Definition, Key Factors, and Application Scenarios
When evaluating a pulsed laser cleaning machine, many buyers focus on power (W) or pulse width (ns), but overlook another equally critical parameter: cleaning area.
The cleaning area directly affects cleaning efficiency, application suitability, and real-world performance. Misunderstanding this parameter often leads to unrealistic expectations or misleading comparisons between machines.
1. What Is the “Cleaning Area” of a Pulsed Laser Cleaning Machine?
Cleaning Area (also called Cleaning Width or Scan Field) refers to:
The maximum surface area that the laser can cover on the workpiece during a single scanning cycle through the scanning system
It is usually expressed in:
- mm × mm, for example:
- 100 × 100 mm
- 200 × 200 mm
- 300 × 300 mm
Manufacturers may describe it as:
- Max Cleaning Area
- Scanning Area
- Cleaning Width
👉 In simple terms:
How large an area the laser can “scan and clean” in one pass
An intuitive way to understand cleaning area 👇
- Small cleaning area → like using a thin brush, cleaning slowly and precisely
- Large cleaning area → like using a wide paint roller, covering a large surface quickly
2. Cleaning Area ≠ Laser Spot Size (A Common Mistake)
⚠️ This is a point that over 90% of beginners misunderstand.
| Item | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Laser spot size | The diameter of a single laser spot (e.g. 0.1–1 mm) |
| Cleaning area | The total area covered after laser scanning |
👉
Cleaning area = laser spot + scanning motion
The laser spot is only one point; the cleaning area is the result of continuous scanning across the surface.
3. What Determines the Cleaning Area? (Key Answer)
Cleaning area is not a single parameter.
It is determined by a complete optical and motion system working together.
The following five key factors define the achievable cleaning area:
3.1 Galvanometer Scanning System (Most Critical)
The galvanometer scanner is the core component that determines how far the laser can scan.
Key factors include:
- Maximum deflection angle
- Scanning accuracy
- Linearity
These directly determine:
👉 How far the laser beam can reach on the surface
Examples:
- Standard scanner: ~100 × 100 mm
- Large-angle industrial scanner: up to ~300 × 300 mm
3.2 F-Theta Lens (Scan Lens / Field Lens)
The F-theta lens converts scanning angles into linear scanning distances.
Different focal lengths result in different cleaning areas.
| F-theta Lens Focal Length | Typical Cleaning Area |
|---|---|
| 160 mm | ~110 × 110 mm |
| 210 mm | ~150 × 150 mm |
| 254 mm | ~200 × 200 mm |
| 330 mm | ~300 × 300 mm |
👉 Larger focal length = larger cleaning area,
but the laser spot size also increases.
3.3 Working Distance (Distance to the Workpiece)
- Greater distance between laser head and surface
- Same scan angle → larger covered area
⚠️ However, this also causes:
- Lower energy density
- Reduced cleaning capability
👉 A larger cleaning area is not always better.
3.4 Laser Power & Single-Pulse Energy (Indirect but Critical)
This is something many salespeople avoid mentioning, but engineers know well:
The larger the cleaning area, the less energy is distributed per unit area
If:
- Laser power is low
- Cleaning area is very large
The result is:
❌ The laser appears to “scan wide,” but cleaning is ineffective
👉 Only high-power pulsed laser cleaners can maintain effective cleaning at large scan fields
3.5 Scanning Strategy & Software Settings
Even on the same machine, the effective cleaning area depends on:
- Line spacing
- Scanning speed
- Overlap rate
👉
A nominal 300 × 300 mm scan field
≠ effective cleaning for every material and application
4. Typical Applications for Different Cleaning Areas
| Cleaning Area | Typical Applications |
|---|---|
| 50–100 mm | Precision parts, molds, cultural heritage |
| 100–150 mm | General industrial rust removal |
| 200–300 mm | Steel structures, shipbuilding, large components |
| Larger | Usually combined with robotic arms or XY motion systems |
5. Why Is Cleaning Area Easily Misused in Marketing?
❌ Common misleading practices
- Only stating 300 × 300 mm
- Without specifying:
- Which F-theta lens is used
- At what laser power
- Whether the cleaning is actually effective
✅ Professional and reliable description
Max Cleaning Area: 300 × 300 mm (with 330 mm F-theta lens, at ≥200W pulsed power)
👉 This type of description reflects engineering-level credibility, not marketing exaggeration.
6. Standard Definition for Cleaning Area
Cleaning Area (Scan Field) refers to the maximum surface area that the laser beam can cover through galvanometer scanning during one cleaning cycle. It is mainly determined by the scanner system, F-theta lens focal length, working distance, and available laser power. A larger cleaning area improves efficiency on large surfaces but requires sufficient pulse energy to maintain effective cleaning performance.
7. Summary
The cleaning area is not determined by laser spot size alone. It is the effective scan field jointly defined by the galvanometer scanner, F-theta lens, and available laser energy. The larger the cleaning area, the higher the requirement for laser power and system configuration.
