Metalworking World Magazine
Advanced Laser Cleaning Robotic Work cells Turbocharge Industrial Processes
Allison Vemetsi | September 2024
Enclosed robotic laser parts cleaning systems are poised to remove rust and contamination safely, as well as condition, surfaces at dramatically higher volumes and lower costs than conventional methods.
Today, advancements in industrial laser cleaning automation show great promise in boosting productivity and safety when rust and contaminant removal or surface preparation is required for higher volumes of components and equipment. Specifically, combining lasers and advanced robotics within enclosed work cells enables operators to efficiently and repeatedly clean components of different sizes, shapes, and materials on a level previously unattainable through manual methods.
Cost-Effective and Safe Solutions
Automated laser cleaning systems are designed to cost-effectively clean high volumes of even the largest format parts and equipment and can be tailored to suit the size and complexity of the parts while eliminating concerns over operator safety, says Wayne Tupuola, CEO, of Orlando, Florida-based Laser Photonics (NASDAQ: LASE), a leading global industrial developer of laser systems for cleaning and other material processing applications.
Industrial manufacturers frequently need to remove corrosion, grease, residue, and old coatings, or roughen the surface of metals before coating components and equipment. At times, contaminants or toxic substances must be eliminated before further processing.
The challenge is that conventional methods like sandblasting, dry ice blasting, and chemical stripping are messy, time and labor-intensive including preparation and cleanup, and require costly consumables. These methods can also pose risks to applicators and the environment so regulators like OSHA and EPA scrutinize them.
Efficiency of Laser-Cleaning Robotic Cells
As a much more efficient alternative, a laser-cleaning robotic work cell usually consists of at least one laser-wielding robot, controllers, and safety equipment in a custom, see-through enclosure. These collaborative robots, or cobots, excel at tasks like laser cleaning parts that involve repetition, freeing up employees to work on other activities.
The CleanTech Robotic Cell from Laser Photonics, for example, utilizes a robotic arm that holds a “laser gun” with cleaning, roughening, and finishing capabilities. The robotic arm is programmable via a tablet/controller where the operator would input the cleaning parameters, such as intensity, speed, and scanning pattern.
Full Article: Laser-Photonics-15-Metalworking-World-Magazine-Online.pdf
Original here: Advanced Laser Cleaning Robotic Work Cells Turbocharge Industrial Processes – Tech Briefs