Cleaning of Moulds and Tools

The SLCR Laser Process offers a real alternative for numerous tasks in surface treatment:

• wear-free with consistent cleaning quality
• no after treatment
• the first part can be used directly after the cleaning
• cleaning of the hot mould
• exact reproducible quality
• environment friendly
• lower disposal costs

The process uses radiation of a short-pulse SLCR-TEA-CO₂ Laser for the controlled cleaning. The pulse energy is absorbed within the organic layers, such as dirt and grease etc.,causing this layer to evaporate within a few microseconds. However, the metal surfaces remain untouched. The process creates negligible heating of the substrate due to the extremely short timescale of the evaporation and provides a wear-free application for metal surfaces. Combined with a simultaneous scanning of the beam across the working area, it is possible to treat large or complicated surfaces of moulds, for example cavities or undercuts. The evaporated layers decompose into non-toxic gaseous and some solid compounds which can be drawn off and filtered.

Chemicals or other materials are used neither for the preparation nor for the touch up of the surfaces. Compared to conventional cleaning processes, the amount of waste can be reduced tremendously and eliminates the problem of its disposal.  

This is another distinct process criterion: its environmental friendliness and thus also its potential for the reduction of the waste disposal costs.

References

The SLCR process is integrated in several production processes, e.g. in the automobile industry. The process provides the ability of an exact wear-free cleaning without auxiliaries.

Process

• Cleaning of casting tools
• Cleaning of moulds

Prinziple of the process and layout

Due to the modular layout of the SLCR Laser systems the process can be used either as an independent operating system or it can be integrated into production lines.

The system comprises of a SLCR Laser, scanning optics, filter and system control. Working cabin, mechanics or piece handling, cooling and filtration system will sum up to a complete turnkey system.