Development history of laser cleaning machine

1960s-1970s: Conceptual Emergence

• With the development of the first ruby ​​laser in 1960, scientists immediately proposed the concept of "photon ablation."

• In 1965, Hughes Laboratory first used a Q-switched laser to remove oxide layers from metal surfaces, demonstrating feasibility, but the equipment was bulky and inefficient.

1980s-1990s: Military industry drives the transition from laboratory to engineering

• In 1985, the US Air Force used a 1 kW continuous CO₂ laser to remove paint from an F-16 fuselage, achieving the first "online" cleaning without disassembling components.

• In 1989, RWTH Aachen in Germany proposed a "dry laser cleaning" model and established the ablation threshold theory.

• In 1992, CLFA (Laser Industry) in France launched the first commercial 500 W pulsed Nd:YAG laser cleaning machine, specifically for aircraft engine blade depainting.

2000s-2010s: Power Increase and Multi-Wavelength Parallel Operation

• In 2003, fiber lasers surpassed 100W pulse output, reducing size by 80% and cost by 50%, ushering in industrial mass production.

• In 2006, the EU "CleanLaser" project applied 1064nm + 532nm dual-wavelength composite technology to the restoration of stone artifacts, achieving "selective pigment removal."

• In 2009, China's first 200W pulsed fiber laser cleaning machine was delivered to the 703rd Institute of Aerospace Engineering for degreasing Long March rocket fuel tanks.

2010s-2020s: Domestication, Intelligentization, and Green Development

• In 2012, IPG launched a 1kW single-mode pulsed fiber laser, surpassing traditional dry ice blasting in cleaning efficiency for the first time. • In 2015, China's "863" program supported a 2 kW MOPA fiber optic cleaning system, with specifications: rust removal rate of 12 m²/h and substrate temperature rise of <40°C.

• In 2018, Trumpf and TRUMPF China released a handheld 1 kW laser gun, weighing 7 kg and enabling single-person operation.

• In 2020, the pandemic spurred demand for medical-grade laser cleaning, including residue-free sterilization of stainless steel components in ventilators.