You’ve been thinking about, or have already purchased, a brand new ultrasonic cleaner from Omegasonics.
You are getting ready to set your first batch of parts to be cleaned, and you realize you aren’t sure how you should be putting the parts into your cleaner—or maybe you are an old hat, and want to make sure you are getting the most out of your unit.
Don’t worry; it is a common question. The short answer is yes, there are some tricks to ensuring that your parts come away as clean as possible and undamaged. Read on to find out the proper techniques for an ultrasonic parts cleaning.
Stay Off the Bottom
Your first inclination might be to just place the parts into the bath and let your cleaner do its job. The problem here is that your ultrasonic unit is designed to work with a basket. Placing the parts directly into the bath with nothing to hold them up off the bottom can lead to serious issues.
First, the weight of the parts on the bottom of the tank can interfere with the diaphragm in the tank. This is the part that moves and vibrates. With parts on the bottom you can interfere with the high frequency vibration and make your cleaner less effective.
You can also damage your parts. Since ultrasonic parts cleaners produce very high energy vibrations, putting your parts in direct contact with this part of the system can damage or break parts.
Stay off the bottom of the tank. Use a basket instead!
Use a Rack or Basket in Your Cleaning System for Maximum Effectiveness
Your cleaner came with a basket or rack that will attach into the unit for holding parts. In some cases, you may have had custom holders designed for your specific parts. In order to get the cleanest parts possible and prevent damage, make sure to use your rack or basket for staging your parts.
The Materials of Your Rack or Basket Matter
Your rack should be made of stainless steel. This hard metal will translate any vibrational energy through to the parts. If you use a softer material, it may actually absorb the energy of the cleaner and make your unit less effective. Never use a plastic basket.
If your parts are particularly sensitive to scratching or easily damaged, there are racks available that have Nylobond or Teflon coatings that can prevent damage.
Single File for All Parts
Make sure to arrange all of your parts on the rack in a single layer. This ensures that the cleaning fluid can move and circulate fully around each of the parts. It also helps to keep the parts clean when removing them from the solution. Multiple layers can actually deposit dirt and debris on the layers below them.
Trust Omegasonics for Your Ultrasonic Parts Cleaning Units
Omegasonics has a wide variety of ultrasonic cleaning units for your business, especially if you want ultrasonic parts cleaning. Visit this page to learn more.
