Qsonica Sonicator Q700 User manual

Rev. 6-12
1
Sonicator
ULTRASONIC PROCESSOR
Part No. Q700
OPERATION MANUAL
53 Church Hill Road, Newtown, CT 06470 U.S.A
Phone: [phone] ·1.877.338.9636
Fax: [phone]
Web: www.sonicator.com · E-mail: [e-mail]

Rev. 6-12
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Rev. 6-12
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Table of Contents
Section Page No.
1. Warranty 4
2. Warnings 5
3. Specifications 6-7
4. Principles of Operation 8-9
5. Description of Components / Functions of Controls 10-12
6. Preparation for Use 13
7. Operating Instructions (Getting Started) 14-23
8. Maintenance 24-26
9. Troubleshooting 27
10. Service / Return of Equipment 28
11. Service Safety Certification form 29

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1. Warranty
Your Ultrasonic Processor is warranted and backed by the manufacturer for a period of two
years from the date of shipment against defects in material and workmanship under normal
use as described in this instruction manual. During the warranty period, the manufacturer
will, at its option, as the exclusive remedy, either repair or replace without charge for
material and labor, the part(s) which prove to be defective, provided the unit is returned to
us properly packed with all transportation charges prepaid.
Ultrasonic probes are guaranteed against defects for a period of one year from date of
shipment. A defective probe will be replaced once without charge, if failure occurs within
the warranty period. Wear resulting from cavitation erosion is a normal consequence of
ultrasonic processing, and is not covered by this warranty.
The manufacturer neither assumes nor authorizes any person to assume for it any other
obligations or liability in connection with the sale of its products. The manufacturer hereby
disclaims any warranty of either merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No
person or company is authorized to change, modify, or amend the terms of this warranty in
any manner or fashion whatsoever. Under no circumstances shall the manufacturer be
liable to the purchaser or any other person for any incidental or consequential damages or
loss of goodwill, production, or profit resulting from any malfunction or failure of its
product.
This warranty does not apply to equipment that has been subject to unauthorized repair,
misuse, abuse, negligence or accident. Equipment which, shows evidence of having been
used in violation of operating instructions, or which has had the serial number altered or
removed, will be ineligible for service under this warranty.
All probes are manufactured to exacting specifications and are tuned to vibrate at a
specific frequency. Using an out-of-tune probe will cause damage to the equipment and
may result in warranty nullification. The manufacturer assumes no responsibility for probes
fabricated by another party or for consequential damages resulting from their usage.
The aforementioned provisions do not extend the original warranty period of any product
that has either been repaired or replaced by the manufacturer.

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2. Warnings
Please read the manual in its entirety. Necessary instruction and guidance are provided to help
ensure the successful operation of this device.
Your new Ultrasonic Liquid Processor has been designed, built and tested to assure maximum
operator safety. However, no design can completely protect against improper use that may lead to
bodily injury and/or property damage. For total safety and equipment protection, read the
instruction manual carefully before attempting to operate this equipment. Observe the following
WARNINGS:
High voltage is present in the generator (power supply), converter and high frequency cable. There are no
user-serviceable parts inside any of these devices. Do NOT attempt to remove the generator cover or
converter case.
Do NOT touch any open cable connections on the unit while the power is turned ON.
Do NOT operate generator with converter disconnected from high voltage cable. High voltage is present in
the cable and may pose a shock hazard.
Do NOT attempt to disconnect the converter high voltage cable while the unit is running.
The generator must be properly grounded with a 3-prong plug. Test electrical outlet for proper grounding
before plugging in unit.
Install the ultrasonic processor in an area free from excessive dust, dirt, explosive or corrosive fumes and
protected from extremes in temperature and humidity. Do not place the Generator within a Fume Hood.
Hearing protection is highly recommended. It is recommended that a sound abating enclosure or ear
protection be used when operating the Ultrasonic Processor
NEVER immerse the converter in liquids of any kind, or let condensed moisture or liquid drip into the
converter.
NEVER grasp an activated horn or probe. It can cause severe burns and tissue damage.
NEVER allow a probe to vibrate in air.
NEVER hold or clamp the converter by the front driver or by the horn itself. This can cause permanent
damage to the system. Support the converter by only clamping around the converter housing (upper
portion).
If needed air cool the convertor with dry compressed air.
Do NOT allow the tip of a vibrating horn or probe to touch the counter top or any other hard surface. It
could damage the probe, overload the generator, or damage the surface.
Avoid touching the bottom or sides of a glass or plastic container with an activated probe. It could crack
or shatter the glass or melt the plastic.
Turn OFF the power switch, unplug the generator and disconnect the power cord from the back of the
generator before attempting to replace the fuses.
Inspect high frequency cable for cracks in the protective outer jacket.
Do not operate unit with a damaged cable. Doing so may cause serious injury.
In case of AC power loss, wait 3 minutes minimum before reapplying power.
Do not turn off AC mains power while running a horn. Stop sonication via touch screen prior to stopping
power.

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Symbols
Caution, Risk of electric shock, Hazardous voltage
Caution, Risk of danger. Refer to User Manual.

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3. Specifications
Generator
Input Voltage
100 VAC –120 VAC @ 50/60 Hz
220 VAC –240 VAC @ 50/60
Hz
Rated Current
12 Amps max.
6 Amps max.
Fuse Rating
15 Amps*
8 Amps*
Weight
16 lbs. (7.3 Kg)
Dimensions
8"W x 15.25"Lx 8.5"H
203 mm x 387 mm x 216 mm
Output Voltage
1000 V rms (max.)
Output Frequency
20 KHz
Converter
Weight
2 lbs. (900 g)
Dimensions
7.25" L x 2.5" Dia.
(183 mm x 63.5 mm)
Materials
Aluminum Alloy
Standard ½ ” Horn
Weight
0.75 lbs. (340 g)
Dimensions
5.375" L x .5" Dia.
(136 mm x 13 mm)
Materials
Titanium Alloy

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Environmental
Pollution Degree
2
Installation Category
II
Operating Limits
Shipping/Storage
Temperature: 41 - 104ºF (5 - 40ºC)
Relative Humidity 10 - 95% (Non Condensing)
Altitude: 6,651 ft. (2000 m)
Temperature: 35 -120 oF (2 - 49oC)
Relative Humidity 10 - 95% (Non Condensing)
Ambient Pressure Extremes: 40,000 ft. (12,192 m)
Restriction of
Hazardous
Substances (ROHS)
Relative humidity
Maximum relative humidity 80% for temperatures up to 31ºC decreasing
linearly to 50% relative humidity to 40ºC
Other
For indoor use only
* Only use IEC approved Fast acting fuses, Cooper Bussman series S500.
The Power Cord supplied with the ultrasonic processor must be used. If the 220V plug is not
configured to match the wall receptacle, a properly grounded universal AC socket adapter must be
added.
Important: Universal adapters do not convert voltage or frequency. The manufacturer is not
responsible for damage caused by the use of an improper power cord or adapter. Transformers are
not recommended.
WEEE Statement
This product contains electrical or electronic materials. The presence of these
materials may, if not disposed of properly, have potential adverse effects on the
environment and human health. Presence of this label on the product means it should
not be disposed of as unsorted waste and must be collected separately. As a
consumer, you are responsible for ensuring that this product is disposed of properly.
To find out how to properly dispose of this product contact Customer Service.

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4. Principles of Operation
The ultrasonic electronic generator transforms AC line power to a 20 KHz signal that drives a
piezoelectric converter/transducer. This electrical signal is converted by the transducer to a
mechanical vibration due to the characteristics of the internal piezoelectric crystals.
The vibration is amplified and transmitted down the length of the horn/probe where the tip
longitudinally expands and contracts. The distance the tip travels is dependent on the amplitude
selected by the user through the touch screen pad. As you increase the amplitude setting the
sonication intensity will increase within your sample.
In liquid, the rapid vibration of the tip causes cavitation, the formation and violent collapse of
microscopic bubbles. The collapse of thousands of cavitation bubbles releases tremendous energy
in the cavitation field. The erosion and shock effect of the collapse of the cavitation bubble is the
primary mechanism of fluid processing.
The probe tip diameter dictates the amount of sample that can be effectively processed. Smaller tip
diameters (Microtip probes) deliver high intensity sonication but the energy is focused within a
small, concentrated area. Larger tip diameters can process larger volumes, but offer lower intensity.
The choices of a generator and horns/probes are matched to the volume, viscosity and other
parameters of the particular application. Horns are available for both direct and indirect sonication.
The Accessories section has more information on this subject.
Please consult with a product specialist for assistance with selecting a probe for your application.
Relationship of Amplitude and Wattage
Sonication power is measured in watts. Amplitude is a measurement of the excursion of the tip of
the probe (probe is also known as a horn).
Some ultrasonic processors have a wattage display. During operation, the wattage displayed is the
energy required to drive the radiating face of a probe, at that specific amplitude setting against a
specific load, at that particular moment. For example, the unit experiences a higher load when
processing viscous samples then when compared to aqueous samples.
The speed /cruise control on an automobile, can, to a certain extent, be compared to an Ultrasonic
Processor. The speed/cruise control is designed to ensure that the vehicle maintains a constant rate
of travel. As the terrain elevations change, so do the power requirements. The cruise control
senses these requirements, and automatically adjusts the amount of power delivered by the engine
in order to compensate for these ever changing conditions. The greater the terrain rate of incline
and greater the resistance to the movement of the vehicle, the greater the amount of power that
will be delivered by the engine to overcome that resistance and maintain a constant speed.
The ultrasonic processor was designed to deliver constant amplitude, to your liquid sample,
regardless of these changes in load (much like the vehicle’s cruise control described above). As a
liquid is processed, the load on the probe will vary due to changes in the liquid sample (i.e.
viscosity, concentration, temperature, etc.). As the resistance to the movement of the probe
increases (increased load on the probe), additional power will be delivered by the power supply to
ensure that the excursion at the probe tip remains constant. The displayed wattage readings will
vary as the load changes, however the amplitude will remain the same.
The resistance to the movement of the probe determines how much power will be delivered to

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maintain amplitude. For example, a ½ ” probe at 100% amplitude will require approximately 5 watts
to operate in air. The amplitude of this probe is approximately 120um. Insert the probe in water
and the wattage reading will increase to approximately 90 watts. The wattage required to operate
the probe will increase as the load increases but the amplitude remains the same.
The AMPLITUDE control allows the ultrasonic vibrations at the probe tip to be set to any desired
level. Although the degree of cavitation/ultrasonic energy required to process the sample can
readily be determined by visual observation, the amount of power required cannot be predetermined.
A sensing network continuously monitors the output requirements, and automatically adjusts the
power to maintain the amplitude at the preselected level. The greater the resistance to the
movement of the probe due to higher viscosity, deeper immersion of the probe into the sample,
larger probe diameter or higher pressure, the greater the amount of power that will be delivered to
the probe. Setting the AMPLITUDE control to its maximum will not cause the maximum power
rating of the unit to be delivered to the sample. The maximum power (700 watts) that the
Ultrasonic Processor is capable of delivering will only be delivered when the resistance to the
movement of the probe is high enough to draw maximum wattage.
It is the intensity of cavitation that measures the effectiveness of the sonication, not the total
power applied to the system. Intensity is directly related to the amplitude of the radiating face of
the tip or horn. It is amplitude that must be provided, maintained, and monitored. The unit provides
controlled amplitude under varying load conditions in order to give reproducible results.