Supmile KQ-400E Benchtop Ultrasonic Cleaner

Overview

The Supmile KQ-400E is a benchtop ultrasonic cleaner engineered for precision cleaning of delicate laboratory components—including glassware, pipette tips, filtration membranes, microtiter plates, and small metal or ceramic parts—where manual scrubbing risks damage or contamination. It operates on the principle of acoustic cavitation: high-frequency (40 kHz) ultrasonic energy transmitted through an aqueous or compatible solvent medium generates microscopic vacuum bubbles that rapidly collapse, producing localized shockwaves and microstreaming effects. This physical mechanism effectively dislodges particulate matter, organic residues, biofilms, and loosely adhered contaminants from surfaces—even in complex geometries, blind holes, and microstructures—without mechanical abrasion. Designed for routine QC labs, research facilities, and analytical sample preparation workflows, the KQ-400E delivers consistent, repeatable cleaning performance under controlled thermal and temporal parameters.

Key Features

• Robust 304 stainless steel tank and housing ensure long-term corrosion resistance, chemical compatibility with common cleaning solvents (e.g., isopropanol, acetone, alkaline detergents), and compliance with ISO 15190:2020 laboratory safety standards.
• Dual-function heating system (800 W) enables precise temperature regulation from ambient to 80 °C, facilitating thermally enhanced cleaning protocols for waxy, oily, or proteinaceous residues.
• Intuitive mechanical control interface provides direct access to timer (1–60 min + continuous mode) and temperature setpoint—eliminating software dependencies and minimizing operator training requirements.
• Included sound-dampening lid reduces airborne noise to ≤55 dB(A) at 1 m distance, supporting safe operation in shared lab environments without dedicated acoustic enclosures.
• Integrated stainless steel mesh basket and support tray optimize part suspension and prevent direct contact between samples and transducer surface—enhancing cleaning uniformity and protecting sensitive instrumentation.
• Manual inlet and drain valves allow flexible integration into lab water management systems; no external plumbing or pressure regulators required.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The KQ-400E accommodates a broad range of sample types and formats, including but not limited to: borosilicate glass vials and cuvettes, stainless steel forceps and tweezers, PTFE-coated stir bars, silicone gaskets, and ceramic crucibles. Its 15 L capacity supports batch processing of up to 24 standard 50 mL centrifuge tubes or four 96-well microplates simultaneously. The unit conforms to IEC 61000-6-3 (EMC emission limits) and IEC 61010-1:2010 (safety requirements for electrical equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory use). While not certified for sterile processing per ISO 13485 or EN 13060, it is routinely deployed in GLP-compliant laboratories for pre-sterilization cleaning steps prior to autoclaving or ethylene oxide treatment.

Software & Data Management

The KQ-400E operates as a standalone analog instrument with no embedded firmware, network interface, or data logging capability. All operational parameters—time, temperature, and power—are set manually and maintained without digital recording. This architecture eliminates cybersecurity vulnerabilities, avoids validation overhead associated with electronic records (e.g., FDA 21 CFR Part 11), and ensures uninterrupted functionality during power fluctuations or IT infrastructure downtime. For labs requiring traceability, users may integrate external time-stamped logbooks or connect optional USB-based temperature dataloggers (e.g., HOBO UX100 series) to the tank’s external probe port (if equipped per custom configuration).

Applications

• Routine decontamination of HPLC autosampler vials, syringe filters, and column frits prior to reuse.
• Removal of residual solder flux, cutting oils, and polishing compounds from precision machining components in metrology labs.
• Preparation of TEM grid substrates and AFM cantilevers by eliminating hydrocarbon adsorption layers.
• Cleaning of reusable surgical instruments in university teaching hospitals’ biomedical engineering workshops.
• Supporting ASTM D2240 (Shore A hardness testing) sample conditioning via solvent-based surface residue removal.
• USP particulate matter testing—cleaning of filter assemblies and membrane holders to minimize background interference.

FAQ

Is the KQ-400E suitable for cleaning optical lenses or coated mirrors?
Yes—provided appropriate low-surface-tension solvents (e.g., spectroscopic-grade methanol) are used and immersion duration is limited to ≤5 minutes at ≤40 °C to avoid coating delamination.
Can this unit be operated continuously for extended periods?
Yes—the continuous operation mode supports unattended cleaning cycles; however, duty cycle recommendations limit cumulative active ultrasonication to ≤8 hours per day to preserve transducer longevity.
Does the unit include a degassing function?
No—degassing must be performed manually by running the unit empty for 5–10 minutes prior to loading samples, or by applying vacuum-assisted solvent preparation upstream.
What maintenance is required for long-term reliability?
Monthly inspection of the stainless steel tank for pitting, quarterly verification of heater element continuity, and biannual replacement of the silicone sealing gasket on the drain valve are recommended per Supmile’s service bulletin SB-KQ-2023-04.
Is calibration documentation available?
Factory calibration certificates for temperature accuracy (±1.5 °C at 50 °C) and timer stability (±0.5% over 30 min) can be provided upon request with traceability to NIM (National Institute of Metrology, China).