simple green, awesome, and competing brands of degreaser/cleaner solutions are typically corrosive to aluminum.....they will clean the parts pretty dang well, but you need to give them a thorough rinse/dunking in water afterwards to get all of the cleaner off the parts or 24+hrs later you'll find chalky residue forming(the aluminum breaking down).
I've found that the HF heavy duty degreaser sold for their parts washers is actually every bit as strong a cleaner but is listed right on the bottle that it's non-corrosive. I've been using that instead for about 4 dozen carb racks and it's been working GREAT without damaging the aluminum and gives a REALLY nice finish on the carbs.
We've collected a list of ultrasonic cleaning FAQs and provided answers below. Our goal is to cover the fundamental questions about ultrasonic cleaning. Click on the questions below to reveal a detailed answer.
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An ultrasonic cleaner has three main components: liquid-filled tank, transducers bonded to the tank bottom, and a generator that sends electrical energy to the transducers. Electrical energy causes the transducers to vibrate, and this in turn causes the tank bottom to vibrate up and down. When the tank bottom goes up, the liquid in contact with the bottom surface is compressed, and when the tank bottom goes down, the liquid in contact with the bottom surface expands. Compressed liquid has positive pressure; expanded liquid has negative pressure. Waves of positive and negative pressure continuously travel upwards through the liquid away from the vibrating surface. When these waves occur at high frequency and intensity, the stress on the liquid causes it to crack and form small voids. The voids, or bubbles, are filled with either vacuum or vapor from the surrounding liquid. The formation of these bubbles is called cavitation.
As the sound waves travel through the liquid an area of negative pressure is replaced with an area of positive pressure or compression. The cavitation bubbles oscillate and grow with each passing wave until they become unstable. The pressure surrounding the bubbles causes them to violently collapse or ‘implode’. The energy released by this collapse is focused on a very small area. The pressure and temperature in the region of the implosion are extraordinarily high, but last only an instant. The imploding bubble shoots out a jet on a microscopic scale.
These images capture a microscopic cavitation bubble as it implodes and shoots out a jet.
The extremely high energy released by millions of cavitation bubble implosions is what accomplishes ultrasonic cleaning of nearby solid surfaces.
Two points to keep in mind. Tank size and basket size. Basket dimensions are smaller than tank dimensions. Determine the dimensions of the largest parts you will be cleaning and select equipment with a basket size that accommodates those parts. For example, the 4.7 gallon Elmasonic Select 180 has tank dimensions 12.9 x 11.8 x 7.9 inches deep with basket dimensions 11 x 9.8 x 4.5 inches deep. Caution: separate, do NOT stack parts in the basket for optimal cleaning results.
Here are some suggested frequencies.
For more details please check our post on how ultrasonic cleaners work.
Ultrasound at a fixed frequency creates fields of high and relatively low ultrasonic intensity, which can yield uneven cleaning results. Sweep is the term used to describe a continuous slight modulation of the ultrasonic frequency. This produces a more uniform distribution of the cavitation process and delivers better performance in the cleaning bath.
The pulse mode provides brief spikes in power to remove stubborn contaminants or for mixing and sample prep.
A freshly filled ultrasonic tank contains air, as exemplified by bubbles observed when placing an item in water. If not removed through degassing, the dissolved gas will diffuse into the cavitation bubbles, which dampens the intensity of their implosion and reduces cleaning effectiveness.
To ensure optimal cleaning, the tank should be filled with cleaning solution, heated to the final operating temperature, and run in degas mode before starting the cleaning process.
In degas mode, the ultrasonic cleaner alternates between on and off cycles. During the ‘on’ cycle gas bubbles form and coalesce; during the ‘off’ cycle the bubbles rise to the surface and burst. Degassing usually takes about 10 minutes.
If the ultrasonic cleaning unit lacks a degas mode, it can still be degassed by operating the ultrasonic power for about 15-20 minutes. An experienced user will discern a change in the sound produced by the unit when the liquid has been fully degassed.
If the solution has been degassed, but allowed to cool to ambient temperature overnight, it should be degassed briefly (e.g., 2-5 minutes) before the next cleaning session.
The Eco Mode, a feature of the Elmasonic Select series, is selected for gentle cleaning and a quieter operation, achieving a lower intensity cleaning cycle with sweep frequency.
The dynamic mode optimizes cleaning results by automatically combining the sweep mode for uniform cleaning with the pulse mode that removes stubborn contaminants. It is a feature found in the Elmasonic Select, Elmasonic xtra TT, and Elmasonic xtra ST ultrasonic cleaners.
Oscillation, also called agitation, is precisely controlling the up-and-down movement (± 2 cm) of cleaning baskets to maximize the efficacy of the cavitation process. Precision is critical because if movement is more severe it will in effect reduce or even eliminate the cavitation action. Oscillation is offered as a Move option on the Elmasonic xtra ST industrial ultrasonic cleaners.
At the very minimum water and a few drops of dishwashing liquid. Best cleaning results are obtained when using an ultrasonic cleaning solution formulated for the cleaning tasks at hand. These are offered as biodegradable concentrates with instructions on dilution and cleaning temperatures. Do not fill the tank with flammable solvent unless the unit is designated as explosion proof. For more details see our post on cleaning solution selection tips.
Most ultrasonic cleaning solutions marketed today are biodegradable, are shipped as concentrates and are formulated as: acidic, neutral, or alkaline.
Our post on ultrasonic cleaner solution selection tips provides added detail.
Yes but care must be taken to avoid condensation that can damage transducers.
Before you set up the cleaning process it’s important to define ‘clean’. DI water is used when a spot-free surface is required after cleaning. In most cases it is adequate to clean with a cleaning agent dissolved in tap water and rinse with DI water to remove residues. (Also, see answer below about water containing chlorides.)
There are two reasons that manufacturers of ultrasonic cleaners do not allow use of flammable solvents in the tank.
Although a new ultrasonic tank is in perfect condition, over a period of years the tank will become worn from cavitation erosion. In the long run, the tank can develop a pinhole in the bottom surface. If this occurs, the solvent could drip directly on the transducers and high-power generator. Such an event is an explosion hazard. This potential risk can be mitigated by placing the solvent in a secondary container which in turn is submerged in a water-filled tank.
Treating a solvent-filled tank with ultrasound will produce flammable vapor. Contact of the vapor cloud with a spark from the generator could result in fire or explosion. This risk is not mitigated by using a secondary container as described above unless the container is relatively small, covered, and used in a well-ventilated area.
Explosion proof ultrasonic cleaners eliminate these risks. An explosion proof ultrasonic cleaner cannot ignite the solvent or solvent vapor. However, explosion proof ultrasonic cleaners are not closed systems and will release flammable solvent vapor into the air during operation. They must be used either in a fume hood or in an area suitably equipped for hazardous vapor. Check our post on cleaning with flammable solvents for more information.
Keep in mind that ultrasonic cavitation increases bath temperature. Heated solutions are best for highly contaminated greasy parts. Suggested cleaning solution temperatures are recommended by manufacturers. For example, the recommended cleaning temperature range for widely used degreaser Elma tec clean A4 is 50⁰ - 80⁰C (122⁰ - 176⁰F). For removal of blood and biological tissue from used medical instruments, the bath temperature should be under 40⁰C to prevent blood hardening; no heating should be used at all.
Goto RedCrown to know more.
Cleaning cycle time depends on the number of parts being cleaned, the extent of contamination, and how you define "clean." Cleaning baskets allow you to safely remove parts from the bath for inspection but be aware they will be hot. With experience you'll be able to set cleaning cycle length on the ultrasonic cleaner timer. Limit wear and tear by cleaning for the shortest time that does the job.
The short answer is yes. Baskets are designed to suspend parts at the proper level above the bottom of the tank and also prevent damage to the tank. Large parts cleaned in industrial-sized tanks can be suspended in the cleaning solution. Check our ultrasonic cleaner video for more information.
While "ultrasonic" is generally defined as sound above the hearing range, ultrasonic cleaners do make noise due to the vibration of the equipment. Low-frequency (25-45 kHz) cycles are noisier than higher frequency cycles. For long-term exposure options are available: hearing protectors, lids (that also reduce cleaning solution evaporation) and placing the unit in a noise protection box. Some models have an option of a hinged insulated lid to further reduce noise,
In addition to the correct ultrasonic frequency, cleaning solution chemistry, temperature, cleaning cycles (sweep, pulse, degassing, time…) and bath maintenance we suggest this: Remove gross contaminants first, disassemble complex components, separate parts in the basket, inspect and reposition if necessary. The user manual provides information on effective operation, and running a performance validation will indicate your unit is operating properly or needs attention.
You don't need to but covers perform important functions. They reduce cleaning solution evaporation and they reduce noise. Covers on some models can be inverted after the cleaning cycle, serving as trays allowing solution to drain back into the tank.
Absolutely no! Chances are the solution will be hot, but more importantly cavitation will pass through your skin and act on your blood stream.
It's a good idea to run a performance check on your ultrasonic cleaner from time to time. This is especially important if you are cleaning medical instruments and must meet CDC standards. But optimum performance is also important in any cleaning operation to help assure thoroughness and improve throughput.
It's advisable to periodically determine the electrical power consumption of your device. The amount of electrical power input provides indirect evidence that the ultrasonic device is operational. The breakdown of transducer elements often leads to a significant decline of electrical power input, so a decline would reliably indicate a malfunction of the device.
However, the converse conclusion, that the device is functioning properly if the electrical power input is in the correct range, is not valid. Monitoring the input power should be used to detect major defects of the device. The primary advantage of this test is the end user can easily conduct this procedure with a simple wattmeter at low cost.
Here's how to proceed:
Even if there is a deviation of power exceeding the given tolerance of +/- 15% the ultrasonic unit might still operate with sufficient power for the cleaning job at hand. In this case the cleaning results must be inspected more thoroughly.
In addition to checking the power consumption, we recommend checking the power output with the aluminum foil test. This test is also quite simple for an end user to perform, but the results are not as easy to interpret. Carry out the test with a new unit and repeat it regularly under the same conditions to compare the results.
Follow this procedure:
The aluminum foil test described above is the easiest and most popular method for testing an ultrasonic cleaner. This method, along with other alternatives, is described in our post on ultrasonic cleaner performance validation.
Yes under certain conditions. The potential for damage is increased when using cleaning media with pH values in the acid range. If tap water contains chlorides, we recommend using cleaning chemicals in the alkaline range. If the cleaning job requires an acid cleaner use distilled water instead of tap water.
The lifetime of the solution depends primarily on how much soil is being removed from parts. Soils removed during ultrasonic cleaning cycles either rise to the surface or are suspended in the solution. Hard contaminants settle to the tank bottom and unless removed will cause damage. Solution replacement is signaled when cleaning efficiency drops off. Drain the tank and dispose of spent solution according to local regulations, and take the time to clean the tank following user manual instructions. Check the section "where contaminants go" in our post on how ultrasonic cleaners work.
Detailed maintenance instructions are provided in the user manual. For day-to-day operation be certain that your tank is properly filled with cleaning solution - designated by the fill line when parts are in the basket. Avoid overfilling and under filling. Continually skim off floating contaminants and set them aside. Replace cleaning solutions when efficiency drops off and dispose, along with skimmed off contaminants, following local regulations. Clean the tank to remove settled contaminants but do not scour.
Not recommended because the heaters will cause discoloration on tank walls. When the ultrasonic power is operating the solution circulates in the tank to carry heat away.
Discoloration, also called furring, can result when highly calciferous water contacts hot surfaces and usually occurs around the heating elements. It can be prevented by using ultrasound to circulate the bath during the heating cycle to minimize hot spots. Furring can be removed fairly easily and gently with standard citric or phosphoric decalcifiers. Never use an abrasive cleaner on tank surfaces. We cover this in our post on tank discoloration.
Because this is a complex operation, we recommend that repairing or replacing transducers be done by a qualified technician in a service center.
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Elma stands behind their products. All Elma ultrasonic cleaners come with an industry-best 3 year warranty. If the unit malfunctions because of a manufacturing defect, simply call us and we’ll repair or replace the unit.
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