ultrasonic cleaner, this is, by far, the quickest and easiest way to test the machine. However, it may not be the most accurate because it is susceptible to solution and temperature conditions. When using this test, it should be done before you do any other cleaning that day. You also need to ensure the solution and water temperature are evenly matched for the best results.
To conduct this test:
- Cut regular aluminum foil to the length of your cleaner
- Hang foil above the tank, being sure not to let the foil touch the bottom of the tank (the test is likely to be inaccurate if the foil touches the bottom of the tank)
- Power up the machine
- Allow to run for about 30 seconds
- Remove foil and evaluate
If the machine is working correctly, you will see small, uniform holes in the aluminum foil. Each hole should be between 1-4mm, with all holes being roughly the same size. If the pattern is not uniform, your machine will need to be serviced.
Graphite on Ceramic Test
This is a relatively easy test, only needing to use a ceramic disk with some graphite powder on it. You simply add the disk to the tank to see if the graphite comes off the ceramic disk. The challenge of this test is that it is only testing one portion of the tank, so the foil test is actually far more accurate, when done properly, than this test.
Generator and Transducer Testing
You will need to be a bit tech savvy to do this test, but it is relatively easy. You measure the generator’s output and the transducers’ power input to ensure they still match the manufacturer’s recommended settings.
Cavitation Meter Testing
This is the most direct and most accurate testing method. You can use a portable cavitation meter to measure the tank’s sound wave performance.
Regardless of what method you use, you should be testing your machine regularly to ensure it is working correctly. If you are unsure how to conduct the test or need recommendations on purchasing equipment to conduct the test on your Omegasonics ultrasonic cleaner, just give us a call at 888-989-5560, and one of our team experts will be more than happy to assist you.
