power level necessary to achieve coating removal and in certain embodiments typically may range between 3 kw and 6 kw more specifically the power source may direct the laser 16 a at 3kw of power when the substrate 14 is detected by the sensor 20 in order to protect the substrate 14 and direct the laser 16 a at 6 kw of power when the presence of a layer 25 is indicated in order to remove the layer 25 additionally if it is desired to remove only layer 25 a of the coating 12 and leave a layer 25 b of a coating 12 beneath the layer 25 a untouched by the laser 16 a when the sensor 20 detects the intensity associated with layer 25 b the energy source 18 may be directed by the controller 22 to reduce the power to 3 kw to prevent removal of the layer 25 b by the laser 16 a it should be appreciated that other levels of power may also be used such that the layers 25 are removed and not removed from the substrate 14 as desired the adjustment of the power of the laser 16 a may be continuously adjusted based.