Laser cleaning is a process that uses a high-powered laser beam to remove contaminants from a solid surface. It can utilise a range of mechanisms including evaporation/spallation/ablation and shockwave generation. You can find more information about choosing a laser reinigungsgerät.
Typical applications of laser cleaning include the removal of paints, oils and rust from metal surfaces. It’s an environmentally friendly and efficient way to reduce waste, and is suitable for a wide range of metals and materials.
Rust stains can make a metal look unattractive and can be a potential safety issue. Using lasers to remove these stains allows for a cleaner, more appealing finish to the end product.
The removal of coatings from ceramic products is also often done with a laser. Calibrated properly, this type of laser cleaning is very effective and can remove even the thickest layers of dirt, mould or paint from ceramics.
For many ceramic products, this type of laser cleaning is a critical step to ensure a clean and contaminant-free bond. It can be used to remove grease, mould and dirt before welding or bonding, allowing the new material to adhere properly.
Lasers can also be used to remove oxidation coatings that can negatively affect the integrity of metals. This can be particularly important in the electronics industry, where component pins must be deoxidised before they are welded together to ensure optimal electrical contact.
There are a range of different types of laser cleaning machines, from small hand-held units to large robot-controlled systems. The power of the laser, as well as the size and shape of the contaminant being cleaned, can also influence the efficiency of the process.
The most common type of laser for cleaning is the nanosecond-pulsed fibre laser, operating in the near-infrared spectrum. This type of laser is ideal for cleaning because it can be integrated into a variety of different processes and is available in a range of powers, with handheld systems starting at tens of watts and going up to multiple kilowatts.
This is because the short pulse duration minimizes heat-impact to the underlying substrate being cleaned, and increases processing speed. This type of laser can be highly efficient at removing contamination without damage to the substrate or the laser itself, and is particularly useful for cleaning components that are otherwise hard to reach.
Angular laser cleaning is another technique that can be used to improve the efficiency of the cleaning process. It uses an angled irradiation of the contaminant surface which can increase the overall cleaning efficiency by up to 10 times, especially on larger surfaces.
Shock laser cleaning is a very similar process to angular laser cleaning, but uses a high-intensity laser beam to generate a shock pressure wave that impinges onto the contaminant. This creates a shockwave which ejects the contaminant from the substrate, or converts it into gas.
Laser cleaning machines are easy to use and can be operated by one person, but they do require a lot of training and attention. As a result, it’s very important to choose the right system for your particular application.
Laser Reinigungsgerät 