by Andy on September 24, 2007
An ultrasonic cleaner is a metal container that has ceramic piezo transducers attached to the side or the bottom of the tank. These transducers convert one form of energy to another. They also change size when an electrical signal excites it. When the transducer is excited it increases in size and causes the side or the bottom of the container to move.
When an electrical generator emits a high frequency signal, the transducer offsets rarefaction and compression waves in the liquid. With this rarefaction cycle, the liquid is torn apart. Consequently a vacuum cavity is created in the liquid. The cavities fluctuate in size, but when the cavity reaches a certain size, it cannot retain its shape. When this happens, the cavity collapses, creating an extremely high temperature of 5,000 degrees Celsius (9,032 degrees Fahrenheit), and a jet of plasma hits the object in the container. Millions of these bubbles are created and collapsed every second.
These bubbles are what clean the object in the tank. The jet of plasma that hits the object causes the dirt to come off, and can be increased by adding a cleaning agent to the tank.
Now that you know how an ultrasonic cleaner works, here are a few tips to get you started:
- Make sure you always use a basket to clean your items. Never put them on the bottom without one.
- Choose the right type of ultrasonic cleaner. There are many types out there. They can range from jewelry cleaners to laboratory equipment.
- Find the right ultrasonic cleaner solution before you begin. You can choose from general purpose solutions, industrial strength solutions, electronic solutions, and many others. Many ultrasonic cleaners should be used with water. When cleaning circuit boards, distilled or dionized water should be used. But if you’re using the cleaner for other applications, like dentistry, tap water is fine.
- Used water or cleaner solution should be treated with 10% bleach before being disposed.
Check out All-Spec’s collection of Branson ultrasonic products here.
Branson is known for their ultrasonic cleaners. Visit our Squidoo lens for more information about Branson ultrasonic cleaners.
by Andy on September 17, 2007
OK International has come out with a new soldering system, the PS-800E. This new soldering station is designed for repetitive manual soldering and touch-up. The PS-800E is a little different than the existing PS-800. It has a new coil assembly and tip range that has a larger conductive areas than the PS-800. This bigger area makes the thermal energy transfer easier from station to tip. This, along with the tip’s design, makes lead-free soldering a heck of a lot easier.
The PS-800E (along with the PS-800) is made to be used with SmartHeat PowerTips Heater Tips and the PS-CA2 Coil Assembly. This allows high quality products to be made quickly and safely.
A big line of large diameter, high power tips have been developed by OK International for the PS-800E. These types of tips result in an extended tip life without diminishing tip performance.
There are many concerns regarding the high thermal demands of soldering with lead-free alloys, but these are addressed with the PS-800E’s enhancement of its tips’ thermal transfer abilities.
Another great feature of this soldering station is the innovative work stand. It goes to sleep automatically, which helps increase the life of the tip by letting the cartridge sit at a lower temperature. This also reduces oxidation and power used.
by Andy on September 10, 2007
What is “NIST” exactly? That is a question we get a lot from our customers. NIST, a government agency, stands for “National Institute of Standards and Technology.” NIST explains what they do on their website in quite a bit of detail, but a summary of what they do is fairly easy to understand.
We live in a world that is constantly evolving and coming up with new technology every day. These technologies include nanotechnology, information technology, and advanced manufacturing. In order for these new technologies to advance and compete with each other, a production standard must be kept. NIST sets these standards with tools that evaluate and measure each product in order to keep a level playing field for all competing companies.
So when you order a product that is NIST-certified, you aren’t just receiving a more expensive product, you are getting something that has been tested and evaluated by NIST. For example, if you order a NIST-certified Extech multimeter from All-Spec and order the same NIST-certified product from a competitor, the product will be exactly the same in specifications. This is guaranteed for up to a year.
All-Spec Industries carries many NIST-certified products that are available for electronic production, service, repair, and testing.
Here are some interesting NIST facts:
– The headquarters are in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
– One of NIST’s laboratories uses an atomic clock that serves as the nation’s official time.
– For the 2006 fiscal year, NIST had a budget of $930 million dollars.
– Everything from milk to CD players to seat belts depend on NIST for regulation.
For more information on NIST and what they do, frequently asked questions, and NIST news visit their website here.
