Innovation project
Aluminum die-casting molds are cleaned with a laser
With the help of a grant from the European Regional Development Fund, we have invested in an innovative and efficient process: surface treatment and cleaning with lasers. In addition to many other advantages, CO² emissions are significantly reduced.
Hofeditz Industriedienstleistungen GmbH carries out cleaning work on aluminum die casting molds, among other things. The aluminum die casting molds are required, for example, for the production of various components for the automotive industry. Up until now, the aluminum die-casting molds have been cleaned after disassembly and cooling of the die-casting molds away from the die-casting machine. Due to the high unit weight and the necessary cooling and heating processes, long set-up times, complex handling and special, mostly abrasive cleaning technologies are required. To date, various jet (e.g. sand blasting, dry ice blasting) or chemical processes have been used to clean aluminum die casting molds. When using these often abrasive processes, the surface of the tools is damaged, reducing the service life of the tool.
As part of the measure now being funded by the European Fund for Regional Development, the methods described and previously used are being replaced by a cleaning method using laser light. The project is assigned to the goal of improving energy and resource efficiency. In this process, the laser beam applies a high amount of energy to the surface to be removed, causing it to vaporize. The powerful, very short laser pulses cause only very small thermal effects on the base material. The base metal of the die reflects the laser beams, stopping the ablation process. This means that cleaning is gentle and wear-free. Significant advantages are achieved in terms of mold life, availability and an increase in the number of pieces. The advantages of laser cleaning also allow it to be used in the area of cleaning industrial and historical surfaces, where dirt and top layers are only removed with the help of bundled light. This laser technology saves large amounts of chemicals and other resources.
