Laser rust removers primarily utilize continuous fiber lasers, which can transmit laser energy through fiber optic cables. Typically, these machines come with a default 10-meter fiber optic cable. So, can it be made 100 meters long?
Theoretically, yes, but practically, no, mainly due to two reasons:
Firstly, transmission loss. Fiber optic cable transmission incurs a certain loss rate, which increases with the length of the cable. A 10-meter fiber optic cable typically has a loss rate of around 5%, while a 20-meter cable may have a loss rate of approximately 12%. If the fiber optic cable were 100 meters long, the loss rate would increase exponentially. This means that if the laser power is 100W, up to 90% of the energy might be lost by the time it reaches the gun head. If such a high loss rate is acceptable, then it might be feasible.
Secondly, cost. Taking a well-known domestic laser company as an example, adding one meter to the fiber optic cable costs 2,000 yuan. If 30 meters are added, the cost of the fiber optic cable alone increases by 60,000 yuan, making the overall machine prohibitively expensive. Although some laser companies charge less, with an increase of a few hundred yuan per meter for the fiber optic cable, as the cable length increases, additional components such as air and water pipes also need to be extended, requiring stronger air and water pumps. In summary, fiber optic cables between 10-20 meters offer the best performance and cost-effectiveness.
What about pulsed fiber lasers? Can they use longer fiber optic cables? Both continuous and pulsed fiber lasers operate at a wavelength of 1064nm and can transmit laser energy through fiber optic cables for rust removal. However, pulsed fiber lasers are significantly more expensive, making continuous fiber lasers the more cost-effective choice. Additionally, pulsed fiber lasers do not offer an advantage in terms of longer fiber optic cable lengths; their transmission efficiency is similar to that of continuous fiber lasers, with typical cable lengths ranging from 5-10 meters. Nevertheless, pulsed laser rust removers are much lighter and more portable. A 100W machine may be as small as a backpack and weigh around ten kilograms, allowing it to be carried like a backpack for high-altitude operations and convenient construction, despite the limited length of the fiber optic cable. It is important to emphasize that pulsed fiber lasers of the same power are much more expensive than continuous fiber lasers. Therefore, continuous fiber laser rust removers offer higher cost-effectiveness and work efficiency. Except for special scenarios, continuous fiber laser rust removers are used for large-area rust removal.
