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简体中文What is the speed of laser cleaning?
In general, laser cleaning speeds can range from a few centimeters per second (cm/s) for very delicate work to over 20 meters per minute (m/min) for large-scale industrial applications.
Here’s a breakdown of what influences the speed and some typical examples.
Key Factors Determining Laser Cleaning Speed
Contaminant Type and Thickness:
Light/Weak Contaminants: Rust, light oil, dust, or paint overspray can be cleaned very quickly.
Heavy/Strong Contaminants: Thick mill scale, hardened paint, rubber, or thick layers of carbon require more laser energy and thus slower speeds.
Substrate Material (The Base Material):
The laser must be tuned to a wavelength that the contaminant absorbs much better than the substrate. A well-tuned system allows for faster, safer cleaning. If the substrate absorbs too much energy, it can be damaged, forcing you to slow down.
Laser Power:
This is a major factor. Higher power (e.g., 1000W vs. 200W) allows for faster cleaning because it delivers more energy to ablate the contaminant in a shorter time. It's like pressure washing—a more powerful machine cleans faster.
Required Cleanliness Standard:
"Just clean enough": For a surface that just needs to be free of loose rust before painting, a single, faster pass might be sufficient.
"Surgical Cleanliness": For critical applications like welding preparation or nuclear decontamination, multiple, slower passes might be needed to achieve a perfectly clean, white-metal surface.
Beam Delivery System:
Spot Size: A larger laser spot can clean a wider area in a single pass, increasing overall throughput.
Scanning vs. Linear Motion: Advanced systems use galvanometer scanners (like a laser light show) to move the beam at extremely high speeds over a fixed area, which is much faster than moving the entire laser head over a part.
Typical Speed Ranges in Practice
Here are some realistic examples to give you a better idea:
| Application | Contaminant | Substrate | Typical Speed Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rust Removal | Light Surface Rust | Steel | 5 - 20 m/min | A very common and efficient application for laser cleaners. |
| Paint Removal | Single Layer of Paint | Steel/Aluminum | 1 - 10 m/min | Speed depends heavily on paint type and adhesion. |
| Welding Prep | Oxides, Stains | Stainless Steel, Aluminum | 0.5 - 5 m/min | Requires a very high-quality clean, often slower. |
| Mold Cleaning | Rubber, Carbon | Tool Steel | 2 - 8 m/min | Highly effective for restoring intricate molds without abrasives. |
| Nuclear Decon. | Radioactive Particles | Various | 0.1 - 2 m/min | Extreme caution and multiple passes are used for complete removal. |
| Art Restoration | Soot, Varnish | Stone, Wood | 0.1 - 1 m/min | Very slow, delicate work to avoid damaging the priceless substrate. |
How to Think About "Speed" in a Business Context
For companies considering laser cleaning, it's more useful to think in terms of throughput (area cleaned per hour) rather than just speed (head movement per minute).
Throughput = Spot Size x Scanning Speed
A system with a large spot size moving at a moderate speed can have a much higher throughput than a system with a tiny spot moving very fast.
Summary
So, to directly answer your question: There is no single speed for laser cleaning. It is a flexible process where the operator balances power, speed, and spot size to achieve the desired result without damaging the underlying material.
Low End (Delicate Work): ~0.5 m/min
Mid-Range (General Industry): ~1 to 3m/min
High End (Heavy Rust/Scale): ~5+ m/min
If you have a specific application in mind, the speed can be estimated much more accurately.
