RUST REMOVAL / DEOXIDIZING
Industrial laser cleaning systems are most known for their rust removal capabilities. Application can be found in multiple industries as for example process & production or the heavy industry.
Our laser systems can be used to derust or deoxidize small machinery or materials which leave the warehouse rusted after being left there for several weeks or months.
Some of the main advantages of using laser cleaning as a rust removal method are the lack of chemicals that have to be used, the substrate is not damaged, very little pollution, etc.
COATING REMOVAL
A lot of our customers use the laser's coating removal capabilities prior to any welding, brazing, bonding or new coating process. In the heavy industry for example, laser cleaning is used to prepare train bodywork for a new coating. Our systems are also capable of removing the paint layer by layer, if you don't want to remove everything all at once.
The laser technique is a non-contact/non-abrasive process, no use of chemicals or blasting media are necessary , we see a reduction in waste, automation is easy and it's very safe.
RESTORATION
In the restoration process, laser cleaning has been used with satisfying results in for example stone conservation to remove encrustation. Alongside the aesthetically pleasing results, it is relevant to determine that laser cleaning does not have any adverse effects.
Compared to the more traditional techniques, laser cleaning has many additional advantages. The diameter of the laser beam can be regulated so that areas of different dimensions can be treated. There is no physical contact between the object to be cleaned and the laser equipment. This aspect can be really relevant in treating fragile materials.
NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING
Non-destructive testing is the technique, used in the technology industry, to evaluate the properties of a material, component or system without causing any damage to the base material. Laser cleaning can remove dirt, rust or any other contaminant from the base material, without damaging it. Because of this, laser cleaning is a perfect solution if NDT has to be performed.
SPOT REPAIR
Often not the complete surface has to be cleaned, but only certain spots on that surface. Imagine you only have to remove rust on certain spots on a weld or that you only want to clean the rivets on the body of an airplane. That's where spot repair comes in and because of the 2D-scanners in the optic of our laser systems, circles can be created at once, which speeds up the complete process drastically.
You need a clean area to apply glue or insert a spot weld? A laser cleaner might be a very good solution for your problem!
DEGREASING
Degreasing is mostly applied in the process & production industry.
It can be initiated at the end of a process line as a final cleaning solution to remove any dirt, moist or other contaminants. In the end, you're left with a clean product, ready to be sold to the customer.
Another application is the preparation of a product for a subsequent process: glueing, welding, coating, etc.
How Does Laser Cleaning Work In 5 Steps
Laser cleaning is an eco-friendly process used to remove rust, paint, oxide and other contaminants from metal surfaces. Because of its efficiency, it is being used in an increasing number of applications. Laser cleaning requires a pulsed fiber laser (typically 50 watts or more).
Traditional industrial cleaning methods are often seen as tedious (and for good reasons). Rust removal can be time and labor consuming. Oxide removal may involve hazardous chemicals specific to each material that needs to be removed. In some cases, paint removal by sandblasting can damage the metal underneath.
Dealing with these problems usually comes at a significant cost, but laser cleaning is changing this: it is a cost-effective solution that reduces cleaning times and maintenance.
If you are skeptical about these claims regarding laser technology, keep reading for the key facts about what a laser does when removing contaminants and coatings.