Laser Paint Removal
Laser paint removal is an environmentally friendly process used to remove paint layers from metal surfaces without damaging the substrate. One of its benefits is the ability to remove coatings from precise areas.
The process is also known as laser paint stripping and laser coating removal. It can be applied to any metal, although steel, aluminum, and copper are the most typical. Different types of coatings can be removed, including paint, powder coating, e-coating, phosphate coating, and insulating coating.
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How Does Laser Paint Removal Work?
Laser paint removal uses a process called laser ablation to strip paints. As paint absorbs the laser beam’s energy, its temperature rises in a few milliseconds until it reaches its ablation threshold. At this temperature, the bonds that hold paint molecules together break, and paint is ejected from the surface.
Let’s break down how it works:
- A pulsed laser beam is directed at the surface.
To achieve ablation, the laser energy is released in short pulses and at a set repetition rate. Pulsed laser beams are ideal to reach the high energy needed for ablation. You can learn more about pulsed laser ablation here. - The paint absorbs the laser beam’s energy.
All materials absorb and reflect laser light at different rates. The type of paint strongly influences how much laser light is absorbed and, thus, the speed at which paint is removed. - The paint undergoes sublimation as its temperature rises.
Sublimation is when a material directly goes from solid to gas without going through its liquid phase. This happens because the rise in temperature is too fast. Factors that affect the rate at which paint is sublimated include the paint thickness and the paint’s specific ablation temperature. - Dusts and gases ejected from the surface are extracted.
When the bonds that hold paint molecules break, dusts and gases are ejected into the air. Efficient fume extraction is essential to guarantee the safety and consistency of the process
Why Choose Laser Technology for Paint Removal?
Laser Paint Stripping Applications
E-Coating RemovalE-coating is removed from specific areas on seat rails to ensure that it does not contaminate the welds. It provides better control over the process than alternatives like grinding and masking. |
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Powder Coating RemovalPowder coatings can be selectively removed from parts like hairpins, EV stator bridges and connector tabs, and more to prepare them for welding. |
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Phosphate Coating RemovalPhosphate coating is removed from parts like pinions and ring gears to prepare them for assembly. |
Industrial Laser Cleaning Solutions
Robot Laser Cleaning MachineLaser systems can be mounted on robots to perfectly control the process, move the laser head on multiple axes, and control its angle. The combination of robots and lasers makes it possible to remove paint from complex shapes, multiple surfaces, large parts, and multiple types of parts. |
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Rotary Table Laser Cleaning WorkstationProcessing parts on a rotary table is the best way to maximize the efficiency of a manually loaded machine. Rotary tables can also be equipped with a rotary indexer to easily clean multiple areas on a part. |
High-Power Laser Cleaning SystemsLaserax manufactures high-power fiber laser systems specifically designed to remove coatings from metal surfaces. Up to 3000W of laser power for demanding industrial applications. The laser power you need will depend on your available cycle time and on the thickness of your coatings. To learn more, you can read our technical paper for laser paint removal speeds. Single-mode or multi-mode technology available. When using a single-mode fiber laser, the laser can texture the base metal at the same time if needed to improve adhesive properties. When using a multimode fiber laser, the process cannot texture the metal surface, but it can reach faster cleaning speeds. |
Industries that Benefit from Laser Paint Removal
Automotive Industry
While masking is traditionally used in the automotive industry, laser cleaning is a more efficient and cost-effective solution that is gaining in popularity.
Many parts are coated, painted, phosphated, or laminated to improve material properties. These coatings need to be absent from certain areas before assembly, welding or bonding.
Automotive sectors that benefit from laser paint removal include Foundry, Casting, Drivetrain, Powertrain, E-Drive, Seating, Stamping, Battery, and E-Motor.
Aerospace Industry
During maintenance of aircraft parts, coatings need to be removed before being refurbished. Compared to blasting methods, laser technology is an environmentally friendly alternative that is safer for operators.
The cost of aerospace parts and high-quality requirements make laser technology a worthwhile investment.
Agriculture Industry
Agriculture and heavy equipment manufacturers are increasingly replacing masking with laser cleaning. While part masking is slow and expensive, laser cleaning offers a high return on investment and can keep up with a high production pace.
Parts that benefit from laser cleaning include castings, drivetrains, powertrains, seat rails, stampings, and more.
Other Industries
Laser paint removal is an emerging technology that offers endless possibilities and can be used for applications in a variety of industries.