FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE SONIFIER
At
what frequency does a Sonfier operate?
Standard Sonifier products operate at a nominal frequency of 20 kHz or
20,000 cycles per second. The auto-tuning feature actually moves the
frequency within a small range during operation to optimize performance.
When
should I change the replaceable tip on my horn?
Replaceable tips are generally used in high-energy applications where tip
wear is expected. As energy is transmitted from the horn tip, traces
of metal are eroded. Over time, this results in light pitting.
Tips can be polished with crocus paper or emery cloth until they are out
of dimensional tolerance. When this happens, the horn will be
difficult to tune, may squeal, and eventually crack. As tips are
relatively inexpensive, it is recommended that they be changed after the
second polishing.
Why
must the amplitude (power) be set below 7 when I use a microtip?
Microtips are designed to be used in small containers and are therefore
quite thin. This smaller dimensional cross-section makes them
more susceptible to stress cracking at higher amplitudes.
What
factors must I consider to effectively process my sample size?
The two primary factors for effective processing of a given sample size
are horn diameter and delivered power. The two must work together
for optimal performance. Too little power and a large horn will
stall. Too much power and horn damage may result. Branson
offers a range of horns with each of their Sonifiers that have been proven
effective with that particular unit.
What
is a "booster" and when is it used?
A "booster" is a device which is inserted between the converter
and the horn. It mechanically increases the horn amplitude by some
factor. They are typically used in difficult applications or
flow-through applications where exposure time is very limited.
Can
I process toxins or bio-hazardous materials safely?
Hazardous materials may be safely processed with a sealed atmosphere horn.
This device isolates the process sample in a sealed chamber during the
entire cycle. It is available with external cooling and is also used
in cases where there is need for metric evaluation of reaction components.
How
can I process more than 4-500ml of material?
For processing larger volumes or a continuous flow of material, Branson
offers flow-through processing cells. These specialized chambers
permit the continuous flow of material through a high-density ultrasonic
field. Volumes as high as 40 liters per hour can be reached with a
single unit.
How
do I process very small samples?
The greatest difficulty with processing small samples is providing good
horn/sample contact. This can be improved by using a process
container with a conical bottom. This increases liquid depth for
easier horn tip immersion without increasing liquid volume. The
bottom of an Eppendorf cell is often used for this purpose. A
3/32" or 1/8" microtip should be used and care should be
exercised to not touch the side of the container with the horn.
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Copyright 2004 WA Brown Industrial Sales
Listed at the ultrasonic cleaning source.