Laser Cleaning and Rust Removal

Laser rust removal, a type of laser cleaning, is an effective process for cleaning up metal parts. Using a fiber laser cleaning system, rust and other contaminants can be quickly and completely removed without damaging the metal underneath.

Laser rust removal is a great alternative to manual and chemical cleaning methods since rust is removed with greater precision and lower recurring costs. It’s also a great way to reduce your environmental impact.

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Why Use Laser Technology for Rust Removal

Get Rid of Consumables & Go Green

As a green technology, laser cleaning replaces methods that remove rust with consumables or chemicals. It’s the only solution that meets environmental protection regulations. Plus, pulsed fiber lasers have low power consumption.

Laser cleaning does generate a small amount of dust in the air. It can be vacuumed instantly with a dust extraction system, which we provide and preconfigure for you if needed.

Eliminate Manual Labor

Spending a mass amount of manual labor to clean every single part is inefficient. It is expensive and can be performed more efficiently with robots. Eliminate manual labor through laser cleaning, a technology that can easily be fully or semi-automated.

You can either choose a standard turnkey solution or partner us up with your system integrator for a solution customized for your plant.

Minimize Maintenance

Everyone who uses abrasive blasting faces the same problem: their machine is constantly interrupted. Whether it’s for the presence of sand, the nozzle’s condition or its replacement, blasting machines require regular monitoring and maintenance.

Laser rust removal is a non-contact method that continuously removes rust while drastically lowering maintenance costs.

Create a Safe Workplace

Lasers in manufacturing environments are extremely safe when integrated with a dust extraction system and a Class-1 laser safety enclosure.

With these things in place, operators who are near the laser system don’t need personal protective equipment for respiratory, hearing or body protection. In addition, they no longer handle dangerous materials.

How Does Rust Removal Work?

All materials have characteristics that define how they react under specific conditions. For rust removal on metals, you need to pay attention to the ablation threshold.

Laser parameters can be set so that the laser beam’s intensity is just above the ablation threshold of rust but below that of the metal being cleaned. If the laser beam is shone on the metal surface at an intensity below its ablation threshold, the energy of the laser beam is dispersed as heat once rust is removed.

The result is a clean surface with rust and dirt layers vaporized without permanently affecting the base material.

The speed at which rust is removed depends on rust thickness and laser power. Our high-power systems remove typical light rust at approximately 50 cm2/sec. The thickest forms of rust can be removed at 5 cm2/sec. The best way to find out the details for your application is to have us run tests on your parts.

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Laser Cleaning Applications

Pre-Welding Treatment

As a highly selective process, laser rust removal is a quick way to improve the quality of your welded parts. With rust and dirt layers completely removed, the number of porosities in the welding joints are greatly reduced, and their size is two to three times smaller. As a result, the welds have a greater yield strength, tensile strength, ductility and fatigue life.

Pre-Coating Treatment with Laser Cleaning

If you are welding your parts before painting them, oxides must be removed to prevent the coating from failing over time. The same applies if the surface is rusty before the coating process. The laser cleaning process completely removes rust, ensuring you get high-quality coated parts.

Our Products

Laserax offers a wide range of products for rust removal. You can either choose an OEM laser cleaning system to integrate a custom solution or a laser cleaning machine for a turnkey solution. Mobile laser cleaners can also be used for onsite industrial applications.

Our high-power lasers range from 200 to 500 watts while our low-power systems range from 20 to 100 watts. Most rust removal applications require at least a 50-watt laser.