What are the benefits and drawbacks of using ultrasonic cleaning for 3D prototyping?

1 Benefits of ultrasonic cleaning

One of the main advantages of ultrasonic cleaning is that it can reach areas that are difficult or impossible to clean by hand, such as tiny crevices, holes, and complex geometries. Ultrasonic cleaning can also save you time and effort, as you don't have to manually scrape, brush, or rinse your parts. Additionally, ultrasonic cleaning can help preserve the quality and accuracy of your prints, as it can remove the support material and excess resin without damaging the surface or the details of your parts.

2 Drawbacks of ultrasonic cleaning

However, ultrasonic cleaning is not without its drawbacks. One of the potential issues is that it can cause overheating, cracking, or warping of your parts, especially if they are made of thermoplastic materials or have thin walls or delicate features. Ultrasonic cleaning can also generate noise and vibrations that can be annoying or harmful to your ears and equipment. Moreover, ultrasonic cleaning can pose some health and environmental risks, as the liquid bath can contain toxic or flammable chemicals that can spill, leak, or evaporate.

3 Tips for ultrasonic cleaning

To ensure you get the most out of ultrasonic cleaning for 3D prototyping and avoid or minimize any drawbacks, there are some best practices and precautions you should follow. When selecting a liquid bath, make sure it is compatible with your parts and your ultrasonic cleaner. Additionally, adjust the temperature, frequency, and duration of the ultrasonic cleaning to the recommended levels of your printer and cleaner manufacturers, testing a small sample before cleaning the whole batch. Utilize a basket or rack to hold your parts in the liquid bath to prevent them from touching the bottom or sides of the cleaner, where the ultrasonic waves are strongest. Wear protective gear such as ear plugs, gloves, goggles, and a mask when using ultrasonic cleaning in a well-ventilated area. Furthermore, store and dispose of the liquid bath properly and avoid contact with skin, eyes, or mouth.

4 Alternatives to ultrasonic cleaning

If ultrasonic cleaning is not suitable or available for 3D prototyping needs, you may want to consider manual cleaning, water jet cleaning, or chemical bath cleaning. Manual cleaning involves the use of tools such as tweezers, knives, scissors, brushes, or sandpaper to remove support material and excess resin from parts. This can be precise but time-consuming and labor-intensive. Water jet cleaning involves using a high-pressure water jet to blast away the support material and excess resin from parts; however, this can be damaging and messy. Chemical bath cleaning involves submerging parts in a chemical bath that dissolves the support material and excess resin from parts; this can be convenient and thorough but hazardous and expensive.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?