Power (W)

What it is:
The average laser output power delivered to the surface.

What it affects:

• Cleaning strength
• Removal depth and speed

General behavior:

• Higher power = more aggressive removal
• Lower power = gentler cleaning

Typical ranges:

• Light paint / oxide: 400–800 W
• Automotive paint: 600–900 W
• Heavy rust / coatings: 1000–2000 W

Power should always be balanced with scan speed and frequency.

Frequency (Hz)

What it is:
How many times per second the laser beam is electronically switched ON and OFF.

On CW laser cleaners, this is beam modulation, not true pulse generation.

What it affects:

• Energy concentration
• Heat distribution

General behavior:

• 1000–2000 Hz: stronger, more aggressive stripping
• 3000–5000 Hz: smoother cleaning and better heat control

Frequency is limited by design to protect optics and reduce surface overheating.

Scan Speed (mm/s)

What it is:
The speed at which the laser beam moves back and forth inside the scan area using galvo mirrors.

Scan speed is not the operator’s hand movement speed.

What it affects:

• Heat input per point
• Cleaning aggressiveness

General behavior:

• Higher scan speed: cooler surface, safer for thin metals
• Lower scan speed: faster removal per pass, higher heat risk

Typical range:
1200–2000 mm/s for automotive and thin materials.

Scan Width (mm)

What it is:
The width of the laser cleaning band.

What it affects:

• Coverage area
• Heat distribution

General behavior:

• Narrow width = concentrated energy
• Wider width = cooler, more even cleaning

Typical range:
6–10 mm.

Scan Length (mm)

What it is:
The length of each scan line before the beam reverses direction.

What it affects:

• Heat buildup
• Cleaning consistency

General behavior:

• Shorter scan length = better heat control
• Longer scan length = faster coverage with more heat

Typical range:
40–80 mm for thin metal surfaces.

Overlap (Automatic)

What it is:
The percentage by which each scan line overlaps the previous one.

Most laser cleaning machines do not show overlap as a manual setting.
It is calculated automatically based on scan width, scan speed, and internal scan parameters.

Why it matters:

• Prevents striping
• Ensures even cleaning
• Improves surface finish

Effective overlap is typically 50–70%.

Para Number (Parameter Number)

What it is:
A saved preset that stores a complete group of settings.

Each Para Number can store:

• Power
• Frequency
• Scan speed
• Scan width
• Scan length

Why it’s useful:

• Fast setup
• Consistent results
• Reduced operator error

Example uses:

• Para 01 – Automotive paint removal
• Para 02 – Rust removal
• Para 03 – Oxide cleaning

CW vs Pulsed Operation

Many laser cleaning machines are described as “continuous” but still include frequency control.

What this means:

• The laser source is continuous-wave (CW)
• The output is electronically modulated (gated)
• This creates controlled energy bursts similar to pulsed behavior

This design improves safety, lowers cost, and reduces heat buildup compared to pure CW operation.

Best Practices

• Use higher scan speed with multiple passes
• Keep the laser in constant motion
• Avoid stopping in one spot
• Allow cooling time between passes
• Always test on a hidden or scrap area first

Effective laser cleaning relies on controlled energy delivery, not maximum power.

Disclaimer

Laser settings vary depending on material type, coating thickness, and surface condition. Always perform test passes and use proper laser safety equipment.