Laser Rust Removal
Oxidation occurs when atmospheric and environmental conditions interact with metal surfaces, causing the metal to corrode, or rust. This significantly hinders the lifespan and performance of parts and equipment. While traditional methods of rust removal and corrosion control involve blasting and lots of protective equipment, laser cleaning provides a better way forward.
Laser cleaning offers a safe and much faster way to remove rust from any type of metal. It fully removes corrosion to the bare metal without altering the integrity of the metal. It also eliminates the hassle of having to dispose of hazardous waste. This means that once the cleaning is done, the job is done – providing the perfect solution for aircraft, ship, and armored vehicle maintenance.
It’s fast, safe, and it cleans without the need of any harsh media or chemicals. The quick setup and teardown time also makes laser cleaning a time saver for you and your team.
HOW LASER RUST REMOVAL WORKS
Laser cleaning — also known as laser ablation — uses thousands of focused laser light pulses per second to remove contaminants from products like military vehicles, aircraft, and car manufacturing parts. Unlike other alternatives of cleaning and welding prep, laser ablation doesn’t damage the substrate. You’ll receive a precision cleaning without requiring additional cleanup or producing added waste. While laser solutions aren’t efficient for large surface areas, they work effectively on smaller, targeted areas — often cleaning 15 times faster than media blasting options like sandblasting.
BENEFITS OF LASER RUST REMOVAL
- Removes oxidation without harming underlying or surrounding surfaces
- Easy setup and teardown
- Handheld and automated options available
- Cost-effective
- Environmentally friendly
- Customized for your application
SAFETY TRAINING FOR LASER COATING REMOVAL
Laser ablation is one of the safest methods of media cleaning, but only when used properly. That’s why Adapt Laser provides safety training with the purchase of our laser solutions. You’ll learn the ins and outs of your new solution and how to keep your applications and employees safe.
Learn MoreSee How These Industries Are Using Laser Cleaning for Rust Removal
LASER RUST REMOVAL FOR CAR MANUFACTURING PARTS
Laser cleaning is an ideal solution for removing oxides such as rust and other contaminants from metal products. While it’s a safer and more environmentally-friendly option for contaminant removal, bonding, and pre-welding prep, laser cleaning isn’t the most effective solution for everything. But, in terms of car manufacturing, laser ablation works best for:
- Gear welding
- Structural frame bonding
- Electronic control unit bonding
- Door frames welding
- Electric vehicle fuel-cell conductivity
COMMON AUTOMOTIVE RUST REMOVAL QUESTIONS
DOES LASER CLEANING REMOVE RUST PERMANENTLY?
Just as rust can develop on your metal products over time, so can it happen again. While laser cleaning doesn’t permanently remove rust, it does eliminate the risk of degrading your applications. That means that with proper maintenance, you can extend the lifespan of your product and decrease downtime and inefficiencies.
CAN LASERS CLEAN PIPES/TUBES?
Generally speaking, laser cleaning is best suited for areas you can see with the naked eye, so cleaning pipes, tubes, and other difficult-to-see areas will require specialized optics and a custom solution that can handle these atypical laser cleaning projects. At Adapt Laser, our team is committed to finding the perfect cleaning solution for your needs, so contact us to see if we can craft a laser cleaning option for your application.
CAN LASER CLEANING BE USED FOR CAR RESTORATION?
Laser ablation is an ideal solution for many car manufacturing processes, but it may not be the most cost effective solution for a typical car restoration project. For one-off cleaning projects, laser cleaning is often not the most cost-effective cleaning option. Car restoration also involves reaching many hard-to-see areas, so it may require a more customized cleaning solution. Contact our team today for a consultation to see if our cleaning lasers would be a good fit for your car restoration project.
WHICH SOLUTION IS BEST FOR REMOVING RUST FROM MY CAR?
Laser cleaning is best suited for automotive manufacturing operations that involve large production quantities or repeated tasks. It also has the benefit of being safe on sensitive surface materials and being able to reach smaller, targeted areas like door frames and structural framing. Smaller operations or one-off restoration projects generally don’t present the best business case for the purchase of a cleaning laser. Contact our team to learn more, or see if outsourcing your parts cleaning to our laser cleaning job shop might be a more cost-effective solution for your needs.
CAN I ATTACH THE LASER SOLUTION TO A ROBOT?
All of our laser solutions can be automated by robots. This option is a key part of our custom build process. If you think you may want this option with your solution, talk to our sales team when discussing the features of your custom build. And, connect us with your provider so that we may guarantee the fitting.
LASER RUST REMOVAL FOR DEFENSE & MILITARY APPLICATIONS
Since laser ablation can remove oxidation on metal surfaces without damaging the substrate layers, it provides a highly effective, nondestructive method of rust removal for military vehicles and equipment. Whereas traditional cleaning methods are time consuming and hazardous to both workers and the environment, laser cleaning offers a safer and more efficient alternative.
To control corrosion on their Aircraft Ground Equipment (AGE), the United States Air Force uses our CL1000 cleaning laser, which allows for targeting cleaning without impacting the equipment. The Army and Navy also have turned to laser cleaning due to its ability to clean their highly complex pieces of equipment so that they last longer and perform better throughout their lifespans, supporting the warfighter even in the most intense conditions.
LASER RUST REMOVAL FOR OTHER APPLICATIONS
If you have a rust removal project or are looking for an alternative to media blasting for your cleaning needs, laser ablation can improve both the safety and efficiency of your operations. Our lasers can be outfitted as either handheld or automated solutions, depending on what best suits the task at hand. Regardless of your industry, our laser experts can craft a custom laser cleaning solution for even the most complicated projects.