Make my own ultrasonic cleaner? Whats required?

[cdev]

Suppose I wanted to make my own super controllable ultrasonic cleaner/ sonicator? (for both cleaning and mixing) What would I use to make it?

I have two hefty pa08 power op amps, would they be an appropriate device to use?

Or are regular power NPN BJTs okay ?  I want to use stuff Ive got.

What kind of transducer would I use?

[Marco]

I found this old patent once designed for 43 kilocycles (as I said, old). 40 kHz ultrasonic cleaner Piezo discs are readily available from China, order a couple extra because some will probably break in transit.

[thm_w]

Take a look at the existing kits, just to see whats out there.
Super controllable as in you want to control frequency and power?


https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001940370133.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003352882551.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002624252628.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000401937149.html

[rpiloverbd]

You can get some idea from here: https://ultrasonic-cleaners.org/building-a-diy-ultrasonic-cleaner.html

[cdev]

I think I already have some of these piezo disks, actually, I got them for use in DIY musical instruments. Ive used them to "mike" metal objects. They really preserve the metallic weird aspects of sounds. thank you! I have a lot of junk that I've saved intending to use it "someday" then have never used it. I get a lot of abuse from my sweetie for this. Who should know better because she loves to DIY.

I have been successfully using an ultrasonic transducer thats used to generate smoke on Halloween when I need to clean things. . That was fun and it even being kind of weak, it IS useful. So that got me thinking that I want to DIY a bigger one. I also want to have an ultrasonic mixer for all sorts of things. Including foods. And PCBs.

What is a good amplifier approach? And what are the best transducers? In another thread I was explaining how I'd like to get an audio amp for use on my desk to replace the crappy speakers Ive been using. I wonder, is a regular audio amp also whats best for ultrasonic transducers?

Or should I build one from scratch?

[cdev]

You can get some idea from here: https://ultrasonic-cleaners.org/building-a-diy-ultrasonic-cleaner.html

Thank you, this is super useful!

Just for fun as part of this journey I think I am going to set up a speaker with my siggen to generate cymatics patterns..

Its extremely cool visual effect and all it takes is a piece of metal (steel is best) and a speaker, and some salt or other granulated powder..

The effect is kind of a computer graphic like effect but its completely analog

[Marco]

You used to be able buy big "35W" Piezo discs for like a buck a piece, but they have gone up in price. Meanwhile the metal loaded transducers have gone down in price, which probably have far better matching to the tank and you can screw them on with a bolt instead of taking chances with glue.

I'd just buy a set of those with a driver board, then you can always buy extra transducers and try to make your own driver.

[cdev]

What frequencies do you use?

[m3vuv]

could a regular audio amp be fed with say a 40kc oscillator and run the transducers from that,im talking a domestic hifi amp.