When it comes to marking metal, glass, plastic, wood, and rubber, Laser engraving is the reliable solution. The technique helps mark text, logos, serial numbers, and barcodes, among several others on substrates. Laser engraving systems can create permanent marks (the marks can only be removed by heavy grinding) that are durable and free of wear. Due to these reasons, laser engraving is widely chosen for marking parts and products used in the aerospace, military, defense, and mining industries.
However, operating Laser engraving machines beyond the OEM’s recommendations can cause severe injuries to the operator and damage to property. This blog enlists some of the safety guidelines that must be stringently followed when working with laser engraving systems.
Safety Guidelines
Be on the safe side when working with laser marking systems. Consider the listed recommendations to minimize risks:
- Direct exposure to the laser beam can cause severe burns and eye damage. Ensure that you are wearing laser safety goggles when working in the vicinity of laser equipment.
- A fire extinguisher should be kept handy at the facility since there can be a chance of an unexpected fire outbreak.
- Fumes and smoke generated during the marking process must be extracted from the room. Ensure that there is a properly maintained fume exhausting system installed at the facility.
- Do not move or lift the system alone. Always seek assistance of one or two other people, in case you need to change the system’s position. The weight of the system may lead to injury.
- Be sure to disconnect the power and remove the power cord from the electrical supply when cleaning, maintaining, and servicing the laser equipment.
- Do not stare at the bright and intense light appearing during the engraving process. Also, it is recommended not to stare at the light even through optical instruments. Doing so can cause serious eye damage, even permanent blindness.
Failure to follow the safety instructions provided in the user manual can result in catastrophic incidents. Spend time to read and understand the recommendations provided by the OEM. This will help you to achieve desired results, while keeping yourselves and others safe, and not damaging the equipment and your facility.
