Ultrasonic Cleaning of 3D Printed Aerospace Parts

Plural Additive Manufacturing (Lake Oswego, OR) is the exclusive North American distributor of A2 and A4 industrial 3D printing machines from 3ntr (Oleggio, Italy). These fused filament fabrication (FFF) systems are engineered to 3D print industrial-grade thermoplastics, including a specially formulated blend of aerospace quality polyphenylene sulfide (PPS). Now Plural Additive Manufacturing offers 1900BTX ultrasonic cleaning machines from Omegasonics (Simi Valley, CA) to buyers who purchase these 3D printers, to assist them with removing support material. The 1900BTX is a 20 gal plug and play unit that is a hybrid between traditional bench top cleaners and portable floor models. It has a low-profile design and insulated tank that make the unit compact and quiet enough to function in an office setting. It features two cleaning technologies: a water agitation cleaning process and ultrasonic cavitation. Each operates independently to facilitate a more thorough, yet gentle, cleaning process.

The 1900BTX uses a magnetic drive pump system that allows for agitation, similar to a jacuzzi, whereby the turbulence is controlled so parts are not damaged. Inside the tank, the part flows circularly which helps dissolve the temporary support structure around the part. The flow and heat are both adjustable, because different materials require different pressures and temperatures. The water agitation tank also features a directional spray nozzle that lets the user spray parts directly and precisely. The ultrasonic cleaning process generates cavitation energy inside the bath which creates its own internal pressure that dissolves the support structure for the parts. Plural has also developed BioSolv, a biodegradable, non-hazmat cleaning detergent that speeds up the process of removing delicate support material, and when used in conjunction with the dual-action 1900BTX:

• Hand cleaning is eliminated.
• Precision 3D object parts are never damaged.
• Cleaning detergent is much safer than sodium hydroxide.
• Cleaning times improved by over 30 percent than by cleaning with sodium hydroxide.

“The 1900BTX, especially when used in combination with BioSolv, is a much safer approach to effectively clean soluble support material from 3D molds,” said Frank Pedeflous, the president of Omegasonics.

Omegasonics, 330 East Easy Street, Suite A, Simi Valley, CA 93065, 888-989-5560, Fax: 805-583-0561, www.omegasonics.com.