Ultrasonic Cleaning Services
for precision metal parts and downstream finishing preparation
SR MFG provides ultrasonic cleaning services for precision metal parts before coating, plating, anodizing, assembly, and packaging.
Using ultrasonic cavitation, we remove oils, coolant residue, polishing compound, fine particles, and contaminants from holes, slots, gaps, and complex geometries. Our cleaning process helps improve surface cleanliness, reduce coating and adhesion risks, and prepare parts for downstream finishing or shipment.
What Types of Parts and Geometries Can Ultrasonic Cleaning Handle?
Ultrasonic cleaning is highly effective for a wide range of metal parts and complex geometries-removing oils, residues, polishing compounds, and fine particles that are hard to reach by manual methods
Machined Precision Parts
- Parts: Bearings, gears, valve bodies, hydraulic components, cutting tools, molds/dies
- Contaminants: Cutting oil, coolant residue, metal chips, fine particulates
- Advantage: Deep cleaning in tight tolerances and intricate features
Sheet Metal &
Welded Assemblies
- Parts: Laser-cut/stamped/bent parts, welded subassemblies, enclosures, panels
- Contaminants: Oils, particulates, drawing compounds, fingerprints
- Advantage: Removes residues from seams, crevices and welded areas
Pre-Cleaning Before
Coating / Plating / Anodizing
- Parts: Components requiring surface preparation before finishing
- Contaminants: Grease, polishing compound residue, dust
- Advantage: Creates a clean, active surface for stronger adhesion and consistent finish
Fine-Hole & Mesh-Like
Structures
- Parts: Filters, perforated sheets, honeycomb structures, parts with dense hole/slot patterns
- Contaminants: Embedded particles, oils, metal fines
- Advantage: Cavitation penetrates tiny openings for complete cleaning
Complex Cavities &
Internal Passages
- Parts: Manifolds, blocks, housings, parts with blind holes, cross-drilled passages, threads
- Contaminants: Oils, chips, swarf, polishing residues inside cavities
- Advantage: Reaches areas that brushing, soaking or spray can’t reach
Automotive & Equipment
Components
- Parts: Engine components, transmission parts, brackets, fasteners, pumps, valves
- Contaminants: Oils, coolant, carbon dust, abrasive particles
- Advantage: Ensures reliability, performance and longer service life
Engineering Note: Ultrasonic cleaning removes contamination, not burrs. Deburring processes should be completed separately if present.
Material Compatibility for Ultrasonic Cleaning
Different metals respond differently to ultrasonic cleaning chemistry, temperature, and cycle time.
Carbon steel / alloy steel
Flash rust can appear within minutes to hours, especially with water-based cleaning on warm parts.
Once burrs, chips, and dust are removed, the surface becomes more reactive. Ionic residues may amplify coating, E-coat, or plating defects.
Use a water-based cleaner with corrosion inhibitors; rinse promptly and dry thoroughly. Add rust preventive or VCI packaging when required.
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Cast iron / porous materials
Trapped liquid plus flash rust.
Cast iron and powder-metal parts can hold liquid. Incomplete drying can lead to re-rusting and weeping.
Add rinse stages and extend drying time. For porous or blind-hole geometries, prioritize spin-off, blow-off, hot-air drying, and rust protection.
Related Material Pages
No linked material library page is available for this category right now.
Stainless steel (304/316, etc.)
Chlorides can cause pitting. Dissimilar-metal contamination may lead to rust spots.
Avoid high-chloride water or chemistries. Prevent cross-contamination from carbon-steel dust or iron chips.
Use a mild cleaner and proper rinsing. For high-cleanliness or corrosion-critical applications, follow with passivation or a defined surface-treatment step.
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Aluminum / aluminum alloys (5xxx/6xxx, etc.)
Staining/mottling, loss of luster, corrosion/pitting. Strong alkalinity can attack aluminum surfaces; cavitation can exacerbate surface damage.
Avoid strong alkalinity, sodium-hydroxide boosters, and chlorine/bleach-type chemistries. Excess time or temperature increases the chance of visible change.
Favor neutral to mildly alkaline formulations with inhibitors. Use short cycles, rinse promptly, and dry under controlled conditions.
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Anodized aluminum (including dyed parts)
Damage to dye or sealing layers may lead to fading or spotting. Excessive ultrasonic intensity can harm the coating.
Avoid strongly alkaline cleaners. Aggressive power or time settings may be incompatible with anodic films.
Use a mild, near-neutral cleaner. Shorten cycles and validate with a small sample first, especially for cosmetic parts.
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Copper / brass / bronze
Oxidation and darkening. Certain chemistries can cause discoloration or corrosion.
Copper and brass require tight control of time and temperature to avoid darkening or etching.
Use gentle formulations intended for nonferrous metals. Start with short cycles, rinse and dry quickly, and add anti-tarnish protection when needed.
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Galvanized steel / zinc alloys / zinc die cast
Higher sensitivity to cleaning chemistry; spotting or pitting. Damage to zinc reduces corrosion resistance.
Avoid strong acids and strong alkalis. Zinc is generally treated as an easily etched or corroded material.
Use neutral to mildly alkaline chemistry with inhibitors. Validate on samples first and keep the process window conservative.
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Magnesium alloys
High reactivity; easy to corrode or etch. Strong acids and alkalis are especially risky.
Chemistry selection is critical and the process window should be conservative.
Use neutral to mildly alkaline cleaners with inhibitors. Use short cycles, thorough rinsing, and complete drying. Always validate with sample parts.
Related Material Pages
No relevant knowledge about magnesium materials is available
Titanium / titanium alloys
Generally stable, but chemical compatibility and residues still matter, especially before finishing or bonding.
Avoid chemistries that leave hard-to-remove residues. Set rinse quality based on downstream requirements.
Mild water-based cleaning is usually sufficient. For high-cleanliness requirements, add rinse stages and controlled clean drying and handling.
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