For those who want the ultimate in paint removal, I just found this on The
National Defence Council site http://www.ndcee.ctc.com
Description
The use of lasers to selectively remove layers of paints and other organic
coatings is a new technology with many military and industrial applications.
It has long been known that paints can be ablated from many surfaces.
Examination of the walls of college laser labs confirms this observation.
However, rapid removal of paints at 2 or more square feet per minute without
damage to the substrate is a required feature of a useful system. In
addition, environmental controls to remove ablated paints and robotic
systems to automate the process are needed for practical, cost effective
systems.
The NDCEE offers the use of a fully automated, high power Laser Work Cell. A
13 Joule pulsed CO2 laser with highly efficient beam delivery system is the
major component of this Work Cell. A fully articulated Fanuc 420 Robot with
rotary table allows a work envelope 6 feet wide and 8 feet tall with a 4
foot depth. Broad flat surfaces or intricate curved pieces may be treated
using a scanning mirror and the robotics.
This system quickly removes all colors and types of paints including white
powder coated layers. It is usable on metal substrates and on delicate
composites. As an example, helicopter blades have been stripped of the top
coating stopping at the primer. The measured temperature of the composite
substrate does not exceed 1400F.
Preliminary coating removal rates are in excess of 2 square feet per minute
with very uniform cleaning. The Laser Work Cell is fully instrumented with
monitoring of all utilities. Laser process sizing, testing, and system
development are quickly and easily accomplished using the NDCEE Laser Work
Cell.
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