Ensure laser safety for coding operations with customized Class 1 installations
CO2, UV, and fiber lasers represent some of the fastest, most precise, durable and least environmentally-impactful coding technologies, increasingly favored by ever more market segments. However, their power and wavelength can present potential laser safety risks from exposure to the beam. It is highly recommendable to mitigate this risk through the installation and proper use of laser guarding in the form of a Laser Protective Enclosure (LPE) with the appropriate components and features to achieve an intrinsically safe laser system.
Our experts design LPEs, customized according to customer requirements that are tested and confirmed to comply with Class 1 requirements, assuring that laser operations are both safe and compliant with industry standards. The Class 1 requirements that we follow are defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) which provides guidelines for laser safety, including laser classification, safety measures, and the use of guarding and filters. This classification means that an installation is safe for use under all reasonably anticipated conditions of use; in other words, it is not expected that the maximum permitted exposure can be exceeded and is eye-safe under all operating conditions.
Laser installations
The importance of having made-to-measure Class 1 laser guarding installations cannot be overstated. This is because the most powerful laser coders required in industrial applications, whether they use CO2, fiber, or UV technology, are Class 4 lasers, requiring that appropriate protective measures be put into place to make the system intrinsically safe. In other words, mitigation of the exposure risks from the laser coder is required for the installation to meet the Class 1 standard.
Many customers choose to rely on our engineers’ high level of experience in designing and installing customized Class 1 LPEs for multiple types of production lines and manufacturing processes to benefit from an attested, rapid service. Our LPEs are all built according to the customer’s production specifications while incorporating the necessary design features to produce a user-friendly and safe laser marking system. There are various features to consider in building a laser guarding system and our experts define which is the most suitable for each laser coding operation before installation in an extensive application assessment which may include a full onsite assessment if needed.
It is vital for each LPE to be constructed of a material that fully contains the energy emitted from the laser, preventing any harmful external exposure of radiation from it. In the case of CO2 lasers, we commonly use polycarbonates, while for fiber lasers, a metallic material like stainless steel or aluminum is required. Certain polycarbonate materials with the correct Optical Density and metallic materials are used for UV lasers.
Additionally, sides and walls of the LPE must be thick enough to withstand exposure to the direct beam path for an extended period of time as well as providing the structural stability to support the weight of the laser and LPE installation. They must also be able to accommodate fume extraction in applications that produce particulates and dust during the lasing operation.
Interlocks and dual filters
As a means of providing a maximum level of safety, our laser coding systems feature interlocks that either shut down the laser immediately if the enclosure is opened or which require a tool to open a door or panel, before use. Interlocks ensure that the laser cannot operate unless all guarding mechanisms are properly in place. As companies usually request the design of the LPE to incorporate the ability to observe the marking process, laser safety windows can be placed into the LPE, made from optical-filtering materials, like optical glass, allowing observation without the risk of any exposure. These materials are similar to the materials used for laser safety goggles. Both goggles and windows are made of different substrates depending on the laser technology.
Laser coding can also generate fumes and particulates when marking plastics, rubber, or organic materials, so fume extraction systems, equipped with air filters, are essential for removing these potentially-hazardous by-products. Our engineers developed a dual technology system of filters which are synchronized with the laser coding systems. They use High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters to capture fine particulate matter, such as dust and smoke, while Activated Carbon filters remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and odors generated when marking plastics or rubber.
The filters also feature Automatic Flow Control, meaning that air flow rate is automatically adjusted to ensure efficient and continuous particulate, gas, and odor capture. Additionally, the iQ+ Independent Filters Condition Monitoring clearly displays real-time information on each of the different filters, facilitating fast and efficient filter changes. Laser filter systems do require regular cleaning, inspections, and a change of filters, according to the level of use. With our filter system, an alarm will ring if the main HEPA/Gas filter is not fitted properly, facilitating reduced maintenance costs on top of operator safety.
The combination of our innovation in CO2, fiber and UV laser technology and in customized Class 1 protective enclosures ensure that laser safety always takes front and center stage. Our team of laser experts can ensure that your switch to laser marking is a risk-free investment, giving your company the guarantee of permanent, ink-free, ultra-high-quality coding.
