Pulsed Laser Cleaning Machine

Pulse laser cleaning machines utilize three main components:

Laser Source – Common types are excimer lasers emitting UV light around 248 nm or solid-state lasers emitting infrared light around 1064 nm. The short pulse duration of nanoseconds allows high peak power without overheating materials.

Delivery Optics – Mirrors, lenses and fiber optics shape and deliver the laser beam to the work area with precision. Computer controlled X-Y-Z positioning stages move large or multiple small parts under the beam.

Containment Chamber – An enclosed workspace with extraction system captures ablated debris. Windows allow viewing and beam entry. Some include inert gas flows to prevent oxidation of cleaned parts.

During operation, the focused pulsed laser beam scans over the contaminated surface. Each intense short pulse vaporizes a micrometer sized area of deposits. Multiple overlapping pulses clean the entire programmed area. Computers control the beam positioning and pulse sequencing for high throughput.

• Use of pulsed laser sources like excimer lasers that emit UV light or solid-state lasers that emit infrared or visible light.

• Ability to cleanly remove contaminants from heat-sensitive materials like aluminum and composites that would be damaged by other cleaning methods.

• Precise control over the cleaning area down to micrometer sizes through computer control of the laser beam.

• Ability to clean complex geometries and hard-to-reach areas with tight tolerances.

• Processing speeds ranging from small laboratory systems to large industrial workstations.

• Automation capability to integrate the laser cleaning process into an assembly line.

Pulse laser cleaning machines have applications in many industries due to their non-contact and precision cleaning capabilities:

Aerospace

Laser cleaning is used to prepare aircraft and spacecraft parts for painting, ensure turbine blades are free of deposits, and restore antique aircraft. The process avoids damaging delicate materials.

Automotive

Car manufacturers use laser cleaning to strip old paint from body panels before applying a fresh coat. It’s also used to clean engine components and alloy wheels.

Medical Devices

Precision laser cleaning helps prepare metal implants and surgical instruments for sterilization by fully removing contaminants.

Electronics

Circuit boards and semiconductor wafers require ultra-clean surfaces, which laser cleaning provides before critical manufacturing steps.

Art Conservation

Conservators use laser cleaning to remove surface dirt and restore ancient artifacts without harming fragile original materials.

Industrial Applications

Laser cleaning keeps metal stamping dies, injection molds and other precision tools performing at top levels by removing accumulated deposits.

While laser cleaning is more commonly associated with metal processing, pulse laser technology is also gaining acceptance for cleaning and restoring wooden surfaces and artifacts. Here are some of the key benefits it provides for wood applications:

Gentle Removal of Coatings and Dirt

The non-contact ablation of short laser pulses allows even delicate historical wood carvings and furniture to be cleaned without any mechanical force or abrasion that could damage delicate details. This makes laser an ideal choice for conservation work.

Stripping Old Finishes

Thick paints, stains and varnishes that have dulled over time can be cleanly removed back to the bare wood using an appropriately selected laser wavelength and parameters. This restores the natural beauty of the wood grain.

Cleaning Complex Shapes

Like with metal parts, the laser beam can be precisely controlled in 3D to access intricate nooks and crannies. This allows complete cleaning of statuary, intarsia and other ornate wooden designs.

Suitability for Outdoor Wood

Decking, fencing and other wood used outdoors is exposed to environmental dirt and molds. Laser cleaning can restore it without chemicals that could leach into the ground. The process also sterilizes any microbial growth.

Process Control

Computerized laser systems ensure a consistent, well-defined treatment area without the risk of over-stripping commonly experienced with other wood cleaning methods like sanding.