Tuttnauer CSU3 3-Gallon Ultrasonic Cleaner – New
The Tuttnauer CSU3 Clean & Simple 3-Gallon Ultrasonic Cleaner is a medium-capacity ultrasonic cleaning system designed for reusable dental instruments, clinical instruments, veterinary tools, laboratory implements, instrument cassettes, and other compatible items requiring effective cleaning before subsequent rinsing, inspection, disinfection, sterilization, or further processing.
With an actual tank capacity of approximately 3.25 gallons / 12.3 L and room for up to three full-size instrument cassettes, the CSU3 provides an excellent middle ground between Tuttnauer’s compact 1-gallon cleaners and larger 6-gallon systems. It offers substantially greater instrument capacity than the CSU1 while maintaining a relatively compact benchtop footprint.
The CSU3 operates at 60 kHz, generating ultrasonic cavitation throughout the cleaning solution to help loosen soils and debris from instrument surfaces, joints, hinges, serrations, grooves, recesses, and other areas that can be difficult to clean consistently by hand.
As the basic configuration in the 3-gallon Clean & Simple family, the CSU3 does not include an integrated heater or stainless-steel safety basket. This makes it a practical choice for facilities that want the core ultrasonic cleaning performance and three-cassette capacity without paying for accessories they may not need.
This Tuttnauer CSU3 ultrasonic cleaner is sold brand new by American Instrument Exchange and includes the applicable Tuttnauer manufacturer warranty.
Key Features
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Brand-new Tuttnauer Clean & Simple ultrasonic cleaner
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Model CSU3
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3.25-gallon / 12.3 L actual tank capacity
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Holds up to three full-size instrument cassettes
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60 kHz ultrasonic cleaning frequency
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Stainless-steel ultrasonic cleaning tank
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Durable vinyl-clad steel exterior housing
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Compact medium-capacity benchtop design
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Non-heated standard configuration
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Basket available separately when required
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Compatible with Tuttnauer Clean & Simple ultrasonic enzymatic cleaning tablets
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Manufacturer warranty included
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Available new from American Instrument Exchange
Overview
The Tuttnauer CSU3 is designed for facilities that need more instrument-processing capacity than a small ultrasonic bath can provide but do not require the size of a high-capacity 6-gallon system.
Ultrasonic cleaning uses high-frequency acoustic energy transmitted through a liquid cleaning solution. This energy produces microscopic cavitation bubbles throughout the tank. As the bubbles repeatedly form and collapse, they generate localized cleaning action against submerged surfaces.
Because cavitation occurs throughout the solution, ultrasonic cleaning can reach many complex surfaces simultaneously. Hinges, joints, serrations, grooves, recesses, and textured areas that can be challenging to address manually can all be exposed to ultrasonic cleaning action.
With room for three full-size instrument cassettes, the CSU3 provides useful daily throughput while retaining a footprint appropriate for many dental offices, veterinary facilities, clinics, and laboratories.
Key Specifications
| Specification |
Details |
| Manufacturer |
Tuttnauer |
| Product Line |
Clean & Simple |
| Model |
CSU3 |
| Equipment Type |
Ultrasonic Cleaner |
| Nominal Size |
3 Gallon |
| Actual Tank Capacity |
Approx. 3.25 gal. / 12.3 L |
| Ultrasonic Frequency |
60 kHz |
| Cassette Capacity |
Up to 3 Full-Size Cassettes |
| Heater |
No |
| Safety Basket |
Optional / Not Included |
| Tank Material |
Stainless Steel |
| Exterior Housing |
Vinyl-Clad Steel |
| Tank Dimensions |
15.5"W × 6"H × 9"D |
| Overall Dimensions |
16.5"W × 12.13"H × 10"D |
| Cleaning Chemistry |
Compatible with appropriate ultrasonic cleaning solutions |
| Condition |
Brand New |
| Warranty |
Tuttnauer Manufacturer Warranty |
Common Applications
The Tuttnauer CSU3 is designed for cleaning compatible reusable instruments and components before later processing. Common applications include dental instruments, full-size instrument cassettes, reusable clinical tools, veterinary instruments, laboratory implements, stainless-steel components, and other items approved by their manufacturers for ultrasonic cleaning.
Its intermediate capacity makes it particularly useful for facilities that process several instrument sets throughout the day but do not require the six-cassette capacity of Tuttnauer’s largest Clean & Simple system.
Ideal Laboratory and Clinical Environments
The CSU3 is well suited for dental practices, outpatient clinics, veterinary offices and hospitals, university laboratories, teaching laboratories, research facilities, biotechnology laboratories, medical offices, and other moderate-volume instrument-processing environments.
It can also serve as a dedicated ultrasonic cleaner for an individual department or laboratory within a larger organization.
3.25-Gallon / 12.3-Liter Tank Capacity
Although Tuttnauer markets the CSU3 as its 3-gallon Clean & Simple system, the manufacturer’s published actual tank capacity is approximately 3.25 gallons / 12.3 L.
The stainless-steel tank measures approximately 15.5 inches wide × 6 inches high × 9 inches deep.
This intermediate capacity is one of the CSU3’s strongest advantages. It provides substantially more working room than a compact ultrasonic cleaner without requiring the additional counter space and cleaning-solution volume associated with a 6-gallon system.
For moderate-volume facilities, that balance can make the CSU3 an economical and practical choice.
Holds Up to Three Full-Size Instrument Cassettes
Tuttnauer specifies that the 3-gallon Clean & Simple system can accommodate up to three full-size instrument cassettes.
This is an important distinction from the smaller CSU1 platform, which is designed for smaller instrument loads and half-size cassettes.
Facilities using full-size cassette systems can therefore clean several organized instrument sets during the same ultrasonic cycle rather than dividing them among multiple small batches.
Exact cassette dimensions and compatibility should be confirmed for the specific cassette system being used.
60 kHz Ultrasonic Cleaning
The CSU3 operates at 60 kHz.
Ultrasonic energy creates microscopic cavitation bubbles throughout the liquid cleaning solution. As these bubbles form and collapse, they generate localized cleaning action against submerged instrument surfaces.
Because the cleaning action occurs throughout the solution, ultrasonic cleaning can reach many areas that may be difficult to access consistently with brushes or manual wiping.
Tuttnauer describes its 60 kHz Clean & Simple systems as providing quieter cleaning power while being less aggressive to instruments than many lower-frequency ultrasonic systems.
Cleaning Complex Instrument Surfaces
Reusable instruments often contain hinges, joints, serrations, box locks, grooves, textured areas, and recessed surfaces that can retain contamination.
Ultrasonic cavitation allows cleaning action to reach many of these areas simultaneously.
This can help improve the consistency of the cleaning process, particularly when instruments contain complex geometry that is difficult to address manually.
Ultrasonic cleaning should always be performed according to the instrument manufacturer’s instructions and as part of an appropriate overall cleaning procedure.
Medium-Capacity Instrument Processing
The CSU3 fills the middle-capacity position within the Tuttnauer Clean & Simple family.
A small 1-gallon ultrasonic cleaner may be sufficient for low-volume instrument processing but can require too many separate batches as workload increases. A 6-gallon system offers considerably greater throughput but may be unnecessarily large for a moderate-volume practice or laboratory.
The CSU3 provides room for three full-size cassettes while maintaining overall dimensions of approximately 16.5 inches wide × 12.13 inches high × 10 inches deep.
For many facilities, this represents an effective balance between instrument capacity and available counter space.
Simple Non-Heated Configuration
The standard CSU3 does not include an integrated heater.
This makes it appropriate for ultrasonic cleaning procedures that do not require actively heated solution or where the selected cleaning chemistry performs effectively under the recommended conditions without a built-in heater.
Not every ultrasonic cleaning application requires heat. The appropriate cleaning conditions depend on the instruments, materials, contamination, and cleaning chemistry involved.
Facilities that specifically require heated ultrasonic cleaning can choose the heater-equipped version of the CSU3 platform.
Optional Instrument Basket
The basic CSU3 does not include the stainless-steel safety basket supplied with basket-equipped configurations.
A compatible basket can be added when required.
Ultrasonic baskets can simplify loading and removal, keep instruments organized, and help prevent items from resting directly against the bottom of the cleaning tank.
Customers who know they require a basket from the beginning may prefer the basket-equipped CSU3 configuration, while the standard CSU3 provides greater flexibility for facilities that already have appropriate accessories or want the simplest configuration.
Ultrasonic Cleaning Before Sterilization
The CSU3 is an ultrasonic cleaner, not a sterilizer.
Its purpose is to help remove soils and debris from compatible instruments before whatever additional processing is required for their intended use.
For reusable instruments requiring steam sterilization, ultrasonic cleaning can be incorporated into the cleaning process before autoclaving.
Following ultrasonic cleaning, instruments may still require rinsing, drying, inspection, lubrication, packaging, disinfection, or sterilization according to manufacturer instructions and facility procedures.
Cleaning and Sterilization Are Separate Processes
Cleaning and sterilization perform different functions within instrument reprocessing.
Cleaning removes soils, organic material, residues, and other contamination from instrument surfaces. Sterilization is a separate process intended to destroy viable microorganisms when required for an instrument’s intended use.
An ultrasonic cleaner therefore cannot replace an autoclave.
Instead, the CSU3 can complement a Tuttnauer autoclave by providing an effective cleaning step before instruments proceed to subsequent processing.
Clean & Simple Enzymatic Cleaning Tablets
Tuttnauer offers Clean & Simple ultrasonic enzymatic cleaning tablets for use with its ultrasonic cleaner family.
The tablets dissolve in a water-filled ultrasonic tank to create the working cleaning solution. Tuttnauer describes the formulation as non-ionic, non-corrosive, non-toxic, biodegradable, and non-caustic, with enzymatic action designed to help break down protein-containing soils.
The tablet format can simplify routine cleaning-solution preparation and reduce the need to store or measure larger containers of liquid concentrate.
Facilities should follow current Tuttnauer instructions for the appropriate tablet quantity, water volume, exposure time, solution replacement schedule, and operating conditions.
Stainless-Steel Cleaning Tank
The CSU3 incorporates a stainless-steel ultrasonic cleaning tank designed for repeated cleaning cycles.
Stainless steel provides a durable and cleanable surface suitable for routine use in dental, clinical, veterinary, and laboratory environments.
Only cleaning solutions appropriate for ultrasonic use and compatible with both the tank and instruments should be used.
Flammable liquids, inappropriate solvents, and incompatible chemicals should not be introduced into the ultrasonic cleaner.
Durable Vinyl-Clad Steel Housing
Tuttnauer surrounds the stainless-steel tank with a durable vinyl-clad steel housing.
The exterior provides an easily cleaned surface and is designed to resist routine scratching.
Combined with its compact footprint, the CSU3 is well suited to benchtop instrument-processing areas where equipment is used and cleaned repeatedly throughout the working day.
Quiet Operation
Tuttnauer emphasizes quieter cleaning power as one of the advantages of its 60 kHz Clean & Simple systems.
This can be particularly useful in dental practices, veterinary clinics, medical offices, teaching environments, and laboratories where the ultrasonic cleaner is positioned near occupied work areas.
For a cleaner that may run several cycles throughout the day, reduced operating noise can make the equipment easier to integrate into the surrounding workspace.
CSU3 vs. CSU3BK
The CSU3 and basket-equipped version use the same basic 3-gallon ultrasonic cleaning platform.
The basket-equipped configuration adds a stainless-steel safety basket for organized loading and removal.
Facilities that already have appropriate accessories or do not require a basket can choose the standard CSU3, while customers wanting basket-based handling from the outset may prefer the basket-equipped configuration.
CSU3 vs. CSU3H
The heater-equipped version adds active solution heating to the standard CSU3 platform.
The standard CSU3 is suitable when active heating is unnecessary, while the heater-equipped configuration provides additional flexibility for cleaning chemistry and applications that benefit from elevated solution temperature.
CSU3 vs. CSU3HBK
The basket-and-heater configuration is the most fully equipped version of the 3-gallon Clean & Simple system.
It combines the same core 60 kHz cleaning platform with an integrated heater and stainless-steel safety basket.
The standard CSU3 provides the essential ultrasonic cleaning capability without those added features, making it an attractive option for facilities seeking a simpler and more economical configuration.
CSU3 vs. Tuttnauer CSU1
The compact CSU1 has approximately 0.85 gallon / 3.2 L of actual tank capacity and accommodates smaller instrument loads and up to two half-size cassettes.
The CSU3 increases capacity to approximately 3.25 gallons / 12.3 L and accommodates up to three full-size cassettes.
Facilities that have outgrown small-batch ultrasonic cleaning or use full-size instrument cassettes may find the CSU3 considerably better suited to their workflow.
CSU3 vs. Tuttnauer CSU6
The CSU6 family provides approximately 6.5 gallons / 24.6 L of actual tank capacity and room for up to six full-size cassettes.
The CSU3 provides approximately half the cassette capacity in a substantially smaller system.
High-volume instrument-processing areas may benefit from the CSU6, while the CSU3 can provide a better balance of throughput, footprint, and cleaning-solution volume for moderate-volume facilities.
Choosing the Right Tuttnauer Ultrasonic Cleaner
Selecting the appropriate Tuttnauer Clean & Simple ultrasonic cleaner depends primarily on expected instrument volume, cassette size, available counter space, and accessory requirements.
The 1-gallon family is intended for smaller batches and half-size cassettes. The 3-gallon family accommodates three full-size cassettes and provides a versatile middle-capacity option. The 6-gallon family is designed for higher-throughput environments and accommodates up to six full-size cassettes.
Within the 3-gallon family, customers can choose the standard CSU3, a basket-equipped configuration, a heater-equipped configuration, or a version with both basket and heater.
Brand-New Tuttnauer Equipment from American Instrument Exchange
American Instrument Exchange supplies the Tuttnauer CSU3 brand new with the applicable Tuttnauer manufacturer warranty.
Purchasing new Tuttnauer equipment through AIE allows dental practices, veterinary facilities, clinics, research laboratories, universities, and other organizations to source ultrasonic cleaning equipment alongside Tuttnauer autoclaves and other laboratory equipment through a single supplier.
Customers building or upgrading an instrument-processing area can also compare the complete 1-, 3-, and 6-gallon Clean & Simple families to select the appropriate combination of capacity, footprint, and accessories.
Pairing the CSU3 with a Tuttnauer Autoclave
The CSU3 can serve as the cleaning stage within a broader reusable-instrument processing workflow.
Compatible instruments can first undergo ultrasonic cleaning to help remove soils and debris. Following appropriate rinsing, drying, inspection, and packaging, instruments requiring sterilization can then be processed in a properly sized Tuttnauer autoclave.
Matching cleaning capacity with sterilizer capacity can help facilities create a more efficient instrument workflow and avoid unnecessary bottlenecks.
Related Equipment
Facilities purchasing the Tuttnauer CSU3 may also require ultrasonic cleaning baskets, instrument cassettes, Tuttnauer Clean & Simple cleaning tablets, tabletop autoclaves, water purification equipment, laboratory glassware washers, and other instrument-processing accessories.
American Instrument Exchange also supplies new and refurbished laboratory equipment for sterilization, sample preparation, centrifugation, cell culture, cold storage, and general laboratory applications.
Tuttnauer CSU3 3-Gallon Ultrasonic Cleaner FAQs
What is the Tuttnauer CSU3?
The CSU3 is the standard configuration of Tuttnauer’s medium-capacity 3-gallon Clean & Simple ultrasonic cleaning system.
What is the actual tank capacity?
The CSU3 platform has an actual capacity of approximately 3.25 gallons / 12.3 L.
What ultrasonic frequency does the CSU3 use?
The Clean & Simple system operates at 60 kHz.
How many instrument cassettes does it hold?
Tuttnauer specifies capacity for up to three full-size instrument cassettes.
Does the standard CSU3 include a heater?
No. The basic CSU3 is a non-heated configuration.
Does the standard CSU3 include a basket?
The standard CSU3 does not include the stainless-steel basket supplied with basket-equipped configurations.
What are the tank dimensions?
The tank measures approximately 15.5"W × 6"H × 9"D.
What are the overall dimensions?
The CSU3 measures approximately 16.5"W × 12.13"H × 10"D.
Can the CSU3 clean dental instruments?
Yes. Dental instrument cleaning is a primary application for Tuttnauer’s Clean & Simple ultrasonic cleaner family.
Can it hold full-size instrument cassettes?
Yes. The 3-gallon platform accommodates up to three full-size cassettes.
Can laboratories use the CSU3?
Yes. It can be used for compatible reusable laboratory tools, instruments, stainless-steel components, and other items suitable for ultrasonic cleaning.
Can veterinary facilities use it?
Yes. The CSU3 can be appropriate for compatible reusable veterinary instruments.
Does the CSU3 sterilize instruments?
No. It is an ultrasonic cleaner and does not replace an autoclave or other required sterilization process.
Can the CSU3 be used before autoclaving?
Yes. When appropriate for the instruments involved, ultrasonic cleaning can form part of the cleaning process before steam sterilization.
Can Tuttnauer Clean & Simple tablets be used?
Yes. Tuttnauer offers Clean & Simple enzymatic cleaning tablets for use with its ultrasonic cleaner family.
Is heated ultrasonic cleaning required?
No. Whether heat is beneficial depends on the cleaning chemistry, instruments, materials, and contamination involved.
Can I add a basket later?
A compatible ultrasonic basket can be added when required.
What is the difference between the CSU3 and the basket version?
The basket-equipped configuration adds a stainless-steel safety basket to the standard 3-gallon cleaning platform.
What is the difference between the CSU3 and heater version?
The heater-equipped configuration adds active solution heating to the standard CSU3 platform.
What is the difference between the CSU3 and basket-and-heater version?
The basket-and-heater configuration includes both features, while the CSU3 is the basic configuration.
How does the CSU3 compare with the CSU1?
The CSU3 accommodates three full-size cassettes, while the CSU1 is intended for smaller loads and up to two half-size cassettes.
How does the CSU3 compare with the CSU6?
The CSU3 accommodates up to three full-size cassettes, while the CSU6 accommodates up to six.
Is the Tuttnauer CSU3 brand new?
Yes. American Instrument Exchange sells this CSU3 as brand-new equipment.
Does it include a warranty?
Yes. The CSU3 includes the applicable Tuttnauer manufacturer warranty.
