Pulsed vs Continuous-Wave Laser Cleaning

Choose from the surface result and heat tolerance

Pulsed and continuous-wave laser cleaners deliver energy differently. The correct process depends on contaminant, substrate, thickness, heat sensitivity, required roughness, accepted discoloration, area, production rate and budget.

Pulsed cleaning

• Often selected for controlled heat input, precision cleaning, sensitive substrates and applications where preserving the base surface is important.
• Performance depends on pulse energy, frequency, pulse width, spot, scan pattern, overlap and accepted result.
• Higher purchase cost can be justified by the application rather than raw average power.

Continuous-wave cleaning

• Often selected for higher average-power removal of approved rust, paint, oxide or residue over larger areas.
• Can transfer more heat into the substrate and must be validated for temperature, color, roughness and distortion limits.
• Cleaning rate claims are meaningful only at the accepted finish.

Sample-test both when the result matters

Use the actual contaminant and substrate. Record passes, power, scan width, speed, standoff, surface temperature, finish, rate, fumes and waste. Unknown coatings require SDS and hazard review.

Request pulsed vs CW sample testing.