Sonics VC505 User manual

Sonics & Materials, Inc.
53 Church Hill Road
Newtown, CT 06470 USA
Phone: [phone]
[email protected]om
Rev. 10-21 www.sonics.com
ULTRASONIC PROCESSOR
Part No. VC505
OPERATION MANUAL

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. WARRANTY ............................................................................................................. 3
2. WARNINGS .............................................................................................................. 4
3. SPECIFICATIONS .................................................................................................... 5
4. PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION ................................................................................ 7
5. DESCRIPTIONS OF COMPONENTS / FUNCTIONS OF CONTROLS .................. 9
5.1. VC505 FRONT PANEL .................................................................................... 9
5.2. VC505 REAR PANEL ....................................................................................... 9
5.3. FUNCTIONS OF KEYS CONTROLS & CONNECTORS ............................... 10
5.4. CONVERTER CLAMPING ............................................................................. 12
6. PREPARATION FOR USE ..................................................................................... 13
7. OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS............................................................................... 14
7.1. CAUTION ....................................................................................................... 14
7.2. SETUP ........................................................................................................... 15
7.3. OPERATION .................................................................................................. 16
8. TECHNIQUES FOR OPTIMIZING RESULTS ........................................................ 19
9. MAINTENANCE ..................................................................................................... 21
9.1. PROBE MAINTENANCE ................................................................................ 21
9.2. ATTACHING AND DETACHING PROBES AND MICROTIPS ....................... 22
9.3. SYSTEM CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS .......................................................... 23
10. TROUBLESHOOTING ........................................................................................... 24
10.1. OVERLOAD CONDITION .............................................................................. 24
11. RETURN OF EQUIPMENT .................................................................................... 25
11.1. SAFETY CERTIFICATION FORM .................................................................. 26
12. CONVERTER COOLING ....................................................................................... 27

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1. WARRANTY
Your Ultrasonic Processor is warranted and backed by the manufacturer for a period of 3 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. Observe the following:
 High voltage is present in the power supply, converter and high frequency cable. There are no user-serviceable
parts inside any of these devices. Do NOT attempt to remove the power supply cover or converter case.
 Do NOT touch any open cable connections on the unit while the power is turned ON.
 Do NOT operate power supply 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 power supply must be properly grounded with a 3-prong plug. Test electrical outlet for proper grounding
prior to plugging in unit.
 Install the ultrasonic power supply in an area free from excessive dust, dirt, explosive or corrosive fumes and
protected from extremes in temperature and humidity. (See page 5 for specifications.) Do not place the power
supply 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 probe or touch the tip of a vibrating probe. It can cause severe burns and tissue
damage.
 NEVER allow a horn/probe to vibrate in air.
 NEVER hold or clamp the converter by the front driver or by the probe itself. This can cause permanent damage
to the system. Support the converter by only clamping around the converter housing (upper portion).
 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 power supply, or damage the surface.
 Avoid touching the bottom or sides of a sample vessel with an activated probe. It may crack or shatter the glass
or melt the plastic. Use glassware that is free from cracks or chips.
 Turn OFF the power switch, unplug the power supply and disconnect the power cord from the back of the power
supply 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 Main power switch while running a probe. Stop ultrasonic processing only by using the
START/STOP key.
Symbols
Caution, Risk of electric shock, Hazardous voltage.
Caution, Risk of danger. Refer to User Manual.

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3. SPECIFICATIONS
Power Supply
Input Voltage 100 VAC – 132 VAC @ 50/60 Hz 198 VAC – 264 VAC @ 50/60 Hz
Rated Current 10 Amps max. 6.3 Amps max.
Fuse Rating 12 Amps Slow Blow 6.3 Amps Slow Blow
Weight 16 lbs. (6.8 Kg)
Dimensions 8"W x 15.25"L x 8.5"H
203 mm x 387 mm x 216 mm
Output Voltage 1000 VRMS (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 - 49 ºC)
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
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. 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 power supply 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 keypad. As you increase the amplitude setting the
ultrasonic processing 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. Probes
with smaller tip diameters deliver high intensity ultrasonic processing, 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 power supply and horns/probes are matched to the volume, viscosity and other
parameters of the particular application. Horns/probes are available for both direct and indirect
ultrasonic processing. The frequently asked questions (FAQ) 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
Ultrasonic processing 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 than 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.

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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
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
that the 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 ultrasonic processing not
the total power applied to the system. Intensity is directly related to the amplitude of the
radiating face of the tip or probe. 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.

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Lab Stand
with Clamp
(Sold separately)
5. DESCRIPTIONS OF COMPONENTS / FUNCTIONS OF CONTROLS
5.1. VC505 FRONT PANEL
5.2. VC505 REAR PANEL
Power
Supply
Converter
Cable
½” Probe with
Replaceable
tip (#630-0220)
Converter

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5.3. FUNCTIONS OF KEYS CONTROLS AND CONNECTORS
FRONT PANEL
LCD display
Displays prompts and control parameters including:
• Amplitude selected
• Output power delivered to the probe in watts
• Selected duration of processing
• Actual processing time
• Elapsed time
• Pulse on/off duration
• Accumulated amount of energy in Joules delivered to the probe
0 – 9 key Input digits.
CLEAR
key Clears the preceding entry.
ENTER
REVIEW
key
Enters data into the program and selects various parameters for display
on the LCD display
TIMER
key
Used with the numeric keys to set the duration of ultrasonic application –
from 1 second to 9 hours, 59 minutes, 59 seconds.
PULSER
key
Used with the numeric keys to set the pulse mode. The ON cycle and OFF
cycle can be set independently from 1 second to 59 seconds. Red
indicator lights when pulser is in the OFF portion of the cycle.
START/STOP
key Starts or stops ultrasonics. In the STOP mode the red indicator goes off.
I
key Switches the main power on.
0
key Switches the main power off.
AMPL Controls the amplitude of vibration at the probe tip.
▲ ▼
key
Used with the AMPL key when the unit is on stand-by to set the amplitude
of vibration at the probe tip. Also used to increase or decrease the
amplitude in small increments while the unit is running. To accomplish this
task, depress the ENTER/REVIEW key twice to display AMPLITUDE
CONTROL, then depress the ▲ or ▼ key as required.