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A laser cleaning machine is an advanced device that uses laser technology to remove contaminants from material surfaces. It offers advantages such as non-contact operation, high precision, and environmental friendliness. The following is a detailed introduction to this technology.
Working principle:
Core Mechanisms (ranked by frequency of use)
– Photothermal effect (most commonly used): Pollutants absorb laser energy and heat up instantly, vaporizing/thermally expanding. When the expansion force is greater than the adhesion force, the pollutants are removed. The substrate is minimally affected due to its high reflectivity and rapid heat dissipation. Suitable for rust, oil stains, and coatings.
– Photochemical effect (mainly ultraviolet laser): Photon energy breaks the molecular bonds of pollutants, decomposing them into easily volatile small molecules. Suitable for organic dirt and polymer coatings, often used for cultural relics/precision parts.
– Photomechanical/plasma shock wave effect: Short-pulse (nanosecond/picosecond/femto-second) lasers generate strong shock waves or plasma expansion forces, physically removing pollutants from the surface of brittle/heat-sensitive substrates without damaging the base material.
Typical Workflow
1. Laser Emission: A pulsed laser (such as a fiber laser or Nd:YAG laser) emits a laser beam with a specific wavelength (commonly 1064nm), pulse width, and energy density.
2. Beam Focusing: An optical system focuses the laser beam into a small spot (0.1–5mm), achieving an energy density sufficient for cleaning.
3. Contaminant Removal: According to the mechanisms described above, contaminants are vaporized, decomposed, or removed by shock waves without damaging the substrate.
4. Waste Collection: A ventilation system removes dust/vapor to prevent secondary pollution.
Key Control Points
Selective Absorption: Targeting specific wavelengths to maximize absorption by contaminants while ensuring high reflectivity from substrates.
– Energy Density Threshold: Exceeding contaminant removal thresholds while remaining below substrate damage thresholds, precisely controlled via pulse width, power, and spot diameter.
– Pulse Characteristics: Short pulses (nanoseconds and below) minimize heat accumulation, protecting substrates.
– System Configuration: Typically comprises four major modules: laser generator, optical focusing system, motion control platform, and intelligent monitoring system. The laser generator produces high-peak-power laser pulses; the optical system focuses and scans the beam; the motion control platform ensures precise, controllable relative positioning between the laser head and workpiece; the intelligent monitoring system monitors the cleaning process in real time to guarantee cleaning quality.
Technical features:
1. Non-contact Cleaning
– The laser beam acts on the workpiece surface without direct contact, preventing mechanical wear and scratches.
– Suitable for complex shapes, delicate structures, and hard-to-reach areas.
2. Consumable-Free and Eco-Friendly
– Requires no chemical cleaning agents or abrasive media, consuming only electrical energy.
– Dust and fumes generated during cleaning are collected and treated via an exhaust system, minimizing environmental pollution.
3. High Precision and Strong Controllability
– Cleaning depth and range can be precisely controlled by adjusting laser power, pulse width, repetition rate, spot size, and scanning speed.
– Enables localized cleaning without damaging surrounding areas, making it suitable for precision parts and artifact restoration.
4. Minimal Heat-Affected Zone
– Utilizes short-pulse lasers (nanosecond, picosecond, femtosecond) that concentrate energy release within an extremely brief timeframe, minimizing heat diffusion.
– Produces a small heat-affected zone on substrates, making it suitable for heat-sensitive materials and precision components.
5. High Cleaning Efficiency
– Rapid laser scanning enables continuous cleaning of large areas.
– Easily integrates with robots and automated production lines to enhance manufacturing efficiency.
6. Wide Applicability
– Capable of cleaning diverse substrates including metals, glass, ceramics, stone, and plastics.
– Removes various contaminants such as rust, scale, oil stains, coatings, paint layers, resins, carbon deposits, and particulate impurities.
7. Simple Operation and Easy Maintenance
– Features a digital control system with an intuitive interface, enabling one-button startup and parameter adjustment.
– Features a long-lasting laser with low maintenance costs; primary upkeep involves cleaning optical components and inspecting the cooling system.
8. Selective Cleaning Capability
– Exploits material-specific laser absorption differences to remove contaminants without damaging the substrate.
– Ideal for applications demanding high surface quality, such as aerospace components, semiconductor devices, and cultural artifacts.
Application scenarios:
1. Metal Surface Treatment
– Rust Removal: Eliminating rust from surfaces of steel structures, bridges, ships, molds, pipelines, etc.
– Scale Removal: Clearing oxide scale from hot-rolled steel plates, forgings, and castings.
– Degreasing: Removing oil contamination and cutting fluid residues from mechanical parts, engine components, and mold surfaces.
– Coating Removal: Stripping old paint, anti-corrosion coatings, and outdated plating from automotive bodies and construction machinery for refurbishment.
2. Mold and Precision Component Cleaning
– Cleaning carbon deposits, resin residues, and release agent residues from injection molds, die-casting molds, and stamping dies.
– Removal of microscopic contaminants from precision mechanical parts and aerospace components to prevent secondary damage.
3. Electronics and Semiconductor Industry
– Cleaning of solder paste residues, adhesive layers, and oil stains from printed circuit board (PCB) surfaces.
– Removal of organic contaminants and particulate impurities from semiconductor wafers and chip packaging components.
4. Cultural Relics and Historic Building Restoration
– Cleaning dust, soot, mold stains, and old restoration materials from surfaces of ancient paintings, murals, stone carvings, bronze artifacts, etc.
– Removing black crusts and contaminants from ancient building exteriors, steles, and statues without damaging the substrate.
5. Automotive and Aerospace Fields
– Pre-welding cleaning of automotive bodies: Removing grease and coatings from weld zones to enhance welding quality.
– Cleaning paint layers, oil stains, and carbon deposits from aircraft fuselages and engine blades.
– Removal of rubber marks from airport runways and terminal surfaces.
6. Construction and Marine Industries
– Rust and old paint layer removal from steel bridges and industrial buildings.
– Elimination of marine biofouling, rust layers, and old anti-corrosion coatings from ship decks, compartments, and hulls.
7. Food and Pharmaceutical Industry
– Cleaning organic residues and oil stains from food processing equipment and pharmaceutical machinery surfaces to prevent chemical cleaner residue.
– Descaling stainless steel equipment and internal pipe walls.
8. 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing
– Removing support materials and powder residues (e.g., metal powders, resin residues) from 3D printed parts.
9. Glass and Optical Component Cleaning
– Removal of grease, fingerprints, and coating residues from optical lenses, camera lenses, and glassware surfaces.
10. Cultural, Creative, and Home Furnishings
– Removal of old paint and coatings from furniture surfaces for refurbishment.
– Cleaning of dust and oxidation layers from artwork and decorative items.
Market Development:
I. Market Size and Growth (2025 Data Basis)
– Global: Market size approximately $4.2–4.5 billion USD, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 18–20%. Projected to exceed $10 billion USD by 2030. European and American companies continue to dominate the high-end market, with the top five manufacturers holding over 45% market share.
– China: Market size in 2025 is approximately RMB 3.5–4.0 billion, with an annual growth rate of 25–28%. Projected to exceed RMB 12.0 billion by 2030. Domestic latent demand exceeds RMB 60.0 billion. A tiered domestic supplier structure has formed, including Han’s Laser, Huatai Laser, Raycus, and Chuangxin. Exports grew by approximately 89% year-on-year, with Southeast Asia as the primary incremental market.
II. Core Drivers
1. Policy & Environmental Regulations: Dual Carbon goals and environmental laws drive replacement of traditional chemical/mechanical cleaning, highlighting laser’s consumable-free, low-pollution advantages.
2. Technological Iteration & Cost Reduction: Nanosecond fiber lasers become mainstream; picosecond/femtosecond costs continue declining. Power ranges from 100W to tens of thousands of watts, adapting to light to heavy industrial applications. Intelligent systems and robotics integration boost efficiency.
3. Expanding Downstream Demand: Rapid penetration in scenarios including:
– Cleaning of new energy vehicle batteries
– Precision processing in aerospace
– Rust removal for ships/bridges
– Post-processing for 3D printing
– Cultural relic restoration
4. Enhanced Cost-Effectiveness:
– Declining equipment prices
– Low maintenance costs
– Long-term TCO outperforming traditional solutions
– “Rent-to-own” service models emerging in certain sectors.
III. Competitive Landscape
– International: IPG, TRUMPF, Coherent, and others dominate with high-power, short-pulse (picosecond/femtosecond)