The core of ultrasonic cleaning technology lies in the cavitation effect of liquids caused by high-frequency sound waves. When the ultrasonic cleaning machine releases high-frequency mechanical vibration from 20kHz to 1MHz, the cleaning solution (such as water-based cleaning agent, alcohol solution) will produce periodic density changes, forming hundreds of millions of micron-scale cavitation bubbles. These bubbles grow in the negative pressure zone and collapse instantly in the positive pressure zone, releasing an impact force of 1000 atmospheres and local high temperature, which can efficiently peel off fingerprint grease, grinding debris, oxide layer and other pollutants on the surface of optical devices, and can even penetrate into the microstructure that is difficult to reach by traditional cleaning methods such as threads, blind holes, and prism angles. For different optics, specific ultrasonic frequency parameters need to be matched: ordinary optical lenses are suitable for 40 - 60kHz medium frequency cleaning to avoid the potential effects of high frequencies on the coating; high-precision laser crystals require high-frequency cleaning from 80 to 130kHz to ensure the removal of nanoscale pollutants; Optical components with deep hole structure can be used with dual-frequency or multi-frequency ultrasonic cleaning machines to achieve all-round cleaning through frequency switching. Technical Advantages of Ultrasonic Cleaning Optics Ultimate Performance of Cleaning Efficiency: Ultrasonic cleaning can achieve a 99.9% contaminant removal rate, and the removal effect of sub-micron particle pollutants below 0.1μm far exceeds that of traditional spraying, wiping, etc. In the cleanliness inspection before the assembly of the optical lens, the residual amount of particles on the surface of the ultrasonically cleaned workpiece can be controlled to less than 0.5 per square centimeter.  Adaptability of complex structures: For complex components such as the trench structure of the diffraction grating, the angular part of the optical prism, and the ceramic ferrule of the optical fiber connector, the ultrasonic vibration can penetrate the cleaning agent medium and form a comprehensive cleaning field. Test data from a laser equipment manufacturer showed that laser resonant cavity lenses with 40kHz ultrasonic cleaning improved the cleanliness of the edge area by 47% compared to conventional cleaning. Material compatibility guarantee: By reasonably selecting cleaning solutions (such as neutral optical cleaning agents) and controlling the power density (usually ≤ 10W/cm²), it can achieve safe cleaning of various substrates such as optical glass, quartz, sapphire, and infrared materials. For sensitive coatings such as reflective film and reflective film, the pulsed ultrasonic output mode can effectively avoid the coating peeling off.  Significant improvement in production efficiency: The automated ultrasonic cleaning line can realize the integrated process from pre-washing, main washing, rinsing to drying, and the processing volume of a single batch can reach 5-8 times that of traditional manual cleaning. In the production of mobile phone camera modules, the cycle time of the ultrasonic cleaning process can be controlled within 30 seconds to meet the needs of mass production.

Cleaning applications for typical optics
 Imaging optical components: DSLR camera lenses, surveillance camera lenses, etc. need to remove abrasive paste residue and fingerprints, and the cleaning process of 60kHz frequency and neutral cleaning agent can increase the light transmittance of the lens by 3-5%.
 Laser devices: The pump source lens of the fiber laser and the resonant cavity lens of the CO₂ laser need to remove the carbide generated by the laser, and the 80kHz megasonic wave composite cleaning mode can restore more than 98% of the laser damage threshold of the device.  Medical optical instruments: The optical lenses and surgical microscope lenses of endoscopes need to be sterile clean, and can meet the ISO 13485 medical equipment cleaning standard through ultrasonic cleaning combined with high-temperature sterilization process.  Aerospace optical equipment: Satellite remote sensing lenses and infrared seeker optical components need to be cleaned with ultra-high cleanliness before assembly, and the vacuum ultrasonic cleaning system can control pollutants at the molecular level to ensure the stability of in-orbit operation. Industry development trend With the development of optical devices towards high precision and miniaturization, ultrasonic cleaning technology is evolving in the direction of multi-frequency collaboration and intelligent control. Ultrasonic cleaning machine equipped with AI visual inspection can realize real-time monitoring of cleaning effect and adaptive adjustment of parameters; The composite cleaning technology of megasonic waves and ultrasound will further improve the removal ability of nanoscale pollutants. Under the trend of green manufacturing, the recycling system of water-based cleaning agents and the application of low-energy ultrasonic generators have also become the focus of technological innovation in the industry. As a key process in optical manufacturing, ultrasonic cleaning technology is providing a solid clean guarantee for the high-quality development of the optical industry through continuous technical iteration. Choosing an ultrasonic cleaning equipment supplier with customized solution capabilities will become an important link for optical enterprises to enhance their product competitiveness.