Ultrasonic Cleaning for Additive Manufacturing & 3D Printed Parts
As additive manufacturing and 3D printing technologies continue to advance, manufacturers can create parts with ever-increasing complexity and precision.
At UPC, we offer advanced ultrasonic cleaning systems that meet the unique demands of the additive manufacturing and 3D printing industries. Whether you're creating prototypes, functional components, or hi-tech end products, our ultrasonic cleaners ensure a streamlined and effective post-manufacturing process that delivers spotless, production-ready parts every time.
A common challenge lies in the post-processing phase: removing residual materials, support structures, and contaminants from finished parts. Ultrasonic cleaning can be the ideal solution for this vital work:
- Fast: cleans in minutes instead of hours
- Effective: removes excess material, supports, and contaminants like uncured resin and powder residues
- Precise yet gentle: cleans intricate designs without damaging delicate parts
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Why Clean Additive & 3D-Printed Parts?
Parts created by an additive manufacturing or 3D printing process need to be cleaned to remove excess material, support structures, and contaminants. These include:
- Uncured resin in stereolithography (SLA), Digital Light Processing (DLP), and other resin-based prints
- Support structures in Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
- Powder residue in Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) and other powder-based processes
Parts with intricate designs such as blind holes, channels, and chambers usually need to be manually cleaned. But manual cleaning can be time-consuming, labor-intensive and difficult.
Ultrasonic cleaning is fast, effective, and non-abrasive for even the most complex or delicate parts.
We supply a wide variety of cleaning agents, solvents, and detergents to meet specific post-manufacturing cleaning requirements.
Why Does Ultrasonic Cleaning Work for Additive & 3D-Printed Parts?
Ultrasonic cleaners use high-frequency sound waves to create microscopic cavitation bubbles in a cleaning solution. As the bubbles implode, they create a scrubbing action that removes contaminates from objects. This cleaning action reaches even hard-to-access areas, ensuring every part of an item is cleaned.
The ultrasound frequency determines the size and power of the bubbles – smaller bubbles are gentle and can reach the tiniest spaces, while larger bubbles provide a more powerful cleaning action.
Parameters such as the ultrasound frequency, power, temperature, and cleaning fluid can be configured to deliver the optimum cleaning process for removing particular structures or contaminants.
Ultrasonic cleaning is a highly efficient, effective, and versatile solution for cleaning parts created by additive manufacturing and 3D-printing processes.
What size cleaner do I need for additive and 3D-printed parts?
UPC ultrasonic cleaners come in a range of sizes to suit most applications. We can also build custom cleaners for extra-large parts or to suit specialized cleaning processes. We can help you select the most suitable cleaner for your specific needs.
What cleaning agent should I use?
The right cleaning agent to use depends on the material used to manufacture the parts. For example, some additive and 3D-printed parts require a solvent, such as Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA), to dissolve uncured resin. For SLS or FDM parts, a strong alkali such as sodium hydroxide is needed to remove support structures or powder residues.
Solvents such as IPA or acetone must only be used in an ultrasonic cleaner that’s capable of handling highly flammable solutions.
How do I set up an ultrasonic cleaner for cleaning additive and 3D-printed parts?
Several factors impact the performance of an ultrasonic cleaner. These factors include ultrasound frequency, cleaning fluid, temperature, power, load positioning, and cleaning cycle time. It’s important to use the right combination of factors for effective cleaning without damaging the parts.
Proper tuning is essential for achieving high-quality results but it can be complicated. We recommend consulting our experts to determine the best setup for your application.
Read our series of articles about the factors affecting the ultrasonic cleaning process
What are the benefits of ultrasonic cleaning for additive and 3D-printed parts?
A key benefit of ultrasonic cleaning is speed. While manual or agitation washing can take hours, ultrasonic cleaning typically takes minutes, delivering superior results at a lower cost. Ultrasonic cleaning is precise and thorough yet gentle and non-abrasive, preserving the integrity and quality of even the most delicate items. The process is sustainable and safe, supporting the environmentally friendly work practices that are required by modern industries.
Why choose a UPC ultrasonic cleaner for additive and 3D-printed parts?
Ultrasonic cleaning is a proven, effective solution for cleaning parts created by additive manufacturing and 3D printing. Choosing a cleaner from a reputable manufacturer is essential for ensuring consistent, high-quality results. At UPC, we have years of experience in ultrasonic cleaning applications. We use advanced technology and rigorous testing to deliver reliable, high-performance cleaning systems.