What is Laser Cleaning?
What is Laser Cleaning?
Laser Cleaning is a non-contact, environmentally friendly process that removes rust, corrosion, grease, oil, contaminants, and coatings from metals, concrete, and delicate substrates such as composites. Laser cleaning works by aiming brief pulses of high-power laser energy at the surface to be cleaned. The energy applied to the top layer being removed doesn’t dissipate – instead, it blasts off the material being cleaned. Part or all the material being removed is vaporized. The remainder may be suctioned and collected into a filtration system as particle dust. This process can be done quickly, with minimal impact on the base material unlike traditional techniques (sandblasting, bead blasting, and chemical stripping).
Laser cleaning replaces traditional methods of surface preparation such as Abrasive Blasting. Abrasive Blasting (a.k.a. sandblasting/bead blasting) is the operation of forcibly propelling a stream of abrasive material against a surface under high pressure to smooth a rough surface, roughen a smooth surface, shape a surface, or remove surface contaminants.
Traditional blasting methods require a long list of equipment, both to perform the task and to minimize the operator’s exposure to hazards (utilizing Personal Protection Equipment – “PPE”). Equipment requirements include an air compressor (either gas/diesel or electric) to propel the sand/beads, hoses, bags of sand, a protective suit, gloves, goggles, hearing protection and respirator/helmet for the operator. Abrasive blasting operations create high levels of noise leading to hearing loss, and dust, including silica sand (crystalline), which can cause silicosis, lung cancer, and breathing problems in exposed workers.
Abrasive blasting operators are also at risk of heat-related illnesses due to the PPE (blast helmets and protective suits) that is worn sometimes for long periods of time, the work activity or physical demands of the job, and environmental conditions (i.e., temperature, humidity, and air movement).
Laser Photonics’ CleanTech laser systems have a dramatic advantage over traditional cleaning methods because laser cleaning systems are simple to use, quiet, eco-friendly, energy-efficient, and complete the job in less time with lower operating costs. Laser cleaning also leaves the original surface untouched, all without the need for any consumables or cleanup. Laser Cleaning can replace Abrasive Blasting in virtually every industry and every application where blast cleaning is currently being utilized.
Recommended Laser Cleaning Systems
200-CTHD
A mobile, pulsed laser system with a handheld device, which is essentially a laser gun for rust removal, corrosion removal, surface polishing, texturing, and more.
2000-CTHD
High-performance, high-power handheld laser cleaning system for tackling tougher jobs of a larger scale.
Laser Blaster Cabinet
The perfect solution for cleaning smaller components inside an enclosed work cell. This enhanced-safety system can integrate a fume extractor for applications involving the vaporization of toxic particles.
LPC-200-CTHD
A mobile, pulsed laser system with a handheld device, which is essentially a laser gun for rust removal, corrosion removal, surface polishing, texturing, and more.
LPC-2000-CTHD
High-performance, high-power handheld laser cleaning system for tackling tougher jobs of a larger scale.
LPC-50-BC
The perfect solution for cleaning smaller components inside an enclosed work cell. This enhanced-safety system can integrate a fume extractor for applications involving the vaporization of toxic particles.