Evaluate removal of powder coat, epoxy, e-coat, and other industrial coatings without introducing blast media or chemical stripper. Laser parameters can affect the substrate and surface profile, so coating, material, thickness, geometry, finish criteria, and a test area determine the process. Readiness for coating or inspection is confirmed against the applicable specification.
Powder coat, epoxy, and e-coat bond hard to metal. Sandblasting strips them but erodes the base metal, changes tolerances, and embeds media in the surface. On machined parts and thin sheet, that dimensional loss fails inspection.
Chemical strippers soften coatings but generate hazardous liquid waste, require long dwell times, and leave residue that ruins adhesion of the next coating. Disposal manifests and VOC exposure add cost and liability.
Multi-layer coatings hide corrosion, weld defects, and cracks. Inspectors need a clean substrate to certify the part. Slow manual stripping delays the line and inflates labor cost.
Strip one coating layer at a time or go straight to bare metal. Pulse parameters control depth to the micron for failure analysis and inspection prep.
Laser parameters are selected to remove the coating while limiting effects on the base material. Pitting, erosion, heat response, surface profile, and dimensional tolerance depend on the coating, substrate, geometry, prior condition, and settings. Machined or thin-gauge parts require a test area and the inspection or measurement specified by the customer.
The laser process adds no chemical stripper or abrasive media. Removed coating and captured particulate are collected through source capture and filtration, then characterized and handled according to the actual material and project rules.
Our pulsed fiber laser tunes to the coating absorption layer and ablates it in nanosecond bursts. The coating vaporizes into dust captured by HEPA filtration. When parameters are properly matched to the coating and substrate, dimensional impact can be minimized and verified against the project specification.
We set pulse frequency, power, and scan speed per coating type and thickness. A single layer of e-coat strips at a different rate than four layers of industrial epoxy. We strip selectively, one layer at a time when failure analysis requires it.
The processed surface is dry because the laser step adds no rinse water, but particulate, staining, shadowing, oxide, or other residue may remain depending on the material and settings. The surface is inspected and any follow-on preparation required by the coating, welding, bonding, or NDT specification is completed before acceptance.
For coating buildup on hooks, hangers, rack contacts and fixtures, see paint-line tooling cleaning. A trial can establish whether localized cleaning or broader stripping is practical for the actual coating thickness and tooling geometry.
Recurring batches can be planned through Maintenance Contracts. Where coating removal exposes an area for examination, use the NDT surface preparation service to define the inspector’s preparation and handoff requirements.
For laser work-area planning, see OSHA laser hazard standards. Review site conditions and the agreed controls before scheduling.
We evaluate powder coat, epoxy, e-coat, urethane, primer, and other industrial or architectural coatings on compatible substrates. Removal rate and finish depend on coating chemistry, thickness, color, substrate, geometry, and laser settings. A test area is used when the surface response is uncertain.
No. The pulsed laser deposits energy in nanosecond bursts that ablate the coating before heat conducts into the base metal. Heat input stays low, so thin sheet and machined parts keep their shape and tolerance.
Yes. The surface is bare, dry, and free of media and chemical residue, which is the cleanest starting point for coating adhesion. No rinse or dry time is required before the next coat.