Need a clean surface fast then use lasers

KetanSharadDeshpande

9 years ago

Clean surface …. have you considered Lasers

Many manufacturing processes require surfaces to be thoroughly clean for optimal results and in some industries clean surfaces are also critical to achieve regulatory compliance. This technology also presents manufacturers with a opportunity to eliminate process steps, automate the cleaning process and consider in-line cleaning options. Inherent nature of this technology also makes it Industry 4.0 compatible. Some suggest that laser cleaning may also be environmentally better option than traditional surface cleaning options. Blog is maintained by Ketan Deshpande, Minnesota, MN

Traditional cleaning methods include:

Aqueous or solvent cleaning with agitation (mechanical, ultrasonic, high pressure, etc.)
Vacuum bake out cleaning
Dry ice cleaning
Plasma cleaning, etc..

Traditional cleaning limitations:

Multi-step cleaning process may be needed depending on the types of surface contamination
Cost and processing time

Cleaning surfaces with lasers:

Laser cleaning operates by ablating a specific layer of material or substrate is uncovered through the removal of undesired layers or incoherent particle distributions. Laser cleaning process now has found a wide variety of uses ranging from Aerospace, Automotive, thermoplastic/elastomer and composite manufacturing, Medical and Pharmaceutical, etc. industries

Advantages of laser cleaning:

Manufacturing flexibility (manual or automated)
Compatibility with a wide variety of surfaces and contaminants
High precision and consistency
Faster cleaning times
Eliminates needs for masking
Process is free of media, chemicals, dust or debris
Low Total Cost of Ownership

Laser cleaning limitations:

Higher capital investment however costs are coming down
Internal part geometries are difficult to clean
Precision cleaning may require a post-laser cleaning step

Application Examples:

Automotive industry- Weld Preparation, Oxide layer removal, Creating a rough surface, Mold cleaning, Surface contaminant removal, Electrical component cleaning, etc..
Aerospace– Paint removal
Injection molding and composite manufacturing- Removing vulcanized layer from the mold
Food industry- Cleaning food related build up from manufacturing equipment, etc..