Homemade Cleaning Machine

[HectorLooi]

After watching Alex Hamilton's video on improving ultrasonic cleaning, I decided to make a similar machine but using studier components.

I first got a chemical stirrer almost identical to the one in the video. Then I got an Indian-made cleaning basket from eBay. After the parts arrived, I set about putting it together. I wanted it to be able to straddle my ultrasonic cleaner, so that the basket can be lowered into a glass jar containing the cleaning solutions. I wanted the basket to rotate slowly while the ultrasonic was on to avoid dead spots on the tank. I also wanted the basket to spin rapidly to spin dry the parts after each cleaning cycle.

So this is what I came up with.

The basket fits to a 8mm shaft but the chemical stirrer only accepts a 6mm rod. So I glued a 8mm stainless pipe over 6mm stainless tube. The rest was easy.

[Neverenoughwatches]

3 hours ago, HectorLooi said:

After watching Alex Hamilton's video on improving ultrasonic cleaning, I decided to make a similar machine but using studier components.

I first got a chemical stirrer almost identical to the one in the video. Then I got an Indian-made cleaning basket from eBay. After the parts arrived, I set about putting it together. I wanted it to be able to straddle my ultrasonic cleaner, so that the basket can be lowered into a glass jar containing the cleaning solutions. I wanted the basket to rotate slowly while the ultrasonic was on to avoid dead spots on the tank. I also wanted the basket to spin rapidly to spin dry the parts after each cleaning cycle.

So this is what I came up with.

The basket fits to a 8mm shaft but the chemical stirrer only accepts a 6mm rod. So I glued a 8mm stainless pipe over 6mm stainless tube. The rest was easy.

Love it Hector, do you have a link for the baskets please 

[HectorLooi]

https://www.ebay.com.sg/itm/385042344168?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=3423-175132-2357-0&ssspo=ggjmobmftxo&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=v36TsHWBSw-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

I'm having a slight problem with the basket. The cage is a little crooked when it locks into place. And that causes a very bad wobble when the basket is spun at higher speeds. 

I'll investigate this tonight and see how to balance it properly.

Yup. As expected, the cover is crooked. It is probably sand-casted and was distorted right from the start.

I'll try to mitigate the situation. Failing which, I might have to fabricate one out of plastic or aluminium. 

[Neverenoughwatches]

1 hour ago, HectorLooi said:

https://www.ebay.com.sg/itm/385042344168?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=3423-175132-2357-0&ssspo=ggjmobmftxo&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=v36TsHWBSw-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

I'm having a slight problem with the basket. The cage is a little crooked when it locks into place. And that causes a very bad wobble when the basket is spun at higher speeds. 

I'll investigate this tonight and see how to balance it properly.

Yup. As expected, the cover is crooked. It is probably sand-casted and was distorted right from the start.

I'll try to mitigate the situation. Failing which, I might have to fabricate one out of plastic or aluminium. 

Is it the locking top thats bent ?

[HectorLooi]

27 minutes ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

Is it the locking top thats bent ?

Yes.

[Malocchio]

I was also looking at the Indian basket but several reviewers had trouble with the wobble so I ordered an Elma basket. Pretty expensive but precise manufacture. 

[Neverenoughwatches]

1 hour ago, HectorLooi said:

Yes.

For £80 the holder and mesh trays look pretty decent, shame about the lid. 

[Neverenoughwatches]

5 hours ago, HectorLooi said:

https://www.ebay.com.sg/itm/385042344168?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=3423-175132-2357-0&ssspo=ggjmobmftxo&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=v36TsHWBSw-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

I'm having a slight problem with the basket. The cage is a little crooked when it locks into place. And that causes a very bad wobble when the basket is spun at higher speeds. 

I'll investigate this tonight and see how to balance it properly.

Yup. As expected, the cover is crooked. It is probably sand-casted and was distorted right from the start.

I'll try to mitigate the situation. Failing which, I might have to fabricate one out of plastic or aluminium. 

If the lid is bent then I'm guessing the 3 locking tabs are not in line with each other. Couldn't you file them or /and the locating recesses on the basket to bring the basket and drive shaft into line.

[HectorLooi]

38 minutes ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

If the lid is bent then I'm guessing the 3 locking tabs are not in line with each other. Couldn't you file them or /and the locating recesses on the basket to bring the basket and drive shaft into line.

Yes. I've been filing the tabs. It has improved but still wobbles a bit. Another thing I could do is to shorten the shaft. I'll continue working on it tomorrow.

[Neverenoughwatches]

On 12/28/2023 at 4:09 PM, HectorLooi said:

Yes. I've been filing the tabs. It has improved but still wobbles a bit. Another thing I could do is to shorten the shaft. I'll continue working on it tomorrow.

Any luck truing the basket holder ?

[HectorLooi]

5 minutes ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

Any luck truing the basket holder ?

For a moment it was like the cartoon where the chair had a shorter leg and I cut the longer ones and end up with another leg longer.

But happy to report that the basket trued up nicely. I also noticed that the stirrer motor has a collet chuck. I could remove that and fit a fixed coupling to reduce some more wobble. 

[Neverenoughwatches]

16 minutes ago, HectorLooi said:

For a moment it was like the cartoon where the chair had a shorter leg and I cut the longer ones and end up with another leg longer.

But happy to report that the basket trued up nicely. I also noticed that the stirrer motor has a collet chuck. I could remove that and fit a fixed coupling to reduce some more wobble. 

Haha sounds like a laurel and hardy scene.  Yes i think those stirrers have a 7mm collet attached to an 8mm drive shaft. Shortening the shaft from the basket to collet would also reduce the  run out at length. Good to know you fixed the wobble, i think a little is good as it adds to the agitation as long as its no real detriment to the motor bearings and basket fittings. Appreciate the feedback on this hector, i contacted the seller and he ships to the Uk. Including shipping around £80  which i think is very reasonable if it holds up to weekly use.

[HectorLooi]

Latest update on my homemade cleaning machine. 

It works very well but I just discovered a flaw when I was cleaning clock parts in an ammoniated solution. The aluminum cage reacts with aqeous ammonium and produces a lot of bubbles, which I think should be hydrogen.

Looks like I have to look for someone to 3D print a plastic cage for me. 

[Neverenoughwatches]

5 minutes ago, HectorLooi said:

Latest update on my homemade cleaning machine. 

It works very well but I just discovered a flaw when I was cleaning clock parts in an ammoniated solution. The aluminum cage reacts with aqeous ammonium and produces a lot of bubbles, which I think should be hydrogen.

Looks like I have to look for someone to 3D print a plastic cage for me. 

Interesting Hector, i haven't noticed anything unusual with mine. Whats the score with that ?

[HectorLooi]

Try using ammoniated clock cleaning solutions.

[Neverenoughwatches]

21 minutes ago, HectorLooi said:

Try using ammoniated clock cleaning solutions.

Are they a stronger  concentrated solution of ammonia compared to something like Elma ammoniated ?

[HectorLooi]

1 hour ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

Are they a stronger  concentrated solution of ammonia compared to something like Elma ammoniated ?

I was using a home brew solution and probably added more ammonia because the parts were really dirty.

[HectorLooi]

Another new discovery after using this basket for awhile. The wire netting dividers are not welded or soldered to the bottom netting. So small parts can slip under the divider and end up in another compartment. 

[Neverenoughwatches]

On 1/23/2024 at 1:31 AM, HectorLooi said:

Another new discovery after using this basket for awhile. The wire netting dividers are not welded or soldered to the bottom netting. So small parts can slip under the divider and end up in another compartment. 

Haha yeah i meant to mention that  H. Another great aspect of Indian quality.

[Waggy]

I got the same set with my pearl watch cleaning machine, I soldered along the bottom seam/interface myself to prevent the parts moving around. Also the dividers were not folded over at the top, so the steel mesh started to fray and pokey bits of steel wire stabbed me when using the baskets. Slowly swapping them out with higher quality ones.

Link here

Edited January 24, 2024 by Waggy
Added link

[HectorLooi]

I have an interesting update on my DIY cleaning machine. 

After seeing my mentor new fully automated, Chinese made cleaning machine with ultrasound, I gleaned some ideas which I incorporated into my DIY machine. 

I added a bearing to the front of the shaft, near the cleaning basket, to stabilize it, to stop the waggle of the shaft at high speeds.

I used a 32mm PVC pipe, which was about the diameter of the bearing housing of the motor of my chemical stirrer. I made three slits in the pipe and put a hose clamp aound it and clamped it to the housing.

Next, I stuffed a bearing into a 32mm PVC straight connector.

The joint fits to the front end of the PVC pipe.

And this is what it looks like fitted to the stand.

Now the motor can run at pretty decent speeds without the slightest waggle. 

The next thing is to spot weld the bottom of the basket mesh to the dividers, to stop parts from slipping from one compartment to another. 

[Martin89]

After reading a lot of you guys building an under budget cleaning machine made one myself. I bought the over head mixer thru amazon for less than $100 bucks, it has a timer bult in and can adjust the speed. I used 3D print to create the jar holders and the cover for the jars. The cover has a ball bearing to minimize the waggle in high speeds but also I cut the shaft short. The ebay indian baskets are hard to open and close, so I decided to buy the  elma basket and luckily the Indian baskets fits in the elma basket. I'm still working in the drying station. Let me know what you guys think. All suggestions are welcome. 

[Randy55]

Nice job !
I did a similar setup...using the cheaper lab stirrer that has the separate ( and not so good ) timer. I also used the Elma cage with the cheaper baskets from India.

I might switch out to the one you are using.....looks like a better timer ,..and a smaller footprint

 

Randy

[gpraceman]

17 hours ago, Randy55 said:

Nice job !
I did a similar setup...using the cheaper lab stirrer that has the separate ( and not so good ) timer. I also used the Elma cage with the cheaper baskets from India.

I might switch out to the one you are using.....looks like a better timer ,..and a smaller footprint

Randy

I just set a timer on my phone.  Not sure that my stirrer controller has an audible alarm or not, but even if so, with my cleaning machine down in my basement, I won't hear it from the main floor. 

I'm not impressed with the speed control on my unit as there is no RPM indication.  I wonder how good the speed control is on @Martin89's setup.

[Martin89]

On 8/8/2024 at 12:42 PM, gpraceman said:

I just set a timer on my phone.  Not sure that my stirrer controller has an audible alarm or not, but even if so, with my cleaning machine down in my basement, I won't hear it from the main floor. 

I'm not impressed with the speed control on my unit as there is no RPM indication.  I wonder how good the speed control is on @Martin89's setup.

The speed control on my unit is pretty good, I can adjust it from 0 to 2000rpm. I been using it at 200 rpm and works fine. Unfortunately I have to pit a timer since my stirrer doesn't have an alarm when it stops.

But I am happy with my unit. You can find it on amazon for less than 100$