Laser Cleaning: Everything You Need to Know

What is laser cleaning?

Laser cleaning refers to surface cleaning using a fiber optic laser. It is based on the same fiber optic laser sources used in laser metal cutters, laser markers, and engravers. Thus, a laser-cleaning machine is suitable for removing rust from metal surfaces.

The technical parameters of laser cleaning machines guarantee excellent results. When choosing equipment, consider your tasks and budget.

A galvanometric scanner is an essential component of laser cleaning equipment. Usually, it's a handheld gun that an operator holds with one or two hands, pointing it to the surface. The scanner helps focus the laser beam on the material surface, widen the laser beam, and give the light spot the desired shape.

A system of mirrors inside the scanner collects the rays of light and distributes them over the surface of the treated product. This technology allows you to clean relief surfaces and other complex shapes.

The laser-cleaning machine comes with an air or water cooling system. It is necessary to prevent a laser source and a scanner (if it is a water-cooled type) from overheating during operation.

Principle of the laser cleaning operation

The laser cleaning operation involves exposing a light beam to the surface. The laser beam reflects from the surface if no contaminations (such as rust) exist. If there is corrosion, it absorbs the beam. Because of the laser's thermal energy, the strength of metal oxide molecules that form the rust decreases. They collapse, detach from the metal, melt, and evaporate.

What materials laser can clean?

The main application of laser cleaning equipment is to remove contaminants from metal surfaces. This method removes rust, varnish, paint, organic substances, oils, soot, and other pollutants. The technology is also successfully used to clean plastic, stone, ceramic, and concrete.

With a laser-cleaning machine, you can process:

• Small items: terminal, connectors, boards, wires, anilox. The laser is capable of removing an insulative layer up to 1 mm;
• Precious items: jewelry, precious stones, coins, archaeological artifacts; 
• Automobile parts: engines, body;
• Large parts of various equipment, such as planes, rockets, military equipment, oil production, and refinery equipment.

Advantages of laser cleaning

The main advantage of laser cleaning is that it is non-contact. The nozzle does not touch the treated surface. Thus, the processed material is not damaged. The laser beam evaporates contaminants only.

The main difference between laser and mechanical cleaning is non-contact treatment. Traditional cleaning methods can damage the product by sandblasting media or chemical solvents.

Let us specify the advantages of laser cleaning:

• No contact with the processed material;
• Waste-free operation, compared to sandblasting that loses abrasive media during the process;
• Low operating costs due to minimal consumables and almost no maintenance.
• Environment-friendly and safe. Laser cleaning doesn't produce any toxins or dangerous substances;
• Quiet operation. The laser does not create noise;
• It can clean various materials and combinations of different materials.
• User-friendly and easy-to-use interface. The system comes with preset parameters.
• High productivity operation thanks to high speed and excellent cleaning quality.

How to use laser-cleaning equipment for surfaces

Operators can use laser equipment without experience or special training.

Service and maintenance

To ensure proper operation and extend the life of consumables, clean compressed air must be supplied, the lenses and mirrors in the galvanometer must be kept clean, and the water in the chiller must be changed regularly using distilled water.

Types of laser cleaning machine:

CW Handheld Laser Cleaning

The Continuous Wave laser cleaning is a modern, high-tech, high-speed method of cleaning surfaces. The laser cleaning equipment is ideal for all types of surfaces. It easily removes rust from metal products, layers of paint, varnish, and other coatings or deposits. The laser removes the grease, effects of oxidation, and carbon deposits. The speed of a continuous cleaning machine is several times faster than that of a pulsed laser. A wide range of settings allows laser cleaning in various fields. Operators can perform cleaning at any angle and in the most inaccessible places, enabling you to extend the life of structures of different types of metals. There are no consumables (sand and other abrasives) and no need for a workshop or metal cabinet. After cleaning, only the destroyed particles (dust) of the cleaned "foreign" layer remain. A special protective suit for the employee is not required while working with the equipment. No mechanical post-treatment after cleaning is needed either.

PW Hand-Held Laser Cleaning Machine

The Pulsed Wave hand-held laser cleaning machine is a new generation of high-tech equipment for cleaning metal surfaces without damaging or thermally deforming the base material. The pulsed laser removes almost all contaminants on metal products: rust, paintwork, oil products, oxide films, scale after welding, and carbon deposits. Pulsed laser cleaning can clean large areas. The main task is to remove the unwanted layer without damaging the base. This technology is especially true when cleaning thin metals since the machine does not expose the base to heat and, as a result, deformation. A big plus is the speed at which the positive outcome is immediately visible. The equipment does not make noise during operation. In addition to metal surfaces, it cleans adhesive and galvanized materials and products made of plaster and stone.

Ruida 5-IN-1 Multifunctional Laser

The 5-in-1 handheld laser welding machine provides high working speeds and perfect weld quality. This machine can perform the following operations: welding, cutting, cleaning, welding seam cleaning, and spot welding. It allows the joining of various metals with a 0.3 to 7mm thickness. The machine can weld carbon, low-alloy, high-tension, stainless steel, aluminum, and titanium alloys, plastics, and various dissimilar materials. It simplifies the welding of workpieces, even with an inexperienced operator.

Different types of welding joints are available: butt joint, lap joint, tee joint, edge joint, and corner joint. You can weld with the handheld laser machine without filler wire and connect any wire-feeding device. The main consumables are working gas like nitrogen or argon, nozzles, protection lenses, and mirrors. Thanks to the long fiber optics cable, operators can work at a distance from the machine.

Ruida 3-iN-1 Multifunctional Laser

The 3-in-1 handheld laser system has a universal laser head capable of cleaning, cutting, and welding metal. This machine offers substantial savings by purchasing one machine instead of three. The controller provides a library of different settings for joining various types of metals with a 0.3 to 7-mm thickness, simplifying the welding process. Laser welding technology allows welding together metals such as carbon steel, galvanized stainless steel, aluminum alloys, brass, and titanium. The kit includes a specific nozzle for each type of task, such as cleaning metals, butt welding, welding internal and external corners of welding with wire feed, and cutting thin sheet metal. Replacing the welding module with a cleaning scanner is easy without reconnecting the welding gun and optical fiber. Easy to use, no specific skills required.

4-IN-1 Multifunctional Laser SUP23T

SUP23T 4-in-1 handheld multifunctional laser is a new, super-great application in welding, surface cleaning, cutting, and weld cleaning. The product includes a handheld laser gun and control system with multiple safety alarms and emergency shut-off features. The system uses the SUP20T model as a basis. Compared with the previous generation, the controller has enhanced insulation, robust stability, easy maintenance, and other improvements. Also, the handheld device is more compact and lighter.

The system is compatible with various brands of fiber laser sources. It has an optimized optical and water-cooling design so that the laser head can work steadily for a long time at 2000W/3000W. In cleaning mode, the laser beam width is up to 120mm.