Is The Cleaning Speed of The Laser Cleaning Machine Limited by The Size of The Cleaning Area?

In modern industry, the choice of cleaning technology plays a vital role in the production process and product quality. As an emerging cleaning technology, laser cleaning machine is gradually becoming an important tool in the field of industrial cleaning due to its unique working principle and many advantages.

Laser cleaning machine uses high-energy laser beam to concentrate laser energy on the target surface, and instantly evaporates or peels off dirt, rust, grease and other substances attached to the surface of the object through the photothermal effect. The laser cleaning process is usually divided into three stages: first, the laser beam irradiates the surface of the pollutant, causing the pollutant to heat and expand rapidly; second, the generated steam or gas forms tiny bubbles and forms shock waves; finally, the impact force of the shock wave removes the pollutant to achieve the purpose of cleaning. Compared with traditional cleaning methods (such as chemical cleaning, high-pressure water jets, etc.), laser cleaning has the advantages of not using chemical reagents, not generating wastewater, and not damaging the substrate.

Laser cleaning technology is increasingly used in industrial cleaning. For example, in metal processing, electronic components, aerospace, automobile manufacturing and other industries, laser cleaning has shown excellent cleaning capabilities. Especially in the cleaning process of precision parts and high value-added equipment, laser cleaning technology can ensure the consistency of cleaning effect and reduce the impact on the environment. With the continuous advancement of laser technology and the gradual reduction of costs, laser cleaning machines are expected to occupy a more important position in industrial cleaning in the future.

1. Definition of laser cleaning

Laser cleaning is a technology that uses high-energy laser beams to remove pollutants from the surface of an object. The basic principle is to instantly evaporate or peel off dirt, rust, coatings, etc. attached to the surface of the object through laser irradiation to achieve the purpose of cleaning. Laser cleaning is not only efficient, but also environmentally friendly. It is widely used in many fields such as industry, automobiles, aerospace, and construction.

The main types of laser cleaning include:

● Pulse laser cleaning:

This type of laser cleaning uses short-pulse high-energy lasers to instantly heat the surface of the material at high temperatures.

Since short-pulse lasers can generate very high peak power, they can quickly peel off pollutants and are suitable for precision cleaning and occasions with strict requirements on substrate damage.

Common types of pulsed lasers include solid-state lasers (such as Nd:YAG lasers) and fiber lasers.

● Continuous laser cleaning:

Continuous laser cleaning cleans the surface by continuously emitting laser beams.

It is suitable for processing wider areas, especially when large areas of rust or coatings need to be removed.

Common types of continuous lasers include CO2 lasers and some solid-state lasers.

Both types of laser cleaning have their own application scenarios. Choosing the right type of laser can improve cleaning efficiency and effect.

2. Composition of laser cleaning machine

Laser cleaning machine usually consists of the following main parts:

● Laser:

Laser is the core component of laser cleaning machine, responsible for generating laser beam. According to application requirements, the type of laser can be solid laser, fiber laser, CO2 laser, etc.

The choice of laser directly affects the cleaning effect, power and efficiency.

● Control system:

The control system is used to manage and adjust the laser emission frequency, output power, scanning speed and other parameters.

Modern laser cleaning machines are usually equipped with CNC systems, which can realize automatic operation and human-computer interaction to improve work efficiency.

● Optical path system:

The optical path system is used to transmit and focus laser beams, usually including lenses, reflectors and optical fibers.

Through appropriate optical path design, ensure that the laser beam can accurately irradiate the processing area and effectively focus to improve cleaning efficiency.

● Cooling system:

The laser generates heat when working, so the cooling system is used to keep the laser and other components running at normal operating temperature.

Common cooling methods include water cooling and air cooling.

● Mobile platform or robotic arm:

Some laser cleaning machines are equipped with a mobile platform or robotic arm to move the laser or cleaning object during large-area cleaning, improving the flexibility and efficiency of cleaning.

These basic components together constitute the laser cleaning machine, enabling it to complete cleaning tasks efficiently and accurately in various industrial applications. Click here for more information

1. Size of cleaning area

● Comparison of cleaning speeds of small and large areas

In cleaning operations, the size of the cleaning area significantly affects the cleaning speed. For small area cleaning, the laser cleaning machine can focus more on specific pollutants or rust, and can usually achieve a quick cleaning effect. Since high-energy lasers can directly target small areas of dirt, the time required for cleaning is usually shorter.

When cleaning large areas, the cleaning speed may be relatively slower due to the need to cover a wider surface. Although the moving speed of the laser cleaning machine can be adjusted, the overall cleaning time will increase, especially when the processing area is large or the dirt is thick. At this time, the reasonable configuration of parameters such as the scanning speed and power of the laser is particularly important.

● Time cost and resource allocation for large area cleaning

For large area cleaning tasks, time cost and resource allocation will also become more complicated. Cleaning large areas not only requires more manpower and equipment support, but may also increase the complexity of maintenance and operation. In order to improve efficiency, companies usually need to consider how to reasonably configure the power of the laser, the cleaning speed, and whether multiple laser cleaning systems are required to work in parallel. At the same time, personnel training and equipment maintenance are also important aspects of resource allocation.

2. Laser power

● The effect of high-power laser on cleaning speed

Laser power is one of the key factors affecting cleaning speed. High-power laser can release more energy per unit time, making dirt and rust evaporate or peel off more quickly. Compared with low-power laser, high-power laser has significantly improved cleaning efficiency, especially when removing thicker coatings or heavy rust.

However, the selection of appropriate laser power also needs to take into account the tolerance of the substrate to avoid damage to the substrate due to excessive power. If the power and scanning speed do not match, the cleaning effect may be affected.

● Relationship between laser intensity and cleaning efficiency

There is a direct relationship between laser intensity and cleaning efficiency. Laser intensity is usually determined by power and beam diameter (the size of the focal area). Increasing laser power or reducing beam diameter will increase laser intensity, thereby improving cleaning effect. When the laser intensity exceeds a certain threshold, the cleaning efficiency will be significantly improved, and stubborn dirt can be removed more effectively.

However, excessive laser intensity may cause local overheating of the substrate, causing unexpected damage. Therefore, in practical applications, it is necessary to adjust the power and focus design of the laser according to different cleaning tasks to ensure that the substrate is protected to the greatest extent while improving the cleaning efficiency.

3. Material of the cleaning object

● The influence of different materials on the cleaning speed

The material of the cleaning object has an important influence on the cleaning speed. The physical and chemical properties of different materials determine their ability to absorb laser energy. For example, metal surfaces have a higher absorption rate for lasers and are generally more easily removed by lasers; in addition, some coating materials (such as paint) may need to be adjusted for specific laser wavelengths and powers to achieve the best cleaning effect.

Material absorption rate of laser energy

The absorption rate of laser energy by different materials varies greatly, which directly affects the cleaning effect. For example, metal materials such as iron and copper usually have a higher laser absorption rate, making the cleaning process more efficient. However, some coatings or synthetic materials, especially transparent or light-colored materials, have relatively low efficiency in absorbing laser energy, and may require higher power or different wavelength lasers to achieve good cleaning results.

4. Cleaning layer thickness

The influence of different thicknesses of dirt or coatings on cleaning speed

The thickness of the cleaning layer directly affects the cleaning speed and efficiency. Thinner dirt or coatings can usually be removed in a shorter time because the laser energy can penetrate quickly and cause evaporation. Thicker coatings or dirt require longer processing time to ensure sufficient laser energy to achieve the peeling effect. Therefore, when processing thick coatings, it may be necessary to reduce the movement speed or increase the laser power to achieve effective cleaning.

Relationship between cleaning layer thickness and laser pulse frequency

The thickness of the cleaning layer is also a key factor in setting the laser pulse frequency. Thicker layers require higher pulse frequencies to ensure that the laser energy per unit time is sufficient to produce the necessary thermal effect. On the other hand, when the cleaning layer is thinner, reducing the pulse frequency can effectively reduce unnecessary laser damage to the substrate while ensuring the cleaning effect. Therefore, the key to achieving efficient cleaning is to reasonably adjust the laser pulse frequency and cleaning method.

During laser cleaning, the size of the cleaning area has a significant impact on the cleaning speed. A smaller cleaning area allows the laser beam to be focused on a specific location, enabling it to quickly remove dirt and contaminants, thereby achieving an efficient cleaning effect. When the cleaning area becomes larger, the laser needs to cover a wider surface, resulting in an increase in the cleaning time at each location, and the overall cleaning speed may slow down. In addition, large area cleaning may also face more complex types of dirt and materials, thereby reducing cleaning efficiency. Therefore, choosing the right cleaning area size is a key factor in optimizing laser cleaning speed.