Ultrasonic Cleaners for the Manufacturing Industry

Zenith Mfg & Chem Corp.  85 Oak St., Norwood, NJ  07648-0412  800-432-SONIC (7664)  Fax:  201-768-6999

The ultrasonic cleaning of molding equipment, such as injection molds and blow molds, will require the same 3 processing stages as any other type product when cleaned with aqueous cleaning agents; the Ultrasonic Cleaning Stage, where contaminants are removed from the product, the Rinsing Stage, where the detergent residues are removed from the product, and the Drying Stage, where rinse water is removed from the product.  Although the 3 main stages are the same, the ultrasonic cleaner must be properly configured with additional equipment to clean these items successfully.

Most molding equipment is composed of a number of different metals, which may include steel, stainless steel, brass, aluminum, and exotic metals.  Therefore, the cleaning fluid selected must be multi-metal compatible.  This makes the cleaning of these items a bit more difficult, since most cleaning agents which are compatible with aluminum are rather gentle, and can not loosen the contamination as well as cleaners which are more aggressive.  Since steel is typically included, the ultrasonic cleaner must also include a Rust Preventative stage after the final rinse.

Another difficulty involves the complex design of the molding equipment being cleaned.  Most molds include a large number of internal channels which are used to release gasses during the molding process.  In order the effectively clean inside of these holes, these areas MUST be filled with liquid during the ultrasonic cleaning process.  This may require that parts be submerged in a particular orientation, or perhaps the item must be rotated once submerged to fill these areas with cleaning agent, and allow the ultrasonic cleaner to effectively cavitate inside of these critical areas.  However, these areas must also drain properly prior to entering the rinse cycle and the drying cycle, or the dirt which has been loosened during the ultrasonic cleaning stage will remain trapped within the part.

Most molding equipment is also very heavy and dense.  These items tend to absorb a significant amount of ultrasonic energy, and the ultrasonic cleaner must include a higher power level than an ultrasonic cleaner designed to remove oils from sheetmetal parts. 

The ultrasonic cleaner must also include the proper ultrasonic frequencies to provide the fastest and most consistent cleaning results.  This is where our patented CROSSFIRE Multiple Frequency Ultrasonic Systems become so important (US Patents 5,865,199 and 6,015,892).  Since mold equipment is heavy and includes critical cleaner areas deep within the product, the ultrasonic system must include a low operational frequency to provide more effective power.  However, the product also include small detail and precision orifices which are more effectively cleaned with higher ultrasonic frequencies.  The CROSSFIRE ultrasonic cleaning system includes both low and high frequencies of ultrasonics to provide both the power and the precision cleaning capability required.

 EQUIPMENT SELECTION:

Since mold cleaning operations will require the 3 standard cleaning stages of ultrasonic cleaning, rinsing, and drying, most mold cleaning applications will require a Multi-tank Ultrasonic cleaner.  Zenith's MTC-5 series would be a perfect choice, and would be configured as follows:  CROSSFIRE Ultrasonic Cleaning tank, dual Rinse Tanks, a Rust Preventative Dip Tank, and a Dryer Tank.  Additional optional equipment will be included to maximize the effectiveness of the cleaning system. 

If you already have rinsing and/or drying means at your disposal, you may only require an MTC-2, an MTC-3, or even a Table-top Ultrasonic Cleaner, or Single Tank Console. 

Be sure to contact Zenith and speak with a sales engineer.  They will be sure to guide you in selecting the ultrasonic cleaning system which is perfect for your particular application.

Contact Information

Although this web site has been designed to provide you with a wealth of information, contact our sales department for additional information which may not be provided herein.  Our sales engineers will answer all of your questions, without obligation of any kind, and will prove that our equipment can clean your parts to expected levels BEFORE a dollar is spent.  There is so much involved in the ultrasonic cleaning process that even the most educated engineers may need direct assistance in determining which system design would be best for their parts washing application.  And, no web site can possibly address all of the possibilities.  Which frequency of ultrasonics would be best?  How about filtration?  How much ultrasonic power will be required?  What cleaning fluids will work best?  Side mounted ultrasonics, or bottom mounted?  Our engineers will be able to provide you with the answers to all of these questions for you, and will recommend the perfect degreaser for your application.

Telephone

800-432-SONIC (7664)

FAX

201-768-6999

Postal address

85 Oak St., Norwood, NJ 07648-0412

Electronic mail

General Information: sales@zenith-ultrasonics.com
Sales: sales@zenith-ultrasonics.com
Customer Support:
Webmaster: webmaster@zenith-ultrasonics.com

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Copyright © 2004 Zenith Ultrasonics Inc
Last modified: 07/31/06