Dual Process Unit Automated Ultrasonic Passivation System

Our dual-process unit automated ultrasonic passivation equipment performs an automated ultrasonic process of cleaning-rinsing-passivation-rinsing-drying by moving the fluids from heated storage tanks into ultrasonic process tanks. The traditional method involved moving the parts basket through a series of tanks. Our dual process unit is similar to our Ultrasonic Cleaner Machine but has multiple process units to increase system throughput.

Moving the solutions not only significantly saves equipment cost in automated material handling and multiple ultrasonic tanks, but also the throughput of the system is reduced because one set of parts is in the same unit for all stages of the process.  For manufacturing processes,  which require higher throughput or lower cycle times, the dual processing automated passivation system allows for this same concept of moving the solutions but two processing units are sharing the same storage tanks.  This effectively doubles the system throughput without needing to purchase a completely new passivation system.

With this automated ultrasonic cleaning system, the entire process required to clean, rinse, passivate, rinse, and dry manufactured stainless steel metal parts is performed at the push of a button.  User-defined cycles are available via a touch-panel screen PLC control.

Dual Process Unit Automated Ultrasonic Cleaning System

Video: Automated Ultrasonic Passivation Equipment for Citric or Nitric Acid

Modular heated storage tanks allow for the re-use of detergents and rinse water to passivate stainless steel. This system configuration removes operator interaction, variability and eliminates exposure to chemicals. The end result is high-quality cleaned and passivated parts with tighter process controls.  They are easily validated for regulated products like medical device and aerospace.  The operator simply puts dirty, dry parts in, hits start and returns to cleaned, rinsed, passivated, rinsed and dry parts.

We move the fluids NOT the parts! Savings of nearly 50% of system cost over traditional multi-tanks with overhead basket carrier automation.

Common Applications for Automated Passivation Equipment

• Ultrasonic part cleaning and passivation of water-soluble machining coolants, chips, particulate, and true machining/cutting oils, buffing and lapping compounds.
• Medical device stainless steel, titanium, tantalum parts cleaning and passivation
• Aerospace part passivation per MIL-specs
• Nitric acid passivation type 2, 3, 4 ASTM A967
• Citric acid passivation type 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 ASTM A967 using Stellar Solution’s Citrisurf
• General washing for maintenance, manufacturing, rework and/or remanufacturing.
• Applicable case study: Automated Ultrasonic Passivation System for Medical Device and General Parts

Typical Configurations

The dual process unit automated ultrasonic passivation equipment configurations below are most common for passivating stainless steel, but systems of any size from 3.5 to 100+ gallon and one foot to fifteen foot long can be fabricated based on customer application for little to no custom costs. Systems can contain pH and conductivity meters to monitor wash, acid and RO / DI rinse solutions.  Other customer-specific applications customizations are available.