The Sonic Meter SM1000 is a scrub-force measuring device. It is designed to help maintain the quality and integrity of parts during cleaning cycles in ultrasonic cleaners.
Ultrasonic cleaners utilize a transducer attached to the tank’s exterior. The transducer outputs pulsating mechanical energy at high frequencies (ultrasonic), which causes the liquid in the tank to agitate.
The agitation at this high frequency level is what gives ultrasonic cleaners their cleaning ability. As the liquid becomes agitated, a phenomenon known as cavitation takes place. Cavitation is the almost instantaneous formation and implosion of small bubbles and cavities in the cleaning liquid.
As the liquid cavitates, the minute bubbles and the simultaneous implosions cause the surrounding liquid to impinge forcefully upon the surface areas of the part being cleaned. The force that the liquid applies to the area of the part is commonly referred to as the scrub-force.
This scrub-force action takes place |
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throughout the tank. However, the scrub-force can vary significantly due to the placement of the tank’s transducer and the constructive and destructive interferences caused by the shape of the tank and parts being cleaned.
These process variations in the scrub-force can be referred to as hot and cold spots in the liquid. Hot and cold spots are locations of high and low intensity scrub-force, relative to a mean value scrub-force. These variations can significantly alter the cleanliness or integritity of the parts being cleaned. Some parts may not have been thoroughly cleaned for the next process, or the stresses due to the cleaning action may have altered the integrity of the parts. With the Sonic Meter SM1000 these process variations can be minimized. |
With the Sonic Meter’s slender probe, operators can probe ultrasonic cleaners to pinpoint areas of optimum intensity in which to place each part. The Sonic Meter’s LCD displays the intensity variations. Parts can be varied in their z-height or their x and y positions via an adjustable array fixture. The operator can determine the location for each part so that all parts are placed in regions of the same specified pressure reading (scrub-force). Or several readings could be taken and averaged to determine the mean value scrub-force of a particular cleaner.
The Sonic Meter SM1000 measures scrub-force in units of pounds per square inch (psi). The SM1000 works with tanks that use frequencies in the range of 0-500kHz. |
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