Click here to change sales region

How To Clean Laser OPtics

We do not only provide the service to clean your laser optics but also show you how to do it by yourself.

19.01.2024

Optics | How to Clean Laser Optics

At high laser powers, even the smallest contamination can cause the laser beam to destroy the coating and thus the optics. At LASER COMPONENTS we therefore follow strict rules when cleaning. This is the only way we can ensure the high quality of our optics.

6 Steps to Clean Laser optics

Cleanliness is essential

1. Wear Gloves

Always wear gloves when handling laser optics!

Fingerprint residue cannot be completely removed even after just a short amount of time. If a fingerprint does get on the optics, it must be removed immediately as described below. 

2. Blow it Off!

Never wipe off larger particles or impurities with a cloth. Depending on the particles, scratches may appear on the optics. Use a bellows or nitrogen instead.

3. Assessment

How to Check Your Optics.  Check your optics carefully - if possible, in a darkened room. Inspection in transmitted light is best carried out using a clold light source. Errors and defects can also be easily detected in incident light at an angle. 

Classify Size of Defects. During inspection, make sure that the environment is low in dust; this is the case, for example, with a laminar flow box. A measuring magnifier or a comparison template according to DIN-ISO 10110/7 will help you classify the size of defects.

4. Never Clean Metal Coatings

Metal coatings are incredibly soft. Even if the optics are easily wiped, you can damage the coating. So: Hands off!

5. Laser Optics Are Not Glasses

Eyeglass cleaning cloths often contain anti-fogging substances that are desposited on the optics and damage the coating. This lowers the laser damage threshold.

Only use pure actetone or isopropanol as a cleaning agent. 

6. Observe Safety Instructions

Observe the standard safety regulations regarding cleaning agents. Read the safety datasheets carefully. Use solvent-resistant gloves and ensure that your working area is well ventilated.

Barbara Herdt
If you have any questions
+49 8142 2864-41

See Now How it Works

Use  acetone- or isopropano-resistant cleaning cloths such as, for expample, Whatman paper.

As soon as the cleaning cloth begins to fuzz, it should be replaced with a new one.

Fold a cloth so that the surface is as flat as possible, and the cloth can be held in a self-clamping tweezer. Please make sure that no parts of the tweezers protrude over the cloths; otherwise you will scratch your optics.

Now slightly moisten the cloth with acetone or isopropanol. You must experiment a little bit to find the optimal amount. Too much solvent will leave streaks; too little will cause the cloth to fuzz faster.

It is best to clean the optics in circular movements. Start in the middle and work your way to the angle. Make sure that you exert constant presssure that is not too little on the surface using the cloth.

We also offer a professional cleaning service.

Contact us for further Information
Employee of LASER COMPONENTS Germany GmbH Stefan Leyendecker
Sales Account Manager / Laser Optics
Stefan Leyendecker
LASER COMPONENTS Germany GmbH
82140 Olching

Laser Optics

manufactured by LASER COMPONENTS

Explore Our Product Portfolio

ZnSe beam splitter and output coupler ZnSe beam splitter and output coupler
ZnSe Windows for CO2 lasers

As for the lenses only high-quality substrates are used for the windows.

Achromatic Waveplates Achromatic Waveplates
Achromatic Waveplates

Achromatic waveplates consists of two plates.

Aspherical lens Aspherical lens
Aspherical Lenses

Aspherical lenses correct aberrations, which in monochromatic light include image sharpness errors and distortion.

A typical application of these lenses is the focusing of a collimated beam onto an optical fiber.
BEC-19 BEC-19
Beam Delivery Accessories

Additional components for the expansion of a laser system: Here you will find beam expanders, z-axes Shift, and beam tubes.

BSK-19 Kinematic Beam Splitter BSK-19 Kinematic Beam Splitter
Beam Directing Components

Laser beam directing components direct or deliver the laser beam to the workpiece.

Beam Expanders for CO2 Lasers

Beam expander for CO2 lasers with fixed, variable or zoom magnification and ZnSe optics.

Beam Expanders

Beam expanders with fixed or adjustable magnification levels.

Beam Splitter Cube Beam Splitter Cube
Beam Splitter Cubes

Beam splitters for separating a beam into two equal parts without changing the polarization

Non-polarizing beam splitters split the incident light with an R/T ratio of 50%. They are designed for exactly one wavelength and do not have any influence on the polarization of the beam to be split.
Polarization Optics Polarization Optics
Brewster Plates

Brewster plates are used to separate s- and p-polarized light.

Brewster plates have a rectangular shape and are inserted at a specific angle of incidence to the laser beam. Light that is polarized parallel to the plane of incidence/reflection is completely transmitted at Brewster’s angle, whereas about 50 % of s-polarized light is transmitted.
Broadband Filters

Broadband filters allow wide wavelength ranges of incident light to pass through; in selected regions of the spectrum, these filters block the light.

Spherical Mirrors Spherical Mirrors
Cavity Mirror / End Mirror

Cavity end mirrors are used to generate the laser beam in the resonator.

Resonator end mirrors, also known as cavity mirrors, are designed to have high reflectivity at the desired laser wavelength in order to maximize the efficiency of the laser.
Color Filter Glass Types Color Filter Glass Types
Colored Glass

Color glass filters are highly absorbing long-pass filters that are polished on both sides.

We will be there for you

Looking for CustomizeD LASER OPTICS?

feel free to Contact us!

Employee of LASER COMPONENTS Germany GmbH Barbara Herdt
Head of Business Unit Laser Optics
Barbara Herdt
LASER COMPONENTS Germany GmbH
82140 Olching
Employee of LASER COMPONENTS Germany GmbH Rainer Franke
Sales Account Manager / Laser Optics
Rainer Franke
LASER COMPONENTS Germany GmbH
82140 Olching
Employee of LASER COMPONENTS Germany GmbH René Sattler
Sales Account Manager / Laser Optics
René Sattler
LASER COMPONENTS Germany GmbH
82140 Olching
Employee of LASER COMPONENTS Germany GmbH Stefan Leyendecker
Sales Account Manager / Laser Optics
Stefan Leyendecker
LASER COMPONENTS Germany GmbH
82140 Olching

LASER COMPONENTS Germany - Your competent partner for optical and optoelectronic components in Germany.

Welcome to LASER COMPONENTS Germany GmbH, your expert for photonics components. Each product in our wide range of detectors, laser diodes, laser modules, optics, fiber optics, and more is worth every Euro (€/EUR). Our customized solutions cover all conceivable areas of application: from sensor technology to medical technology. You can reach us here:

Werner-von-Siemens-Str. 15
82140 Olching
Deutschland

Phone: +49 8142 2864-0
Email: info(at)lasercomponents.com

Team of experts
You have questions or need our support?
Please call us.
Employee of LASER COMPONENTS Germany GmbH Barbara Herdt
Head of Business Unit Laser Optics
Barbara Herdt
LASER COMPONENTS Germany GmbH
82140 Olching
Employee of LASER COMPONENTS Germany GmbH Rainer Franke
Sales Account Manager / Laser Optics
Rainer Franke
LASER COMPONENTS Germany GmbH
82140 Olching
Employee of LASER COMPONENTS Germany GmbH René Sattler
Sales Account Manager / Laser Optics
René Sattler
LASER COMPONENTS Germany GmbH
82140 Olching
Employee of LASER COMPONENTS Germany GmbH Stefan Leyendecker
Sales Account Manager / Laser Optics
Stefan Leyendecker
LASER COMPONENTS Germany GmbH
82140 Olching
Contact Form
You would like to send us something? You can reach us by phone and by e-mail.

Laser Components

Werner-von-Siemens-Str. 15
82140 Olching
Deutschland

You will be redirected
to the Fiber Technology Website ...