Aqueous Technologies Stencil & Misprint Cleaning Machine Stencilwasher ZDO

The StencilWasher ZDO features a closed-loop rinse system and is designed to deliver ultra-clean stencils. Using DI-water (deionised water) ensures that no additional mineral ions or dissolved salts are deposited on stencil surfaces during rinse, which is critical to avoid ionic contamination and maintain high reliability of apertures and solder paste deposition.

Yes. The “zero discharge” design means wash and rinse water are recycled internally. If standard tap or filtered water with higher conductivity is used, the build-up of ionic species or minerals in the closed loop can degrade performance. Using DI-water from the start maximises the benefits of the zero-discharge system by maintaining consistently low ionic content and reducing filtration burden.

The machine uses ultrasonic transducers (~40 kHz) to clean fine-pitch apertures. If rinse water contains minerals or ions, residual deposit inside apertures may remain even after ultrasonic cleaning. DI-water provides a “spotless” final rinse, preventing micro-residues that can compromise aperture cleanliness and paste release.

Using DI-water helps minimise the accumulation of solids and ions in the rinse loop, reducing frequency of filter changes and maintenance downtime. This supports higher throughput and lower total cost of ownership. For production environments, it helps preserve stencil integrity and reduces re-work due to ionic contamination.

You should provide a DI-water feed (either delivered pure, or from a point-of-use deioniser) into the rinse tank or rinse loop of the machine. Also plan for proper water conductivity monitoring, drain/overflow protection, and ensure that the rinse loop is designed to accept consistent DI-water quality to maintain low-ion operation.

While the machine will operate with standard filtered or tap water, the trade-offs include higher risk of residual ions, more frequent maintenance, potential aperture fouling, and reduced cleanliness assurance. Using DI-water significantly enhances process control, particularly for high-reliability manufacturing (automotive, aerospace, electronics).

The closed-loop rinse and wash filtration systems in the ZDO are designed to continuously recirculate and clean water. With DI-water, the starting ionic level is very low, enabling the system’s filtration and reuse strategy to maintain optimum water quality for longer, improving consistency of cleaning results.

Because the ZDO is built for high-performance stencil and misprint cleaning in high-mix or high-reliability production. The combination of ultrasonic cleaning, large stencil capacity (up to ~ 29″ × 29″), closed-loop rinse and filtration makes it a production-grade solution. When paired with DI-water rinse, you get the full benefit: no added ionic contamination, excellent repeatable cleanliness, minimal re-work, and longer stencil life—results that manual or simpler machines cannot reliably achieve.