very tiny ultrasonic cleaner? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2018, 02:29:31 am
content: Can anyone recommend a transducer or a model of a ultrasonic cleaner that is utterly tiny and adorable, for say cleaning single parts on a bench top prior to soldering?I am talking like a 1 inch by 1 inch tankmore for getting rid of the wax found in green rogue then for actually cleaning oxide off a part.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2018, 04:42:23 am
content: Wouldn't it be easier to just use a more standard size cleaner and wash multiple parts at a time? You can get them that are pretty compact.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2018, 07:54:10 pm
content: There are some small plastic units, but they are probably garbage:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Portable-Ultrasonic-Cleaner-Home-Mini-Automatic-Ultrasonic-Cleaner-for-Glasses-Contact-Lenses-Jewelry-Watch-Cleaning-Machine/32859413022.htmlI would get the smallest size standard metal unit, as already suggested. The good transducers are already 4cm x 5cm or so.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2018, 12:49:47 am
content: Look for an ultrasonic cleaner intended for jewelry.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2018, 01:49:06 am
content: Look for contact lens cleaner, it is available in very small form approximately a ping-pong ball sized for the whole unit.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2018, 11:57:09 am
content: Are they built well? I bought a tiny one before and it was a 60Hz buzzer not a damn ultrasonic device.

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2018, 02:20:58 pm
content: The transducer from an ultrasonic humidifier I bought years ago - it cost around $5 - was sold for use on Halloween decorations does a semi-decent job of cleaning my glasses and other small objects when I want it to. I use soapy water with some rubbing alcohol added in. I put it in a Pyrex (thick glass) baking pan thats just the size of the glasses and not much larger. It emits a directional beam of sound underwater. You can see it removing the gunk wherever its pointed. I've also used it on very small PCBs. (LNAs) with some citrusolv. It removed the solder flux residue.I have no other ultrasonic cleaners to compare it to. I should probably buy one, they are so cheap.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2018, 09:56:50 pm
content: Quote from: coppercone2 on August 24, 2018, 11:57:09 amSome are. One of the jewelry cleaner ones I had was if anything too powerful as it had to tenancy to destroy anything which was not tough.

author: mmagin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2018, 10:52:24 pm
content: Quote from: coppercone2 on August 24, 2018, 11:57:09 amI have a cheap ultrasonic cleaner, it buzzes at 60hz (maybe 120hz) as well, I think it's using unsmoothed rectified DC to run the oscillator.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2018, 11:27:38 pm
content: 60 hz is not ultrasonic though, its a sonic cleaner.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2018, 04:56:57 am
content: It's still ultrasonic even if the ultrasonic waveform is modulated by a 60Hz (or 120Hz) carrier as you'd get by powering it from unfiltered rectified AC.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2018, 05:21:03 am
content: I'm pretty sure mine was just a vibramotor attached to a container with epoxy, it did not behave like a ultrasonic humidifer that is 60hz modulated ultrasonic. It did not work at all and i got it at the thirft store for like 4$I thought you got a similar 'bargin', where the 'oscillator' was a vibrator torn out of a dumpster recycled dildo

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2018, 06:19:05 am
content: If you want to know if it is a true ultrasonic cleaner, throw some aluminum foil into it. It should quickly produce holes in the foil. My jewelry cleaner would render the aluminum foil into micro confetti in short order.Most designs feed the power oscillator with rectified but unfiltered AC producing a 120 Hz AM modulation.

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2018, 01:54:11 am
content: The little ultrasonic mist-maker does work well enough to occasionally be pressed into service in cleaning and degreasing of small objects - it usually only takes a few seconds before the liquid has acquired most of the gunk that was attached to whatever is being cleaned. I have nothing else to compare it to, though. Its likely anemic compared to a real cleaner.

author: Erwin Ried
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2018, 06:40:27 pm
content: This one looks acceptablehttps://www.aliexpress.com/item/Adoolla-Smart-Ultrasonic-Cleaner-Stainless-Steel-Ultrasound-Wave-Washing-for-Jewelry-Glasses-Ultrasound-Bath-Machine/32868604617.html

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2018, 11:44:38 pm
content: Now to find a western counterpartSpeaking of which, is the design of the mechanical impedance match circuit in a swept one (to decrease point stresses caused by quasi? resonances) different then a fixed frequency one with purchased cleaners? I forgot to mention it had to be electronics safe, so spread spectrum to reduce stress on bond wires if they have a narrow suceptability.