Dapeng laser Dangers and protective measures of using laser cutting machine

Dangers and protective measures of using laser cutting machine

With the continuous development of science and technology, the application of lasers has become more and more important in our daily life, but many people have always had a question in their hearts: Will such a high-tech technology cause potential harm to the human body? Especially large equipment like a laser cutting machine, will it affect the user's health?

In this regard, many people tend to be timid when using laser products, and it is even difficult to put laser products into mass production.

In fact, from the fundamental level, laser cutting machines are generally not harmful to the human body. Although the laser cutting machine does not inherently cause any harm to the human body, if it is used improperly during the use process, it will also cause certain damage to the human body.

(1) The danger of laser irradiation

When workers contact the laser cutting machine, they often like to stare at the cutting head. If they stare at the sparks generated by the cutting for a long time, it will cause damage to the eyes and cause a tingling sensation. During the processing of the laser cutting machine, the emitted laser can make the energy highly concentrated, and focus on the retina through the refractive medium of the eye to form an image, so that the energy density on the retina is significantly higher than the incident energy density on the cornea. The monochromaticity of the upper laser is good, and the chromatic aberration in the fundus is small, so it will cause damage to the cornea or retina.

(2) Danger of electric shock

1. Laser

The power supply of industrial lasers is high voltage of several thousand volts to tens of thousands of volts, which can be fatal. High voltage and X-rays generated by electron tubes under high voltage can cause harm. Special attention should be paid to the danger when the capacitor bank stores energy.

Before performing any maintenance, disconnect all power sources to ensure that the high voltage has been discharged from the capacitors. Otherwise, severe electric shock or even death may result.

The following safety precautions should always be observed when working near high voltage areas of the laser:

a. Do not work in high pressure areas alone or when tired;

b. The body is sweating, and it is not allowed to work in high-voltage areas (the resistance of the wet body will be greatly reduced);

c. Remove all metal accessories (watches, rings, necklaces) and other metal items (eg belt buckles).

2. Machine tools and machine accessories

a. Do not touch any switches with wet hands to avoid electric shock. The parts with lightning signs on the machine tool indicate that these parts have high-voltage electrical appliances or electrical components. The operator should be extra careful when approaching these parts or opening them for maintenance to avoid electric shock. Such as: protective cover for the position of the servo motor, junction box behind the column, machine tool transformer cabinet, electrical cabinet door, etc.;

b. Read the machine manual and electrical schematic diagram thoroughly and carefully so as to be familiar with the operation methods of various functions and corresponding keys;

c. Do not open the door of the electrical cabinet easily, and do not change the machine parameters, potentiometers and timers that have been set without permission. If it needs to be changed, it must be operated by a professional trained and approved by the equipment manufacturer, and the parameter values before the change must be recorded, so that the original state can be restored if necessary;

d. Do not touch the live components in the electrical cabinet when the power is on, such as: numerical control devices, servo devices, transformers, fans, etc.

(3) The danger of gas explosion

When cutting some workpieces, nitrogen is often used as an auxiliary gas. In an occluded space, excess nitrogen may cause hypoxia. The aged trachea may burst easily if it is punctured by sharp objects, so pay attention to safety!

Excessive oxygen when oxygen is used as an auxiliary gas may cause a fire. It is strictly forbidden to stack flammable and explosive materials around the machine! A fire extinguisher should be provided near the machine.

When shutting down, make sure that:

1. Turn off the compressed air compressor and lock the shut-off valve;

2. Close the stop valve;

3. After turning off the gas supply, wait a few seconds until the gas disappears;

4. Check that the working pressure has dropped to 0 bar. Check the current working pressure on the pressure dial.

(4) Gas toxicity hazards

1. Optics

Optical devices such as focusing mirrors are manufactured by chemical vapor deposition (CVO) method, mostly using ZnSe. When the ignition point is exceeded, toxic Se vapor is generated, which is a highly toxic substance.

In order to improve the transmittance, the lens is coated with a compound film of reflective material thorium. When the lens is damaged, it should be properly disposed of in accordance with the relevant regulations of all countries, rather than conventional waste disposal.

2. Target

Target vapors and reaction products during laser processing, such as metal vapors (or splashes), may not only cause atmospheric pollution, but also easily burn flammable substances (cloth, oil, etc.) around the working area and cause fires.

(5) Fire hazard

Do not place flammable materials where the laser beam may hit. If the laser beam hits flammable materials, it will cause a fire. Dry powder fire extinguishers must be placed within 5 meters of the machine, and operators must have undergone fire drills and training, and have fire prevention awareness and fire extinguisher operation skills.

The following are several measures to avoid fires in laser material processing:

1. Provide multi-stage fire extinguishers and other safety equipment nearby;

2. Learn how to use fire extinguishers and other safety equipment;

3. Block off the laser area. Do not surround the laser area with flammable materials;

4. Do not place flammable materials such as paper and tarpaulin near the outgoing laser beam;

5. Oxygen is used for gas cutting. Never use oxygen with oily objects or even clothes, and never use oxygen as a cleaning gas to clean flammable items.

So how can we avoid the damage caused by the laser cutting machine?

1. Necessary protective equipment for laser cutting machines should be prepared, and protective glasses to prevent laser damage to human eyes should be worn. Others in the work area should not look directly at the laser while cutting.

2. Operators should pay attention to eating more foods rich in vitamin AC and protein such as carrots, bean sprouts, tomatoes, lean meat, animal livers, etc., which can better protect the eyes.

3. It should be equipped with corresponding dust removal devices, and try to operate in an environment with unobstructed air, and wear masks.

4. When arranging the cutting site, the site and walls of the working environment should be painted dark to reduce radiation.

5. Do not touch the cut parts immediately after processing to avoid burns from residual heat.

6. Since the laser beam is an invisible beam, do not touch the light path during use to avoid damage to the body.

7. There are harmful elements (ZnSe) in the focusing mirror of the laser cutting machine. Do not contact the lens frequently, and special treatment should be carried out after the lens is scrapped, and do not litter.