Mold Cleaning Made Easy: The Benefits of Laser Cleaning and Maintenance
Cleaning intricate molds can be a tricky business. The goal is to remove all grime and build-up without damaging the mold’s surface texture or form. Traditional methods like soft plastic media blasting and dry ice blasting apply force, which can lead to wear and tear on your molds, ultimately shortening their lifespan. In contrast, laser cleaning offers a more delicate approach. It uses a short-pulsed laser beam penetrating the contamination but reflecting off the mold’s surface. This reflection means no heating or wear on the mold. The laser evaporates some of the pollution, and any remaining residue can be easily vacuumed away.
No Disassembly Needed
One of the biggest advantages of laser cleaning is that you don’t need to disassemble your molds. With other cleaning methods, disassembly is often necessary, and the dirt and debris can spread throughout the environment. Laser cleaning, on the other hand, contains the mess within a few centimeters, keeping your workspace clean without needing extensive protective shielding.
Perfect for Complex Shapes and Sensitive Sectors
Laser cleaning is ideal for molds with intricate shapes, such as waffle irons, dough molds, and baking molds with special coatings. It effectively removes both pollution and release coatings, making reapplication a breeze. This method is also suitable for molds in the pharmaceutical sector, as it reaches into the tiniest corners without causing wear and ensures all bacterial contamination is eliminated without spreading dirt around. Additionally, since no airflows are created, there’s no risk of introducing external contamination.
Quick and Efficient for Injection Molds
Injection molds benefit greatly from laser cleaning. There’s no need to disassemble the molds; they can be cleaned on-site in just a few minutes. The laser light reflects off the mold surface but is absorbed by the contamination, causing it to detach and allowing for easy removal.
Manual or Automatic: Your Choice
For occasional mold cleaning, manual cleaning by LSG's service team is an option. If you need regular cleaning, investing in your own laser cleaning machine could be more cost-effective. For larger operations, such as waffle ovens, LSG offers mobile robot cleaners that can be programmed to clean your molds. For continuous, high-volume needs, a fixed laser cleaning installation in your production line might be the best solution.
