Ultrasonic cleaning

Frequencies
Ultrasonic cleaning is performed at different frequencies to meet different requirements. The range of frequencies offered by Weber Ultrasonics currently extends from 20 kHz up to well above 100 kHz, with even higher frequencies being added all the time.

As a general rule, lower frequencies (25 kHz - 40 kHz) are better for use with heavy soiling, while higher frequencies (80 kHz - 120 kHz) are more suited to fine soiling and for cleaning items with extremely fine structures (micromechanics, computer drives, compact discs etc.).

The level of noise generated is also an important factor when selecting which frequency to use, as with low frequencies it is sometimes only possible to keep the noise level within permitted legal limits with expensive insulation measures. The most common frequencies are between 25 kHz and 40 kHz.

The required ultrasonic output for achieving a desired and optimal level of cleanliness strongly depends on the type of soiling and chemicals used.
Water-based cleaning units generally use around 5 to 10 Watt per liter tank volume, while modern chlorinated hydrocarbon units are rated as high as 30 Watt per liter. Since there is no general rule that applies to all systems, each system has to be examined to determine what power is required to achieve ideal cleaning results.

High frequency ultrasonic systems

 Areas of application

• Cleaning reading and writing heads of drives (HDD)
• Cleaning hard disks
• Cleaning PCBs
• Cleaning sensitive optical parts
• Cleaning LCD displays
• And much more...

As the structures of the items to be cleaned get smaller and smaller (micro-structures), the cleaning processes have to become increasingly sensitive, as with low frequency ultrasonics in the frequency range of 20-40 kHz the surface of the item being cleaned can be damaged.
To help combat such potential damage, Weber Ultrasonics has developed high frequency ultrasonic systems. These ultrasonic components now make it possible to clean sensitive items without the risk of surface damage.

While conventional ultrasonic cleaning takes place in the range from around 20 kHz to 50 kHz, frequencies of some 60 kHz to 200 kHz are used in the high frequency units.

Weber Ultrasonics uses these relatively high frequencies, as they have the ability to remove the smallest particles of soiling and, as such, are ideally suited to precision cleaning, where it is crucial to remove small quantities of residual soiling. Another reason for using our high frequency ultrasonic systems is the low level of aggressiveness with which the cavitation acts on the item to be cleaned.
The high-frequency ultrasonic systems developed by Weber Ultrasonics excel within the field of ultrasonic cleaning, as they are both exemplary at cleaning and also gentle to the items being cleaned.