diy ultra sonic cleaner Qs - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Fiddle_er
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2016, 01:16:17 pm
content: As a general fiddler type person i thought i would look into the idea of building an ultra sonic cleaner. firstly i looked at buying new and all i can afford is the tiny jewellery type. i want to clean motor bike parts mainly carburettor stuff. ldeally 18' x12' x 10' bath size. seen on you tube the idea of resting container on hi fi speeker and letting your music rock it cleanWell probably not quite ultra sonic but maybe good enough? This brings me to my thought ; is it pheasable to connect a dual output sig generator to a speaker direct or would i need amp. (sorry not sure at moment what make /model generator is, as i cannot find it, but it is old 30yr old ) . how does this idea sound to you chaps

author: DTJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2016, 02:04:12 pm
content: Have you seen this?Silicon Chip Magazine August ‘10http://www.altronics.com.au/p/k6021-high-power-ultrasonic-cleaner-kit/

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2016, 02:34:39 pm
content: Well it's not going to be a HiFi speaker for long.Speakers are pretty inefficient at converting electrical energy into sound energy, particularly the average home speaker. In addition the tweeter's power handling is very restricted. Add to that trying to get the sound energy into a tank of water and...No chance.Ultrasonic cleaners on the other hand employ efficient transducers, directly coupled into the side of the tank and operating at high power, far higher than you would ever want to pump into a speaker.As DTJ says, you can get kits, although an off the shelf cleaner may sadly be your cheapest option.EDIT: Given the size you're wanting, it will need to be a powerful cleaner - you might do best looking for a second-hand industrial one.

author: Fiddle_er
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2016, 02:59:18 pm
content: like the kit idea, looks the business if it is as powerful as it looks? it is a gamble though buying kit nearly £1 to $1 dollar these days then customs not sure what that would add? build it and if you were given faulty component in the first place you have not recourse according to their info. so would need to test transducer somehow at least first. Having said all that i cannot dismiss it. as i was considering using it to clean my homebrew buckets, so as i just thought of that now , more uses means justify higher cost? i was looking at this site earlierhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/LuiFure-Ultrasonic-Solution-Commercial-Cleaning/dp/B0195XZPO8/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1468162217&sr=8-14&keywords=ultrasonic+cleanerlooks like i forgot how to post links, doh but it is amazon several sizes are available under 100 quid, but then not as flexible as the kit? now i need to weigh this up thanks great response.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2016, 03:11:24 pm
content: Very difficult to judge. The kit mentions using a 12V 2.5A mains adapter which implies anabsolute maximumoutput of 30W assuming 100% efficiency, which it isn't. The amazon ones say 120W (plus tank heater). You probably need to decide your minimum acceptable dimensions and work from there.P.S. There are loads on ebay, I just saw a 15l 360Whttp://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/15L-15-L-ULTRASONIC-CLEANER-CLEANING-BASKET-PERSONAL-USE-6-SETS-TRANSDUCERS-/262358724618?hash=item3d15cc700a:g:9zkAAOSwwo1XfKeR

author: Kleinstein
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2016, 03:16:12 pm
content: The ultrasonic cleaners use quite efficient piezo drivers directly coupled to the bath. DIY is difficult here, as the mechanical coupling is rather delicate (e.g. defined thickness of glue / insulation). The efficiency is rather high and thus sound pressure levels really high (e.g. 160 dB range, compared to 100 dB for audio) - that't needed to get cavitation. Below the threshold for cavitation cleaning is way less efficient.Commercial units are available also for larger size at not so high price - DIY will not make a cheaper: you likely pay more more to get just the piezos attached to a container. The electronics often works directly mains connected with the piezo isolated from the container. Hard to get reliable without quite some experience.With a electromechanical driver you will have a heated unit to work a high temperature, if at all.

author: Fiddle_er
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2016, 05:28:22 pm
content: i am trying to keep to fifty quid, thats why i was looking at utilising my own stuff, but if i have to buy a good transducer i belive that will eat into that figure greatly? the flexibility of the kit , having no tank means on the surface greater flexibility. As mentioned assuming the power of 30watts and in relation to cleaning of a 10 gallon home brew bucket i am not sure its good enough. i watched youtube and the wave penitration in shallow liquids so not really having any knowledge in this area , i m guessing a bucket as mentioned is industrial size cleaner territory.where now? i suppose i will limit my needs to car cylinder heads which i could do 1/2 at a time to reduce liquid that needs to be stimulated. 'i am assuming that this is what it is all about?further more if i spend money on a hundred quid on a set up , does anyone know how long they last the transducers that is. i did read in the "altronics" reviews that mentioned burning out of the electronics from long time using, and thats why they have timer.

author: sokoloff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2016, 05:36:28 pm
content: Quote from: Fiddle_er on July 10, 2016, 01:16:17 pmI think you should watch Spinal Tap first.No one needs an ultrasonic cleaner the size of a large room...In all seriousness, I think I'd go buy the Harbor Freight 95563 and cannibalize it for parts (make another basin and basket and attach the ultrasonic driver and the bottom of the basin from the HF unit to yours).I have the HF 95563 and it's quite good for a Harbor Freight tool. The water in the basin heats quickly, even without the heating element engaged, meaning it's probably dumping a lot more than 30W into the water.

author: MosherIV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2016, 05:54:34 pm
content: HiI worked for a company that make ultrasonic measurement equipment in the past.QuoteThe transducers are such a specialty thing, it will probably cost you £50 just for the transducer. FYI the company I worked made their own and charged 100s to 1000s for them.Kleinsteins adavice is sound in my oppinionQuoteBy the time you have worked out how to drive the transducer and bought the parts for it, you be up to the £50 mark. The circuitry is very complex to do this, simple in principle but the theory behind the physics is mind boggling. Many of my colleages were Phds, I was only employed to do the firmware so I did not need to know all of the detiails of why and how the electronics did the ultra sound.FYI, the messurement transducers are also piezo ceramic and were pulse with 200 to 400V in nansecond pulses.

author: Fiddle_er
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2016, 10:04:28 am
content: Yes i have learnt 50 quid goes nowhere these days. So i am back to square one. thishttps://www.amazon.co.uk/LuiFure-Ultrasonic-Solution-Commercial-Cleaning/dp/B0195XZPO8/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1468162217&sr=8-14&keywords=ultrasonic+cleanerThe harbour freight is in another country and i foind 'us ' astronomical has postage prices, so i leave it , but this harbour frieght does sound a good place i watch youtube bloke SV seeker who always gets stuff from there.

author: sasquatch
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2016, 12:53:57 pm
content: I've found one of the most effective ways to clean oily/gunked up engine parts is to use a cheap second hand dishwasher. You can easily fit relatively large parts in them and they just work. you should easily be able to pick one up for £50

author: DTJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2016, 01:04:48 pm
content: Dishwashers or old commercial glass washers are good value.Just need to be careful about putting aluminium parts in with caustic dish washing tabs. The caustic can dissolve some aluminium and badly mark some cast aluminium.

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2016, 05:07:31 pm
content: Quote from: sasquatch on July 22, 2016, 12:53:57 pmWorks well, I've used them in the past for plastics, cases and occasionally I've thrown a board or two through one.