Cleaning
Ultrasonics
Repair Stories

The power of ultrasonics ensures proper cleaning of all components.

Ultrasonic technology is currently used in hospitals, dental labs and manufacturing centers of high precision assemblies where absolute cleaning is a must. Musicare's Ultrasonic system will clean everything from piccolos to giant tubas and mouthpieces. To introduce our cleaning services, we’re offering all new customers a 10% discount on their first instrument cleaning. To take advantage of this special offer, contact us, print and present the coupon in person or if shipping, include it in the case.

Ultrasonic frequency is defined as the frequency of an acoustic wave at a frequency above the audible range for humans. The band instrument cleaning system operates at a base frequency of 40,000 cycles per second or 40 kilohertz (kHz). Due to the design of the "Vibra-bar" transducer, "Simultaneous Multi-Frequency" is produced. This "Simultaneous Multi-Frequency" produces an output from 40kHz to 90kHz. As the acoustic waves are induced into a liquid media, it creates alternating high pressure and low pressure fronts to travel through the liquid. The high pressure fronts are referred to as compression and the low pressure fronts as rarefaction. These alternating compression and rarefaction fronts react with microscopic bubbles in the liquid to produce cavitation.

The cavitation phenomenon works on microscopic bubbles of entrained air and/or vapor of the liquid. During a rarefaction cycle, the bubble will tend to grow as the internal pressure exceeds the external pressure. During the compression cycle, the bubble will retract due to greater external pressure. Over several cycles, the bubble will undergo alternating cycles, but will have a tendency to increase in dimension until a critical size is attained at which time, during a compression cycle, the bubble will collapse releasing its stored energy. This release of energy produces a high amount of mechanical disruption (scrubbing action) and temperature release (as high as 5000 degrees C) localized to the point of implosion. The combination of these factors causes particles to be separated from surfaces and enhanced chemical activity for soil dissolution.

The power of Ultrasonics lies not only in its ability to clean, but in its ability to penetrate into areas inaccessible by any other method. Since the power of cavitation is able to go wherever the liquid goes, entire assemblies can be immersed in a bath and all surfaces, both external and internal, blind holes and crevices, will be cleaned simultaneously. This ensures proper cleaning of components. Although Ultrasonics is an aggressive cleaning technique, it is non-abrasive and can produce extremely clean parts without harm to product surfaces.

Does your instrument need cleaning or overhaul?

The Ultrasonic Tank in action.

Tuba valves after cleaning.

"Hairball" of saliva junk
removed from trumpet
mouthpiece.