Ultrasonic Cleaning Systems

Ultrasonic Cleaning Systems

Ultrasonic cleaning systems use sound waves to clean, degrease and sterilize products, parts and machine components of grease, dirt, wax, lubricants, oil and other contaminants. The automotive, pharmaceutical, medical, beverage, electronics, marine, sports equipment and weapons industries all use large capacity ultrasonic systems to clean products like hard drive components, small automotive parts and process machine components that have grease or lubricant build up. Smaller models exist for at-home use, which generally involves jewelry cleaning applications. Ultrasonic cleaning systems are composed of a cleaning tank, which is usually made of stainless steel, cleaning liquid, which is either hot water or a water-based solvent, agitators, transducers, pumps or pressure generators, nozzles and reclamation systems. Many also have drying systems. Larger products are often placed right in the tank, while large amounts of smaller objects are submerged in the cleaning solution in a basket.

The ultrasonic cleaning process is fast, automated and requires little manual labor. It has replaced traditional methods, which used scrubbing with toxic and harsh solvents. In order to ensure that every product's surface, holes and cavities are cleaned properly, many systems have rotating parts holders, tumbling baskets or oscillating systems. Once the products or parts have been immersed in the cleaning solution, ultrasonic sound frequencies cause cavitation, which is the formation and implosion of millions of tiny bubbles in the liquid. When these bubbles implode, a scrubbing action to the product surfaces occurs, ridding them of contaminating substances. Small dirt particles that reside in hard-to reach crevices are easily purged when using ultrasonic cleaning systems.