How it works
Laser cleaning removes contamination ablatively: pulsed laser light strikes the surface, and the layer of dirt, oxide or coating absorbs the energy and detaches from the base material — partly through thermal and partly through photochemical effects. Process parameters are set so that the energy couples primarily into the layer to be removed; the energy input into the part itself remains low (cold ablation). The process is non-contact and dry, working without chemicals or blasting media and with minimal water consumption. Detached particles and fumes are extracted.
TeSe works with the FEMTA S-100 and FEMTA S-200 laser systems from its technology partner FEMTA; depending on the task, both manual and automated set-ups (e.g. with cobots) are possible.
Laser cleaning uses high-power lasers of laser class 4 (per EN/IEC 60825-1); the corresponding laser-safety measures must therefore be observed during operation.
Advantages
- Non-contact: no mechanical contact with the part; as the process uses no consumable media, it leaves no blasting-media or chemical residues.
- Selective and gentle on the substrate: parameters can be tuned to the layer being removed, preserving the base material.
- Cost-efficient: few consumables, less manual work, low operating costs.
- Sustainable: free of chemicals and abrasives, minimal water consumption, no blasting media or baths to dispose of.
- Suitable for automation: as a manual workstation or an integrated solution, e.g. with cobots and fume extraction.
- Suva-compliant: the FEMTA laser systems used meet all Swiss legal requirements.
Typical applications
- Aviation
- Medical technology and watchmaking
- Tool and mould cleaning (plastics, tyre and casting moulds)
- Metal and aluminium surfaces (e.g. removal of oxides, rust and coatings)
- Printing and electronics industries
- Automotive and food industries
- Graffiti removal and art restoration
Every recommendation is based on laboratory analyses of customer samples. As a technology-neutral provider, TeSe also checks whether another process is a better fit for your application.
Test the process at TeSe
Trial laser cleaning on your own parts: 1–2 hours of testing free of charge; in-depth feasibility studies: CHF 1’200 per day, 50% credited towards a machine purchase.
Documents & videos for this process
Videos
Technology Partner · FEMTA