Synrad Novanta OEM ti Series, User Manual

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GENERAL HAZARDS PAGE | 23
A CO2 laser is an intense energy source and will ignite most materials under the proper conditions.
Never operate the laser in the presence of flammable or explosive materials, gases, liquids, or vapors.
Safe operation of the laser requires the use of an external beam block to safely block the beam from
traveling beyond the desired work area. Do not place your body or any combustible object in the path of
the laser beam. Use a water-cooled beam dump or power meter, or similar non-scattering,
noncombustible material as the beam block. Never use organic material or metals as the beam blocker;
organic materials, in general, are apt to combust or melt and metals act as specular reflectors which may
create a serious hazard outside the immediate work area.
Warning: Serious Personal Injury
Do not allow laser radiation to enter the eye by viewing direct or reflected laser energy.
CO2 laser radiation can be reflected from metallic objects even though the surface is darkened. Direct
or diffuse laser radiation can inflict severe corneal injuries leading to permanent eye damage or
blindness. All personnel must wear eye protection suitable for CO2 radiation, e.g., 9.3–10.6
μ
m when in
the same area as an exposed laser beam.
Eye wear protects against scattered energy but is not intended to protect against direct viewing of
the beam— never look directly into the laser output aperture or view scattered laser reflections from
metallic surfaces.
Enclose the beam path whenever possible. Exposure to direct or diffuse CO
2
laser radiation can
seriously burn human or animal tissue, which may cause permanent damage.
This product is not intended for use in explosive, or potentially explosive, atmospheres!
Materials processing with a laser can generate air contaminants such as vapors, fumes, and/or
particles that may be noxious, toxic, or even fatal. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for materials being
processed should be thoroughly evaluated and the adequacy of provisions for fume extraction,
filtering, and venting should be carefully considered. Review the following references for further
information on exposure criteria:
ANSI Z136.1-2014, Safe Use of Lasers, § 7.3.
U.S. Government’s Code of Federal Regulations: 29 CFR §1910, §§ Z.
Threshold Limit Values (TLV’s) published by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial
Hygienists (ACGIH).
It may be necessary to consult with local governmental agencies regarding restrictions on the venting
of processing vapors.
The use of aerosol dusters containing difluoroethane causes “blooming”, a condition that significantly
expands and scatters the laser beam. This beam expansion can affect mode quality and/or cause
laser energy to extend beyond the confines of optical elements in the system, possibly damaging
acrylic safety shielding. Do not use air dusters containing difluoroethane in any area adjacent to CO2
laser systems because difluoroethane persists for long time periods over wide areas.