While ultrasonic cleaning might sound a bit like the “sonic shower” from Star Trek, this is actually one case where the futuristic-sounding technology predates its use in Sci-Fi. Ultrasonic cleaners have been around since the 50s and are used to clean all sorts of oddly-shaped or specialty objects by creating cavitation within a liquid that allows the surface of the object to be scoured. With the right equipment, these cleaning devices are fairly straightforward to build as well.
This ultrasonic cleaner by Branchus Creations started off as a standard stainless steel laundry sink, but with the addition of a few transducers it really turns up the volume. They are attached to the underside of the sink with a combination of a bolt and hard epoxy so that the sound is efficiently transmitted to the sink, but they’re not much use without driver boards to power them. These drivers take AC power and convert it to the DC required to generate the ultrasonic frequencies, and this build uses a driver for each of the transducers all wired up to a common control board for ease-of-use.
The results speak for themselves; a test is performed on a sheet of aluminum foil which quickly turns takes on a Swiss cheese appearance after just a couple minutes in the cleaner. It’s also shown cleaning rusty nails and a few other things as well. For other nontraditional cleaning methods, be sure to check out this wet media blast cabinet built from a 55-gallon drum.
Thanks to Zane for the tip!
Rudely Awakened says: Wanted to do the same and purchased a transducer and driver board from my favorite Asian vendor of cheap parts. Shocked the ^*)*& out of me. Measure to ground before touching.
PWalsh says: This is one of those cases where you probably want a quality device. Transducers are essentially an LCR series component, and will have an associated center frequency and Q. Quality transducers will have a center frequency within 200 Hz of their rated frequency and will have a high Q factor, cheap transducers from Asian vendors are rejects, will have a frequency that is off center, and a low Q factor. Generally speaking, this means the transducers will not be very efficient and will heat up. If they heat up too much, it can crack the piezo element.
Michael Shultz says: Cant the improper placement of the transducers also negatively effect the q factor ? The shape of the sink will create areas of standing waves . How cand you determine the proper placement. If mounted wrong you will destroy even good transducers. Or you’ll have certain positions where the transducer will always fails.
3Di SJ says: Trial and error. Buy extras
SparkyGSX says: I wonder if the transducers will synchronize, assuming the drivers drive them to resonance using some feedback, instead of forcing a frequency.
Bart says: I was wondering the same. If you turn them on at the same time they should be in sync but for how long ?
tadpole says: I’m not at all knowledgable in this area, and it might have been covered in the video, but how do you keep the different frequency generators from creating waves that cancel each other out? Or is this not at alla concern?
bob says: I didn’t watch the video but i’d imagine brownian motion in the liquid would prevent that from happening.
Krzysztof says: They all generate the same frequency. There might be standing nodes in sink, but as soon as you insert and manipulate some object inside, that pattern will change, so it’s not a problem. Unoptimal placement of transducers will just result in less efficiency, but unless you are really unlucky, it won’t be that much.
David says: And surely there will always be standing waves nodes. Unless the drivers sync up the nodes will actually move. Even just one transducer will set up standing waves. I’m guessing not stating.
Ostracus says: Ultrasonic washing machine.
The Commenter Formerly Known As Ren says: Has anyone homebuilt an ultrasonic welder for copper wires.?
