How to Choose a Pulse Laser Cleaning Machine
Five decisions, in order, each with an if-then table. Finish with a quick selector and a list of what to send us.
Most wrong purchases come from picking the biggest number first. Start from the job instead: what layer, what base material, where the work happens, and how many hours per shift. The five steps below follow that order.
Step 1: Start with power, and size it to your workload
Power sets how fast you clean, not whether you can clean. Match it to the volume of work, not to the toughest job you will ever see.
| If your work is… | Choose… |
|---|---|
| Precision parts, thin layers, non-metals | 100-300 W |
| Routine rust and paint, daily output | 300-500 W |
| Heavy layers, large areas, full shifts | 1000-2000 W |
Step 2: Match pulse width and pulse energy to the substrate
Every model uses a MOPA pulsed fibre source with pulse width adjustable across 2-500 ns, so the question is how to use it. The base material decides.
| If the base is… | Choose… |
|---|---|
| Thin or heat-sensitive | Short pulses, moderate energy, so heat stays out of the base |
| Thick oxide or heavy rust | High single-pulse energy, so it breaks through in fewer passes |
| A layer you must keep (primer, plating) | Short pulse, low energy, tested on an offcut |
Step 3: Air cooling or water cooling
Cooling follows duty cycle and ambient conditions.
| If your work is… | Choose… |
|---|---|
| Intermittent or mobile | Air cooling: nothing to fill, drain or protect from freezing |
| Continuous shifts, hot ambient, sustained high power | Water cooling, as on the 300-2000 W high-power model |
Step 4: Choose the format by working radius
Start with where the work happens. If parts can be brought to the machine, any form factor will do, so choose on power and price. If the machine has to go to the part, think about how you will move it.
| If the machine has to… | Choose… |
|---|---|
| Reach scaffolding and tight access | Backpack unit |
| Travel in a service van across several sites | Carry-case unit |
| Roll between workstations in one plant | Trolley unit (suitcase or mobile type) |
Step 5: Pulsed or continuous wave
Pulsed lasers deliver energy in short bursts, so the base metal has little time to heat up. Continuous wave removes material faster and costs less per watt, but puts more heat into the substrate.
| If your job is… | Choose… |
|---|---|
| Thin sheet, precision parts, mould surfaces | Pulsed |
| Remove paint but keep primer or anodised layer | Pulsed |
| Thick rust or heavy coatings on bridges, tanks, hulls that will be recoated or blasted afterwards, with some substrate heat acceptable | Continuous wave can be considered |
Quick selector
A starting point only. The sample test confirms it. Power classes follow the guidance above.
| Job | Power class | Suggested format |
|---|---|---|
| Precision small parts, non-metals, first machine | 100-300 W | Backpack or 6-in-1 unit |
| Thin layers, portable site work | 100-300 W | Backpack or carry case |
| Graffiti on timber or delicate finishes | Lower-power portable | Carry case or backpack |
| Routine rust and paint, daily output | 300-500 W | Carry case, suitcase or trolley |
| Heavy layers, continuous shifts, large areas | 1000-2000 W | High-power water-cooled unit |
What to send us
The more of this you can send, the closer the first recommendation will be.
- Base material and thickness
- The layer to remove, and its approximate thickness
- What must stay intact
- Photos or an offcut of the real part
- Where the work happens, and how the machine will be moved
- Hours per shift and shifts per day
- Destination country, for delivery planning
Get a recommendation for your job
Share the checklist above and we will suggest a power class, a format and a sample test.