Introduction:
Research on laser cleaning technology started in the mid-1980s. It was not until the early 1990s that it truly entered industrial production. It has achieved good results in mold cleaning, material surface treatment, paint and rust removal of large equipment precision machinery, etc. The core of the development of laser cleaning is the replacement of traditional cleaning processes. The key point is to address the shortcomings of traditional processes and use the advantages of laser to provide more efficient and cost-effective solutions. So how much does a laser cleaning machine cost? This article will conduct a detailed discussion.
How much does a laser cleaning machine cost?
There are two main types of laser cleaning machines. They are pulsed and continuous laser cleaning machines. The power is different and the price is also different. Here is an approximate price range.
Continuous laser cleaning machine:
100W – 5300USD
200W – 8100USD
300W – 13000USD
500W – 28000USD
Pulse laser cleaning machine:
1000W – 3400USD
1500W – 3700USD
2000W – 5300USD
3000W – 8200USD
Generally speaking, the price of a laser cleaner depends mainly on the operation and application rather than the quality of the laser cleaning. The price of purchasing a laser cleaning machine ranges from 3,000 to 8,000 USD. When the cost-effectiveness of laser cleaning machines increases, their sales volume will inevitably increase. The market will gradually increase, and people’s awareness and acceptance of laser cleaning will also gradually increase
Will laser cleaners drop shortly?
We do not expect the price of laser cleaners to drop shortly. Laser cleaning is a highly specialized market. And general market supply and demand laws are unlikely to apply to this industry.
What is laser maintenance like? How often is it needed? How much does it cost？
This low-power system is rugged, air-cooled, and easy to maintain. For low power lasers, the optics need to be cleaned daily. Under contract, our team can also inspect, maintain, and measure the laser’s internal components annually to ensure lifetime cleaning capabilities. Laser cleaning machines require no special maintenance. Only the lenses need to be replaced every three months. The maintenance fee is around 50USD.
Medium and high power lasers are water cooled systems. While these lasers also require the same daily optical maintenance, each laser has additional requirements when it comes to maintenance.
Classification of Laser Cleaning Machines
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Continuous Laser Cleaning Machine
Laser type: Continuous fiber laser (1KW/1.5KW/2KW/3KW optional)
Working principle:
The laser is emitted by the laser and transmitted to the cleaning gun through the optical fiber. Through refraction and focusing, it forms a high-energy beam required for cleaning, which is irradiated onto the surface of the workpiece to produce rapidly expanding ions, instantaneous high-temperature expansion, evaporation, gasification, and stripping.
Main uses:
Rust removal, oil removal, paint removal, coating removal, oxide layer removal, surface texturing, pre- and post-welding cleaning, local quenching, etc.
Laser type: Pulse laser (100W/200W/300W/500W optional)
Working principle:
The pulsed light is emitted by the laser and transmitted to the cleaning gun through the optical fiber. Through refraction and focusing, the beam is irradiated onto the surface of the material to produce rapidly expanding ions, instantaneous high-temperature expansion, vibration, evaporation, and gasification peeling. The laser emitted by the pulse laser is a flat-top light source. So the cleaning process does not damage the substrate and does not change the physical size of the cleaning surface. This is more suitable for precise cleaning operations.
Main uses:
Cleaning the vulcanized layer of rubber molds, rust removal, oil removal, coating removal, oxidation layer removal, pre- and post-welding cleaning of metal surfaces, etc.
Advantages of Laser Cleaning Machine
Laser cleaning has obvious advantages compared with traditional mechanical cleaning methods.
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More environmentally friendly
There is no need to use any chemicals and cleaning fluids. The generated pollutant particles and gases can be collected and purified through portable exhaust fans.
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No damage
The laser adopts non-abrasive and non-contact cleaning methods. Short-term impact will not heat the metal surface and will not damage the base material.
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Low cost
There is no consumption of consumables during the use of the laser cleaning machine, and the operating cost is low. In the later stage, the lenses only need to be cleaned or replaced regularly, and it is nearly maintenance-free.
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Easy to clean
The built-in scanning galvanometer controls the light spot to move at high speed, making it easy to clean special-shaped parts, holes, grooves, and other corners. These are difficult to reach with traditional cleaning methods.
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Wide range of materials
Laser cleaning can remove almost all types of contaminants on the surface of various materials. It can reach a level of cleanliness that cannot be achieved by conventional cleaning.
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Automation
By integrating with CNC machine tools or robots, remote control and cleaning can be implemented. It can realize the automation of equipment, forming product assembly line operations, and intelligent operations.