Assessment of safety performance of laser guards

Abstract

The use of lasers as a materials processing tool in manufacturing industry is increasing. The trend in many of such laser applications is towards greater use of higher laser powers and multi-axis beam delivery and as a result the achievement of safety operation is becoming increasingly challenging.Guarding plays a major role in industrial applications, but the considerations necessary are far from trivial especially where high power beams and multi-axis delivery are involved. In these cases, the implementation of laser guarding is seriously handicapped by the lack of available hard data in regard to the stability of guard materials under direct laser exposure; thus making it difficult for laser users, manufacturers, system builders and safety inspectors to be sure that enclosure designs are safe.In this paper; the results of testing in accordance with IEC 60825-4 will be described for a range of materials currently used for laser safety enclosures. Damage thresholds and bum-through times for various materials be provided for laser powers and wavelengths of interest to industry and the suitability of materials assessed, for different maintenance inspection intervals. The main results con.fum the suitability of commonly used materials and provide safety data for some newer materials.The use of lasers as a materials processing tool in manufacturing industry is increasing. The trend in many of such laser applications is towards greater use of higher laser powers and multi-axis beam delivery and as a result the achievement of safety operation is becoming increasingly challenging.Guarding plays a major role in industrial applications, but the considerations necessary are far from trivial especially where high power beams and multi-axis delivery are involved. In these cases, the implementation of laser guarding is seriously handicapped by the lack of available hard data in regard to the stability of guard materials under direct laser exposure; thus making it difficult for laser users, manufacturers, system builders and safety inspectors to be sure that enclosure designs are safe.In this paper; the results of testing in accordance with IEC 60825-4 will be described for a range of materials currently used for laser safety enclosures. Damage thresholds and bum-through times for various mater...