Maintenance and Cleaning
Chapter 6
MN071 / v1.0.0
2-Axis Subsystems for Laser Beam Deflection
23
6.2.3
Special notes for mirrors made of beryllium and lenses made of zinc selenide
Warning:
If the deflection unit is provided with one of the adjacent signs, there
is a health hazard coming from the material of the optical compo-
nents.
Behaviour if mirrors or lenses may be or are actually destroyed
Turn the laser device off immediately!
Leave the room for at least 30 minutes!
Under no circumstances remove the protective glass or the F-Theta lens of the deflection
unit, to check a possible destruction.
In the deflection unit, toxic dust or fragments may be created.
If the deflection unit has nevertheless been opened and fragments have been fallen out,
the fragments must be collected wearing appropriate protective clothing and respirators
and disposed of as a hazardous substance according to the local regulations.
Label the defective deflection unit with a clear warning and send the unit airtight and well
packaged to RAYLASE.
The persons commissioned with the dismantling of the deflection unit must wear suitable
protective clothing and respirators.
The room in which the beryllium mirror or the zinc selenide lens has been destroyed, must
be cleaned, decontaminated and ventilated sufficiently.
Wear gloves and a surgical mask for the following steps!
Gather all the broken pieces carefully and pack them in a sealed plastic container.
Clean all contaminated components and surfaces with a damp cloth and pack the cloth in a
sealed plastic container.
Send the container to your supplier. He is responsible for the proper disposal of the mate-
rial.
Hazardous properties of beryllium
With the destruction of a beryllium mirror by laser radiation beryllium dusts may be generated.
These dusts can cause cancer, are toxic if swallowed and very toxic by inhalation.
Hazardous properties of zinc selenide
With the destruction of the lenses made of zinc selenide, toxic dusts may be generated with
hydrogen selenide and selenium dioxide. These dusts can cause cancer, are toxic if swal-
lowed and very toxic by inhalation.
In order to improve the optical properties of the material, zinc selenide is often provided with
an anti-
reflective coating, which can contain thorium fluoride. Thorium is an α-emitter and
weakly radioactive. It is potentially hazardous to health if inhaled or swallowed. Since the tho-
rium-containing coating is embedded between layers of non-radioactive layers, there is no risk
for the user under normal circumstances.
