Ablation vs. Media Blasting

Media blasting is the process by which an abrasive media is accelerated through a blasting nozzle by means of compressed air. This media has a wide range of materials from glass beads, walnut shells, steel shot to plastic.

Laser ablation or photoablation is the process of removing material from a solid (or occasionally liquid) surface by irradiating it with a laser beam. At low laser flux, the material is heated by the absorbed laser energy and evaporates or sublimates. At high laser flux, the material is typically converted to a plasma.

Comparison

Disadvantages to Media Blasting

PPE Safety Concerns

Extensive Protective suits

Lots of hearing protection

Environmental Concerns

Hard to collect all media unless in a cabinet

Collected media needs to be treated as hazardous material at time ($$$)

Not an endless supply of media

Damage to substrate

Expensive

External Air Compressor

Hoses to trip over

Media to slip on

Advantages to Media Blasting

Clean large areas easily

Media is easy to obtain at the moment

Industry acceptance

Disadvantages to Laser Ablation

Not applicable to every application

Not well known in the industry

Advantages of Laser Ablation

Non-Destructive to substrate

Low maintenance costs

Little Cleanup

Little PPE (glasses)

Low operating costs

No chemicals to harm environment

No abrasive components

Runs off a standard 120-volt outlet