Laser Cutting Safety Tips

Laser cutting has become widely popular among the fabrication industry, offering unrivaled precision and versatility. Since lasers are capable of penetrating many objects with extreme levels of heat, it can get quite dangerous if you’re inexperienced. In today’s blog, we’ll discuss some essential safety tips on how to deal with lasers.

Don’t Experiment On Foreign Material

Lasers are capable of cutting through most things with relative ease. However, it’s imperative to never cut through materials with unknown properties. Since lasers are hot, they produce fumes when they come into contact with most materials. When plastic is exposed to high temperatures, toxic fumes are released into the air. PVC plastic, in particular, is lethal upon inhalation. If there are any uncertainties regarding the cutting material, it’s best to not use a laser.

Never Leave Your Laser Unattended

In many industrial settings, laser cutting can take hours to complete due to projects being of a larger scale. As a result, machines are often run through an automated computer program to ensure that the entire cutting session is precise. Since machines are automated and cutting sessions are long, many operators make the mistake of leaving their laser completely unattended. Needless to say, this is unacceptable and extremely dangerous. Operators should be monitoring the entire process, ensuring the laser settings aren’t too high or that the machine doesn’t malfunction at any point.

Read the Manual

The operator should have a complete sense of mastery over their laser cutting machine. User manuals are an excellent source of information, providing various safety issues and concerns. The user manual will have detailed explanations on how to spot and deal with any malfunctions or errors. Always make sure to keep the manual just in case there are any issues that need to be resolved.

Baseline Custom Fabricating is the number one provider of metal fabrication and cutting services in Ontario. Our staff is dedicated to offering the highest quality products to all of our clients. For more information, visit our website and contact us today.