How to Select the Frequency for Ultrasonic Cleaning Equipment ？

How to Select the Frequency for Ultrasonic Cleaning Equipment ？

If you are new to ultrasonic cleaning and unsure how to choose the right frequency, the engineers at GTKCLEAN, a professional ultrasonic cleaning machine manufacturer, will provide you with the best professional advice.If you want to learn how to make the right choice on your own, our experts from this leading ultrasonic cleaning company have prepared this clear and practical guide for ultrasonic cleaning machines and equipment.

Ultrasonic cleaning frequency directly determines the cleaning performance, precision, and safety of your parts when using an ultrasonic cleaning machine or ultrasonic cleaning equipment. The higher the frequency, the smaller the cavitation bubbles and the gentler the cleaning impact.

1. 28 kHz — Heavyduty Cleaning (Heavy Industry, Heavy Contamination)

• Characteristics: Large cavitation bubbles, strong blasting force, high decontamination capability.
• Applications:
  • Steel, cast iron, stainless steel parts
  • Parts with heavy oil, grease, metal chips, cutting fluid, polishing wax
  • Engine components, hardware, molds, bearings
• Not suitable for: Aluminum, copper, plastics, glass and other easily damaged materials.
• Recommended for: Heavy-duty industrial ultrasonic cleaning machines

2. 40 kHz — Generalpurpose Cleaning (Most Common for Ultrasonic Cleaning Equipment)

• Characteristics: Balanced cleaning strength and precision, wide compatibility.
• Applications:
  • Most hardware, automotive parts, machined components
  • Stainless steel, aluminum, copper parts with light to moderate oil contamination
  • Routine general cleaning
• Recommended when you are unsure which frequency to choose for standard ultrasonic cleaning machines.

3. 68 kHz / 80 kHz — Precision Cleaning

• Characteristics: Small bubbles, mild impact, surfacefriendly.
• Applications:
  • Aluminum alloy, zinc alloy parts
  • Precision components, electronic parts, connectors
  • Parts requiring scratchfree and corrosionfree cleaning.
• Ideal for: Precision ultrasonic cleaning equipment

4. 120 kHz / 130 kHz & Above — Ultraprecision / Optical Grade

• Characteristics: Microfine cleaning, almost no destructive impact.
• Applications:
  • Optical glass, lenses, ceramics
  • Semiconductors, wafers, medical devices
  • Ultrathinwalled, easily deformable or very soft materials.
• Designed for: High-end ultra-precision ultrasonic cleaning machines

Quick Selection Summary for Ultrasonic Cleaning Machines & Equipment

• Heavy, hard, heavily soiled parts → 28 kHz
• General parts, universal cleaning → 40 kHz
• Precision, soft, scratchsensitive parts → 68 kHz / 80 kHz
• Optical, medical, ultrathin parts → 120 kHz+

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Ultrasonic Cleaning Equipment

• Using 28 kHz on aluminum or plastic parts in an ultrasonic cleaning machine may cause whitening, corrosion or deformation.
• Using high frequencies for heavy oil contamination results in poor cleaning efficiency.
• Higher frequency does not mean better cleaning; it only means higher precision.

For more professional guidance on selecting ultrasonic cleaning machines, please consult GTKCLEAN, a trusted ultrasonic cleaning machine manufacturer and ultrasonic cleaning company with rich industry experience.