What is Laser Rust Removal & How Does It Work?

Damage-Free Removal

Laser rust removal does not damage the external surface of a part to remove the rust. Instead, the laser cleaner uses focused light to evaporate rust without altering the structural integrity of the part.

Environmentally Friendly

Laser rust removal is environmentally friendly because it requires no extra additives, excessive waste, or chemical use. Using a laser cleaner does not produce any environmental waste because the material disintegrates by evaporation.

Alternatives to laser rust removal include shot blasting, DIY methods, sanding, grinding, or using rust-removing chemical combinations. The chemicals and materials are eventually disposed of and add to the growing waste that harms the environment.

Focused Removal

Applying a laser to remove rust is a detailed method that allows targeted treatment of rusted areas without altering the surrounding area. Especially with KEYENCE's 3-Axis design that includes a 3-axis lens with a built-in camera that tracks deviation, the laser removes rust without any edge distortion that conventional F-theta lenses produce.

Focused removal is particularly useful for parts with curved edges, small corners, and hard-to-reach rust. The laser will stay in focus to remove rust precisely, even on non-traditional geometries.

No Manual Labor

Laser rust removal with a laser cleaner happens in seconds or minutes, depending on the size of the area, and hardly requires more than a simple machine setup and part placement. It doesn't require any special rust removal knowledge or labor-intensive work.

Alternatively, you may have experienced many other rust removal options that require plenty of manual labor. From wire brushes, sanding, grinding, and outsourcing rust removal companies, these options require extensive manual labor that is costly in both time and money.

Size Limited

Laser cleaners are versatile and can be used in industries that work with big parts, but there is a limit to the area that laser cleaning can remove rust from. A laser cleaner uses a stage as the base for focusing on rust removal, so the part needs to be able to fit on the stage somehow.

Variations of Lasers

Not all laser machines are created equal and require research before purchasing. For instance, when cleaning rust off of a large area, maybe you don't need to be as picky with your laser cleaners' specific camera or axel function. But if the rust is distinct to one area on a part, then doing extra research into the axel and camera functions of a laser cleaner is essential.

Surgical Scissors

Surgical scissors have curved edges, thin pieces, and hidden corners. Not only that, but these tools are constantly being washed- a sure way to speed up the rusting process. With the thin beam and precise laser of a laser cleaner, rust removal is easily achieved for scissors to keep up with regulatory standards.

Stainless Steel Power Cables

Using laser rust removal on a power cable is an optimal choice because it does not affect the electric flow or damage the outside material. Using sanding or drilling on a power cable may result in a defective product that must be discarded or be dangerous to the handler because of exposed wires.

Instead of having to discard a power cable when it rusts, using a laser cleaner is gentler and allows for continued use of a power cable.

Any industry that uses metal parts made from iron can benefit from laser cleaning. Some examples may include:

• Automobile
• Aerospace
• Defense / Military
• Medical Devices
• Semiconductor