Operating principle, selection rules, cost of laser for rust removal
The main problem with all metal coatings is rust. It not only worsens the appearance of the product, but also destroys it.
Therefore, corrosion must be removed immediately after it appears, without wasting time or waiting for it to spread. You can deal with rust using a laser.
To learn how to put this modern method into practice, as well as when and for what devices you can use a laser to remove rust, read the article.
Content
Laser cleaner - what is this device?
To remove corrosion from metal, you need to acquire a special laser device. It is this that is the source of a luminous flux of a certain power.
The installation is based on 3 elements:
- power supply;
- laser head;
- video surveillance device.
These modules are connected to each other by fiber optic cable.
Low power devices are used for personal needs. In auto repair shops and small enterprises, medium-power devices are used. They look like compressors. You can also find massive stationary installations on sale. They are used exclusively in large enterprises.
How does the remover work?
The principle of operation of the laser is quite simple. The device, emitting a luminous flux, affects the metal. If the surface of the product is clean, then it simply reflects it. Areas covered with rust, on the contrary, absorb these rays.
As a result of the accumulation of excess energy, the oxides begin to peel off and move away from the base. Under the influence of powerful laser radiation, corrosion melts and evaporates.
High cleaning efficiency is achieved not only by exposing the metal surface to high temperatures, but also by impact loading. Using a laser, you can clean not only smooth but also corrugated products equally well.
Scope of application of the device
Lasers for removing rust and scale are used in three areas, which can be divided into the following groups:
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Micromachining. It involves cleaning terminals, connectors and wires from scale. The light beam removes a layer up to 1 micron thick.It is simply not possible to carry out the cleanup using other methods. The main area of application for laser microprocessing of metal is electronics.
- Macro processing. This method involves stripping larger parts, such as jewelry, coins and other valuable items.
Although the installations are not cheap, they are completely worth the cost. It is laser macro-processing of rust that is used to clean car parts. Therefore, such devices can be found in many service workshops.
- Large-scale processing. In this case we are talking about cleaning large objects, for example, parts of aircraft or missiles. Laser beams have been used in these areas for more than 40 years.
What devices are used?
Automated devices are used to remove rust. They perform their function almost independently. A minimum amount of effort is required from a person. Devices are distinguished by type of design, power and control features.
Types of lasers, depending on their power:
12 to 20 W. These are low-power units that are powered by a battery.- 100 to 400 W. These are compact, portable systems used to remove oxides from medium-sized products.
- Up to 1000 W. These are powerful devices that are most often stationary. The working capacity of such lasers reaches 100,000 hours.
Only after this time may it be necessary to replace the head. After installing the new part, the device can be used further.
For personal needs and small businesses, portable units that are compact in size and manually controlled are most often purchased.
One of the most convenient models is a laser backpack. It is small in size and light in weight, thanks to which a person has the opportunity to quickly and without any inconvenience process large and small objects. Such devices are applicable both in production conditions and outside it.
When a higher power laser is required, it is better to purchase a stand with a built-in air filtration system.
Review of the laser backpack in the video:
Which to choose?
When buying a laser, you need to start from the problems that will be solved with its help. General recommendations:
Low power lasers are purchased for microprocessing. With their help, you can strip wires and remove oxides from terminals and microcircuits.Such devices are in demand among electronics repairers.- Medium power lasers are the most popular devices. They are bought by auto repair shop owners who clean car bodies. With their help, they not only remove rust, but also paintwork.
- Large factories and enterprises are purchasing high-power lasers.
For personal needs, you should take a closer look at inexpensive Chinese lasers. They are in demand on the market and are cheaper than their European counterparts. The average duration of operation of the device without changing the head is 50,000 hours.
Before purchasing, you need to pay attention to the weight of the unit and its dimensions.
How to use it correctly?
Using a laser to remove rust is easy. Processing technology involves the following steps:
- the installation is put into operation;
- scan the surface to determine the depth of rust;
- direct the light beam onto the surface to be cleaned;
- hold the laser beam source in the desired position until the desired result is achieved;
- Controlling the ablation depth allows for selective removal of corrosion of varying thicknesses.
Is it possible to make it yourself?
It is impossible to make a laser to remove rust from metal with your own hands.
Only factories specializing in this area can assemble an installation that will scan the thickness of corrosion and then safely clean it off.
You can try to assemble the device yourself if you have all the necessary components available.. You will have to order and buy them in a store or have them sent from abroad.This is a rather labor-intensive process, so it is much easier to buy a ready-made installation.
Where to buy, what is the price?
You can buy a laser for rust removal online. Depending on the country of production, the order is placed either directly from the manufacturer or through specialized services.
The price of equipment varies widely. It depends on the power of the device, the features of its functioning, scope of application and components.
You can try to save money and purchase a unit that has previously been in operation, but there is no guarantee of its proper operation. The price of used lasers starts from 60,000 rubles.
If it's broken, how to fix it?
Repair of laser systems should be carried out by professionals. You should not try to deal with the breakdown yourself, even if you have knowledge in the field of electronics.
Finding a specialist is not difficult. It is enough to enter the corresponding query into the search bar of any browser.
If the workshop does not have parts that need replacement, they must be ordered. In this case, you will have to wait for delivery and also pay additional shipping costs.
Conclusion
When making a choice, you need to clearly understand for what purposes the laser will be used. The larger the scope of the upcoming work, the more powerful the device should be.
Today, it is laser equipment that allows you to quickly and carefully clean metal from rust, without fear of damage to parts.
