Safe surface preparation using laser technology.

MD of Project Laser - Project Laser

What if you could vaporise corrosion, coatings and contamination layers, thus reducing the need for abrasive and chemical-based cleaning systems. Now you can as PROJECT LASER a new and innovative mobile cleaning service has arrived and is primed to service the Goldfields and Esperance regions. Being mobile means our fully equipped vehicle and highly trained staff bring the latest in nano pulsed laser technology directly to the asset, business or homeowner, reducing waste material, saving time and reducing freight costs.

 

What is laser cleaning? 

Laser cleaning harnesses the power of highly programmable and precise laser pulses, thousands of pulses per second are absorbed into the contamination layer, this causes a rapid heat exchange that results in the thin contamination layers being vaporised and or popping and crimping off the surface. The released particulates and gases are then extracted away and passed through multiple filtration mediums.
Making it the most environmental and safe method to remove thin contamination layers from a variety of substrates and environments.

 

Benefits of using laser cleaning systems?

Surface condition:

By using a nano pulsed laser there are some unique features that, depending on the intended outcome can be seen as either a pro or a con. Nano-pulsed lasers are designed to NOT profile the surface, this makes laser cleaning an ideal tool for critical components and machinery such as turbomachinery, gears and the inside of tanks as well as historic items and infrastructure

Short intense pulses also greatly reduce the chance of heat being absorbed into the substrate, care must be taken when cleaning thin materials such as a car body panel, thicker materials and certainly anything over 6mm will have very little change in temperature after the laser has passed over the surface.

 

Operational:
One of the benefits of using a pulsed laser is that it is a relatively simple process to secure the work zone, a visual block needs to be erected between the laser and other workgroups and or the public, this is easily covered through the implementation of various screens that we use. Eliminating both time and cost often associated with encapsulation and securing a worksite.

 

Environmental:

Laser cleaning is the only cleaning method that reduces the volume of waste material, as an example, through ablation of lead based paint the volume of waste paint material is reduced by at least 75%. The same can not be said for removing paint or rust with the use of abrasives, chemicals, water and other consumable intense processes, as these methods increase the volume of waste material.

 

Health and safety.

Unlike the various types of blasting, noise is not much of an issue to surrounding workgroups and by implementing the below systems and procedures laser cleaning activities can take place within a small footprint and without interrupting nearby workgroups.
By reducing chemicals and abrasives from parts of the workplace it instantly becomes a safer work environment, that’s not to say lasers do not pose risks. Through vaporising material you release contaminants such as particulates and fumes into the air, these must be extracted and filtered ensuring the air in and around the worksite is not contaminated.

The laser poses very little risk to peoples skin, I say this as the laser can pass over someone’s hand without causing more than slight discomfort, there is no reasonable instance where extended contact with ones skin would be encountered.

Lastly and most importantly approved 1064nm rated safety eyewear must also be used to protect the eyes of everyone within the work zone.

 

Target Markets:
First, it must be noted that laser cleaning has obvious limitations, if you need to remove scale corrosion, thick coatings or large areas, or if you require a surface profile, at this point in time it will be best to continue with the tried and true blasting techniques that are available. Laser cleaning is ideal for thin layers of coatings, contamination, residue and corrosion as well as localised removal of thicker paints and epoxy coatings prior to NDT.

This makes it a good substitute for labour-intensive manual cleaning activities on sensitive precision components as well as suitable for areas of localised removal and where secondary contamination or encapsulation are costly and time-consuming processes

 

What can a laser remove?

 

Surface and light corrosion 

Localised coating removal

Oil, grease and carbon. 

Surface contamination

Glues and residues

 

What substrates can be cleaned?

Ferrous and non-ferrous metals

  • Improves corrosion resistance of Stainless steel
  • Titanium, aluminium, tantalum, tungsten
  • Copper, brass, silver
  • Steel
  • Bricks, paving, marble, grout
  • wood

 

Applications:


In situ NDT surface prep– Dye pen and mag particle

  • Localised paint removal
  • Localised oxide layer removal
  • Vaporise high build epoxy coating


Critical components

  • Girth gears-Tooth flank
  • Pinions
  • Turbomachinery
  • Housings
  • Tooling & machinery

Surface and flash rust

  • Flash rust removal inside tanks
  • Tooling and machinery

 

Infrastructure

  • Fire damage remediation
  • Lead-based paint removal
  • Cleaning of historic ornaments and structures

 

If you would like to know more then the best way to assess the technology is to view a hands-on and live demonstration, Project Laser can set up a demonstration both on and off-site at a time that suits you. This enables you to test the laser cleaning system in applications and scenarios that you encounter within your business.

 

Managing Director

Kevin Harrison

0402 759 024

kevin@projectlaser.com.au

 

MD of Project Laser - Project Laser