Common Mistakes When Buying a Large Ultrasonic Cleaner

Innovative equipment like ultrasonic cleaners are big investments. The risk of you getting the details wrong and not performing as you hope is high. We have highlighted the biggest mistakes that our customers make when ordering large ultrasonic cleaners.

Measuring the Tank From the Outside

Some cleaners quote external dimensions (e.g. 420 x 420mm external dimensions) whilst others quote internal dimensions. Even when internal dimensions are quoted, there can be a big difference between actual tank volume and usable volume due to the thickness of the tank walls. Always ask for volume in litres (and note that a few cm of extra wall thickness can make a big difference here) and check the actual size of your largest part with some room to fit a basket.

Choosing the Wrong Frequency

Ultrasonic cleaners can vary greatly in frequency. Lower frequencies such as 25-40 kHz are better suited to heavy engineering parts which have stubborn contamination and are subjected to harsh cleaning processes. Higher frequencies of 80 kHz and above are gentler on parts and are typically used for precision cleaning of components which are of a delicate nature. It would be costly to purchase a large ultrasonic cleaner without checking the frequency of the cleaner against the types of materials that are to be cleaned.

Underestimating the Heater

Heaters for large ultrasonic cleaners are also important. A small heater in a big tank can take over an hour to heat up to 60 °C, significantly increasing the time for each clean. Find out from suppliers the time it takes for their heaters to bring a full tank up to 60 °C.

Not Checking Transducer Distribution

Transducer count is much less important than how they are distributed across the tank floor and sides. Distribution of transducers of equal size to cover the entire tank floor is key to effective cleaning and avoiding ‘dead’ areas.

More on Large Ultrasonic Cleaner can be found at https://www.hilsonic.co.uk/.

Skipping Chemical Compatibility

Ensure that the tank, seals, cover and any baskets are all compatible with the solutions you intend to use. Some solvents and alkaline degreasers can attack standard materials over time, such as seals. If using hazardous substances then check the safe handling of hazardous cleaning chemicals under COSHH information prior to use.

Overlooking Practical Handling

A large ultrasonic cleaner when full can be a very heavy and cumbersome item. Make sure that the tank has a drain valve that is situated at a reasonable height. Check that the lift height of the basket is sufficient to clear any surrounding equipment. Also check that the water supply is within easy reach to refill the cleaner when necessary. Finally check if the unit has been recalled and make sure you purchase from a supplier who can give you a full traceable safety record.

It’s a small amount of time and effort to check on these to avoid large amounts of stress once your cleaner has been delivered.