MagnaTran 7.1 User’s Manual
Safety
MN-003-1600-00
Laser Hazards
Brooks Automation
Revision 2.2
2-9
Laser Hazards
The MagnaTran 7 does not use laser light during operation. However, low level laser
light may be used and located in other devices within close proximity of the robot.
Other Brooks products containing these laser emitters produce low power visible red
light. Be aware of the lasers maximum power output and wavelength. This informa-
tion is found in the Brooks equipment User’s Manual in the safety section. Under nor-
mal operation, no hazardous levels of laser radiation emanate from the chamber. The
beam is safe for brief viewing, but can cause damage to the eyes if viewed directly for
long periods.
The proper precautions for operating and servicing lasers must be observed. Any
precautions specified within the facility where the robot is being used must also be
observed.
WARNING
Do not look directly at the laser beam for extended periods of time, or
permanent eye damage may result.
The following describes laser classifications, general safety issues and laser handling
precautions. Laser diodes have three properties that distinguish them from standard
light emitting diodes. First, they can produce much brighter beams of light (by a fac-
tor of 1000 or more). Second, the beam from a laser can be very narrow (where the
spot of light is almost the same size whether projected a few inches or many feet).
Third, laser light is a very pure color with a single wavelength, which makes the spot
look speckled and shimmery.
National and international standards classify low power laser systems into the fol-
lowing classes:
Class I:Very low power (4 x 10
-7
Watt) -- safe for continuous viewing.
Class II:Low power visible lasers (4 x 10
-6
) Watt -- safe for 15 minutes of continuous
viewing.
Class III:Low power visible lasers only (1 x 10
-3
Watt) -- safe for brief viewing: do not
stare into the beam.
