Excellent
98°C+152°C
Todd DunningMAUnited States
Optical Materials for Laser SystemsIridium Laser Cleaning Settings
I've found that laser cleaning Iridium stands apart from other precious metals like platinum, which yield more easily to standard pulses. Its extreme density and hardness demand a more controlled approach, so this works best when you begin with reduced power to prevent surface scattering. Unlike those softer counterparts, Iridium's low thermal expansion keeps it stable under heat, allowing multiple passes without warping, but watch for its high reflectivity in the middle of the process—it can bounce energy away and leave residues if you ramp up too quickly. Adjust by tightening the focus and slowing the scan to expose contaminants fully while restoring the underlying shine. This reduces the risk of incomplete removal and preserves the material's corrosion resistance for applications in aerospace or jewelry.
Iridium Machine Settings
Power Range
45
W
1
45
120
Wavelength
1,064
nm
355
1,064
1.1e4
Spot Size
50
μm
0.1
50
500
Repetition Rate
50
kHz
1
50
200
Fluence Threshold
2.5
J/cm²
0.3
2.5
4.5
Pulse Width
8
ns
0.1
8
1,000
Scan Speed
500
mm/s
10
500
5,000
Pass Count
3
passes
1
3
10
Overlap Ratio
50
%
10
50
90
Iridium Material Safety
Shows damage risk across parameter space. Green = safe, Red = damage danger.
Pulse
DANGER
Fluence:45.84 J/cm²
From optimal:58%
Pulse Duration (ns)
1000
750
500
250
0
1
21
41
61
80
100
120
Iridium Energy Coupling
Shows laser energy transfer efficiency. Green = high coupling (energy absorbed), Red = poor coupling (energy reflected).
Pulse
SUBOPTIMAL
Fluence:— J/cm²
From optimal:54%
Pulse Duration (ns)
1000
750
500
250
0
1
21
41
61
80
100
120
Iridium Thermal Stress Risk
Shows thermal stress and distortion risk. Green = low stress risk, Red = high stress/warping/cracking risk.
Pulse
MODERATE
Fluence:— J/cm²
From optimal:42%
Pulse Duration (ns)
1000
750
500
250
0
1
21
41
61
80
100
120
Iridium Cleaning Efficiency
Shows cleaning performance across parameter space. Green = optimal effectiveness, Red = ineffective.
Pulse
MODERATE
Fluence:45.84 J/cm²
From optimal:38%
Pulse Duration (ns)
1000
750
500
250
0
1
21
41
61
80
100
120
Iridium Heat Buildup
See if your multi-pass cleaning will overheat and damage the material
Heat Safety
100%40%
Heat Control
81%25%
Cooling Efficiency
83%20%
Pass Optimization
100%15%
📈 Heat Profile
Safe (<150°C)
Damage (>250°C)
🔧 Laser Settings
Pulse Energy:900.00 mJ
Total Sim Time:90.6s
🌡️ Live Temperature
20°C
✅ Safe
Pass 1 of 3
Time: 0.0s / 90.6s
▶️ Simulation Controls
Diagnostic & Prevention Center
Proactive strategies and reactive solutions for iridium
🌡️thermal management
Heat accumulation
Impact: Excessive heat can damage substrate or alter material properties
Solutions:
- ✓Reduce repetition rate
- ✓Increase scan speed
- ✓Add cooling time between passes
Prevention: Monitor surface temperature and adjust parameters accordingly
🔍surface characteristics
Variable surface roughness
Impact: Inconsistent cleaning results across different surface textures
Solutions:
- ✓Adjust energy density based on surface condition
- ✓Use multiple passes with progressive settings
- ✓Pre-characterize surface before cleaning
Prevention: Standardize surface preparation procedures
Iridium Dataset Download
Parameter Relationships
Shows how changing one parameter physically affects others. Click any node to see its downstream impacts and role.
Power Range
Amplifies damage risk in Pulse Width. Keep low to maintain safety margins.
Spot Size
Same power in a smaller spot creates much higher energy density.
Pulse Width
More power means higher peak intensity. Too much can damage the material.
Pass Count
Using more passes means you can use lower power and still get the job done.
