Laser cleaning

Roughing and surface cleaning

Surface treatments (grinding, roughing, cleaning, etc.) are a common part of many manufacturing processes and are always associated with expensive consumables. LaserTherm has come up with an innovative solution for processing flat and shaped finishes using high-quality laser radiation sources. This method of processing could only be used on small and limited areas in the near past. As we increase the power and efficiency of laser radiation, we reach a cost and time interesting level. For example, "regrinding" a square meter can be done in less than 4 minutes. The manual processing takes about twice the time. However, the quality of laser processing is several times higher. This is a total constant and homogeneous output in connection with automation.

Application

The focused laser radiation strikes the surface where it is immediately absorbed. The laser beam is swept and controlled according to the desired output. Adjustable parameters such as power, pulse energy, and sweep speed of the beam affect the final roughness, texture and / or cleaning properties of the laser system.

Laser material removal is an ablative process, i. e. the solid state immediately becomes a gaseous state. The generated vapours and dust are immediately sucked out and filtered to achieve an almost perfectly clean environment compared to mechanical cleaning.

Processable materials

Process advantages

• Perfect cleaning including porous materials
• Contactless applications
• Processing of thin materials without deformation
• Precise positioning on workpieces
• Treatment of hardly accessible places (corners, holes, curved surfaces, etc.)
• Fast surface treatment with roughing - 1m² / 3 min.
• Easy robotic usage
• Without thermal load
• Dust-free environment
• No required further degreasing and rinsing after grinding

Time, efficiency, ecology, economics are all common denominators of pressure on today's production processes. The demonstrable benefits below meats these points.

Economic benefits

• Without consumable material of supplies system
• Removing chemicals and abrasives from the cleaning process
• Lifetime of key components over 10 years
• High processing speed of large surfaces during cleaning and fine roughing
• Use of technology 24/7
• Low operating costs of the laser system (power input up to 1 kW)

Ecological benefits

• Removal of solvents and phosphating from the pre-painting phase before coating
• Removing abrasives from the cleaning and roughing process
• Radical reduction of dust and airborne particles

Detail of roughening made by laser

Detail roughening made by grinding

The basic difference between laser and mechanical grinding is clearly noticeable according to the above surface details. The laser technology has the output precisely controlled and defined both in the depth of the surface and the spacing of the individual points. The mechanical grinding roughing is rather a random output influenced by many factors. Mechanical cleaning and roughing affect abrasive material, its wear, downforce, surface grease, etc. Laser cleaning is non-contact without fluctuating power with constant output where moisture and grease film does not affect the desired output.

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