We all know, basically, what rust is and what causes it. What many don’t know, however, is that rust is unique in its properties. Knowing how to deal with and/or prevent rust is very important in many cleaning applications. The above picture is actually worthy of hanging on a wall as art. In fact, I … Continued
In the blogs about transducers I made a point of telling readers that an ultrasonic transducer must be driven at its resonant frequency to achieve optimum performance. What I didn’t address, however, was the fact that the resonant characteristics of a transducer can be varied by its design. Not only the resonant frequency but the “sharpness” or “Q” … Continued
Rinsing as it applies to aqueous parts cleaning is a final “cleaning” step which removes residues introduced by or resulting from the primary cleaning process. There are several options to choose from when it comes to rinsing. Making the proper selection is very important to the overall cleaning process as the final rinse inevitably defines overall cleanliness. … Continued
Many ultrasonic generators are configured to operate at one power level – full on. There are occasions, however, when controlling the ultrasonic power is critical to a successful ultrasonic cleaning process. This is especially true when cleaning parts made of relatively soft materials including brass, copper and, in some cases, even aluminum. Other cases requiring … Continued
Certain benefits can be derived in ultrasonic cleaning and processing by “pulsing” the ultrasonic generator. In fact, different pulse rates and duty cycles produce different benefits. This blog explores how “pulse” works and how its variants benefit ultrasonic cleaning in different ways. An earlier blog described the basic function of the ultrasonic generator. Ultrasonics – Ultrasonic Generator … Continued
A rose is a rose is a rose. But pumps, now that’s a different thing. Pumps, even though they may look physically the same, can vary significantly in their ability to pump liquids under various conditions. In order to know how a pump will perform in a particular application, one must rely on something called … Continued
Previous blogs have suggested the use of liquid sprays in air as either a primary mechanism or as an enhancement to both cleaning and rinsing operations. Today’s blog will discuss, briefly, what is important in choosing a spray nozzle or nozzles for a particular application. In order for spray to be effective, of course, the … Continued
It occurred to me several years ago that when we look at an ultrasonic cleaning tank, we are usually looking in from the top. I wondered how ultrasonics looked from a “fish eye” view which spawned (get it?) what is now called the ultrasonic fish tank in our Jamestown, NY laboratory. In upcoming blogs, I … Continued
Almost every cleaning system incorporates at least one pump. Understanding how that pump works and how to treat it with the gentle, loving care it deserves is critical to the successful operation and maintenance of a cleaning system. Pumps are, in general, devices which impart added pressure to a flow of liquid. Although there are a number of different … Continued
Providing the best and most efficient rinse in an aqueous cleaning process requires maintaining the cleanest possible water in the rinse. In spray rinses, this can be accomplished by using fresh water for the spray. A spray rinse with fresh water, although effective, is often not practical. Using a constant supply of fresh water is costly, especially if … Continued
