Stainless Steel Thickness for Ultrasonic Tanks
Learn how to choose stainless steel thickness for ultrasonic cleaning equipment, comparing 2T, 3T, and 5T for durability, resonance, noise, and cost balance
What Performance Factors Are Affected by Stainless Steel Thickness?
1. Energy Transmission Efficiency
- Thinner plates allow energy to penetrate more easily, while thicker plates require higher power compensation.
2. Structural Rigidity
- Thicker plates have less deformation.
3. Noise and Resonance
- Thinner plates are more likely to vibrate and generate noise.
4. Fatigue Life
- Thicker plates are more durable.
5. Cost and Weight
- Thicker plates have higher material costs and are more difficult to process.
超音波發振面（震盪子貼附位置）的厚度比較
2T Vibrating Surface
Advantages:
• Highest penetration efficiency
• Strongest cavitation
• Fast response
Disadvantages:
• More likely to generate noise
• Relatively lower durability
3T Vibrating Surface
Advantages:
• Balanced penetration and rigidity
• Durable and less prone to fatigue
Disadvantages:
• Lower efficiency than 2T
5T Vibrating Surface
Advantages:
• Very high rigidity
• Less deformation
• Lowest noise level
Disadvantages:
• Weakest energy penetration
• Requires higher energy output
Thickness Comparison of the Tank Bottom
The tank bottom must bear:
1. Liquid weight
2. Workpiece weight
3. Transducer weight
2T Tank Bottom
Advantages:
• Strong energy penetration and fast cavitation response
• Lower material cost
Disadvantages:
• Insufficient rigidity and weaker load-bearing capacity
• Long-term vibration may cause fatigue
• Limited application range for tank size and load
3T Tank Bottom
Advantages:
• Good structural strength and less deformation
• Provides a better balance between penetration efficiency and rigidity
Disadvantages:
• Slightly lower penetration efficiency than 2T
• Increased material weight and cost
5T Tank Bottom
Advantages:
• Strongest load-bearing capacity
• Highest fatigue resistance, suitable for long-term operation
• Most stable structure for large tanks
Disadvantages:
• Weaker ultrasonic energy penetration, requiring higher power compensation
• Highest cost and weight
Comparison of Advantages and Disadvantages of Side Plate Thickness
The side plate bears liquid pressure and tank expansion, but does not receive ultrasonic energy.
• 2T: Suitable for small equipment.
• 3T: A balanced choice for medium-sized tanks.
• 5T: Suitable for extra-large, high-temperature, and large-capacity equipment.
Top Cover Thickness Comparison
The top cover does not receive ultrasonic vibration, so it is usually thinner:
• 1.5T–2T: Small cover
• 2T–3T: Large cover or cover with exhaust holes
Thickness and Resonance Are Not Directly Related
Whether the tank resonates is not determined by plate thickness alone, but by whether the plate’s natural frequency is close to the ultrasonic frequency.
• 2T plate: Lower natural frequency, may be close to 28 kHz.
• 3T plate: Medium natural frequency, may be close to 30 kHz or 40 kHz.
• 5T plate: Higher natural frequency.
When the natural frequency is close to the ultrasonic operating frequency, resonance is more likely to occur.
The natural frequency of the plate is only one of the main factors causing resonance, but it is not the fundamental cause of resonance.
There is no unified standard for stainless steel thickness in ultrasonic cleaning equipment. It should be determined according to the energy, weight, and rigidity requirements of each part.
Whether the tank resonates is not directly determined by the plate thickness, but by the difference between the natural frequency and the ultrasonic frequency.
Only by correctly configuring the thickness of the vibrating surface, tank bottom, side plates, and auxiliary structures can the best balance be achieved between cleaning efficiency, structural service life, and noise control.
YONG JI Enterprise can assist in planning the most suitable thickness and structural design according to tank size, frequency, and power density, making the ultrasonic cleaning system more stable, safer, and more durable.
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