What is degassing?

Degassing is the removal of gases present in the cleaning solution. Mains water contains a surprising large amount of air. It is essential to remove this air before effective cleaning can take place, as 'useful' cavitation will only occur after removal. Degassing is simply achieved by running the ultrasonic cleaner for several minutes after the cleaning fluid has been changed.

With thousand of microscopic implosions every second you would have thought so. Ultrasonic cleaning is a very powerful way of removing contaminates from surfaces, however, the cavitation is localised and at microscopic level. Care should be taken in choosing the correct cleaning medium - it's far more likely that this could damage the parts than the ultrasonic action. Most dental and medical instruments are perfectly safe, as are clock and watches, although hairsprings should be cleaned with caution and for a short time. Ultrasonic cleaners are not recommended for cleaning large gemstones, gemstones with faults or indeed any of the following: emerald, turquoise, malachite, opal, pearl and coral.

Why is a special cleaning solution required?

The contamination 'sticks' to the surface of an item. This adhesion needs to be broken. Water alone has no cleaning properties and is not sufficient to break down the bond. The most powerful ultrasonic cleaner will not work effectively without the proper cleaning solution, it is the interaction between the cleaning fluid and the cleaning tank that produces the results. Walker Electronics Ltd manufacture a wide range of cleaning solutions to suit most applications.

This is a very common question with no direct answer. It depends on so many factors: the level of contamination on the components being cleaned, how many times the fluid has been used etc. Suffice to say, change the fluid when there is a noticeable decrease in ultrasonic cleaning action or when the fluid is visibly dirty. For most application this will not be every time the machine is used. The fluid level should be maintained at the tank ridge level, as the system is tuned to this. Failure to use the correct solutions or not maintain the correct fluid level could result in poor cleaning results and may even cause damage to the ultrasonic cleaner.

Another commonly asked question with no definitive answer! It will depend on the type of contamination, the quantity, the temperature of the cleaning fluid, how many items are in the unit, the type of cleaning fluid etc. If it's not clean, then clean it some more! With fresh cleaning fluid you should see the contamination being removed instantly. When you can see no more being removed, maybe it's clean! Inspect the item and if not happy re-clean, increasing the cleaning period next time.

The easiest way is the foil test. Place 9 pieces of aluminum foil (each 15-20mm wide by 120mm long) in the bath with your usual cleaning solution. Switch the unit on and leave for a 30 seconds. Remove the foil and inspect. There should be visible small holes and small dents on the surface. Refer to HTM2030 for further details.

When a cavitation bubble implodes enormous amounts of energy is released into the cleaning solution. Walker Electronics limited have designed their ultrasonic cleaners to take full advantage of the heat generated, so much so that there was no need for additional heating elements to be fitted to their units. The obvious advantage here - if it hasn't got a heating element it can't go wrong! Some of our units will increase the temperature of the fluid by as much as one degree C. for every minute operated.