Lase Dust Hazards: Engraving Health Risks from Laser Fumes (2024)

FAQs

How harmful is laser dust? ›

However, the dust created by laser cutting is a serious inhalation hazard. The intense heat involved in the process creates particulates in the sub-micron size; the smaller the particulate, the easier it is inhaled and absorbed into the body.

Most laser engraving and cutting is done in a closed environment, trapping harmful particulate in the work area unless actively vented out or filtered. By installing a fume extraction system, you can eliminate these risks and increase morale for your employees.

You can use a laser engraving machine indoors if you have a proper ventilation system in place. Whatever material is being laser cut or engraved will produce smoke and fumes and these must be removed quickly and safely from the laser cabinet.

High temperatures in a space result in the expansion of the surrounding air. Upon a laser beam contacting these materials, gas will be formed. Hidden in these gasses lie dangerous particles released with the expansion of gas. These dangerous particles range depending on the types of materials being lasered.

The mild radiation in laser surgery is different from the strong radiation, e.g. (x-rays and nuclear radiation) which are also known carcinogens, i.e. cancer-causing substances. Some of the key benefits are as follows: Removal of unwanted hair removal. Other cosmetic treatments such as removal of tattoos.

Fumes: While not lethally toxic, as with PVC, acrylic vapor can still give off unpleasant odors and irritate the lungs. Always use an appropriate exhaust system.

Many laser engraver users simply use a window or door as an exhaust vent. For some, an existing hole in the wall, such as a dryer vent, serves perfectly.

It is important to always observe the correct procedures. That being said, we don't mean to scare you - as long as the correct procedures are followed, laser marking machines are safe to use. So, always consult your manufacturers guidance, and always wear your laser safety goggles!

Sometimes, applying a thin, wet sheet of newspaper or a paper towel to the engraving area will help with heat dissipation and improve the engraving process. Just make sure there are no wrinkles in the paper after it is applied.

Do all laser cutters need to be vented? ›

Laser cutting will always give off fumes. Most, if not all of these fumes are toxic and need to be ventilated. Fumes are the most significant health risk associated with laser cutting and engraving and you need to ensure you have sufficient ventilation.

Sources of laser hazards include: Unintentional eye exposure during alignment. Misaligned laser beam. Lack of eye protection.

The most common cause of laser-induced tissue damage is thermal in nature, where the tissue proteins are denatured due to the temperature rise following absorption of laser energy.

Repeated exposure to relatively low powered lasers, or from a single exposure to medium powered lasers may cause long term damage to sight or minor damage to skin. Exposure to high level lasers may cause depigmentation, severe burns and possible damage to underlying organs.

Class 4 is the highest and most dangerous class of laser, including all lasers that exceed the Class 3B AEL. By definition, a class 4 laser can burn the skin, or cause devastating and permanent eye damage as a result of direct, diffuse or indirect beam viewing.

No, laser hair removal can not cause infertility. The only area affected by the laser is the surface of your skin, pigment and hair follicles. The laser will not be able to penetrate any further to your organs/ or ovaries.

► Inhaling Acrylic Acid can irritate the nose, throat and lungs. ► Acrylic Acid may cause a skin allergy. ► Long term exposure may affect the kidneys and lungs. NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit (REL) is 2 ppm averaged over a 10-hour workshift.

Acrylic fumes can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea and irritation. The filing of artificial nails can cause asthma. Nail services create dust that can cause wheezing and chest tightness. Formaldehyde can be found in nail strengtheners.

Glowforge machines, as well as all other CO2 Laser Cutting machines, give off potentially dangerous fumes that need to be vented. Seriously, you don't want to take the chance of breathing in toxic fumes and passing out from working in a poorly ventilated space. Your creations are not worth your life.

Does a Glowforge have to be vented out a window? ›

The Glowforge has to be vented. There's no way around this – you've got to vent it either through a window or by using the compact filter.

Laser engraving machine manufacturers recommend using laser cooling equipment, such as an industrial water chiller, to reap their machines' full benefits. You need a water chiller for laser machines because the cost of installing an industrial chiller is a fraction of the cost of buying a laser engraver.

You can use your Epilog Laser system to engrave all types of electronics, including iPads, iPhones, laptops, cellular devices, game players, and much more. Download the iPad Air engraving template.

Safety Concerns on Laser Cutters & Engravers

The answer is YES. As we all know, electronic devices like computers, cell phones, hairdryers, all will emit radiation.

It will cause a temporary blind spot in your vision, and it's probably not a good idea to do it too much. All the light coming through the glass is harmless, it could leave an after image but harmless.

Yes! Making money with a laser engraver is a really fun way to make some extra income or even start your own business. You might be surprised at the different things people want engraved with a laser. From trophies to tombstones, there is a huge market out there for you to tap.

Laser Engraving Stainless Steel Leads to Corrosion

Laser engraving stainless steel removes an important protective layer. In fact, any method that digs markings on the surface (deep or shallow) will remove this layer. This thin protective layer is composed of chromium oxide.

A medium tack paper tape like MAIN PerfecTear Plus would be a good choice. If you're using a 30 watt laser like the Pinnacle MIII, start with settings of 2% speed and 100% power at 500 DPI and 400PPI.

Safe Materials

The materials that the laser can cut materials like wood, paper, cork, and some kinds of plastics. Etching can be done on almost anything, wood, cardboard, aluminum, stainless steel, plastic, marble, stone, tile, and glass.

Make sure that you stain and clear coat your wood before engraving.

How do you protect a table from laser engraving? ›

When laser cutting we recommend using a metal mesh as a substrate layer. The metal mesh will protect the work table and the work piece from carbonization during cutting, which is possible if the surface of the work table or the protective metal sheet is excessively heated.

With laser technology, you can quickly cut MDF in thicknesses of up to 15 mm in a good quality. The high fiber density makes the material particularly suitable for laser cutting.

The main difference between laser etching and laser engraving is that etching melts the micro surface to create raised marks, whereas engraving removes material to create deep marks. Both processes use high heat to create permanent markings on metal surfaces. Both processes are heavily used for part traceability.

LASER MARKING IS GREEN TECHNOLOGY

Implementing laser marking technology can help lower the cost of your daily operations, but it can also reduce the amount of materials that go to landfills and lessen the use of manufacturing materials that are harmful to the environment.

PLA plastic is a great material for laser engraving resulting in a very sharp white image.

Yes, it's doable, but you'll need a filtration system and your laser should be in a dedicated workshop room. Even with filtration I still highly recommend to vent to the outside. Make sure the filtration unit got an exhaust port.

What Are the Disadvantages of Laser Cutting? Although used to produce parts in almost every industry, laser cutting does have it downsides. Namely, the need of expertise, limitations to metal thickness, costs and hazardous fumes are all things to consider before turning to laser cutting.

Electrical Hazards

The most serious hazard associated with lasers is the electrical hazard from the laser power source. Several fatalities have occurred because of this hazard. Most laser power supplies contain severe electrical hazards.

Most of the radiation is transmitted to the retina*. Overexposure may cause flash blindness or retinal burns and lesions.

What part of the human body is most susceptible to laser damage? ›

The retina, cornea, and lens are the areas most commonly damaged. Retina: Laser light in the visible to near-infrared spectrum can cause damage to the retina.

Class 4. A Class 4 laser system presents a hazard to both eyes and skin from the direct beam, specular reflections, and diffuse reflections. A Class 4 laser often also presents a fire hazard.

Laser-generated airborne contaminants can form during disruption of tissue cells by heat (lasers, electrosurgical generators), mechanical manipulation (rotary devices, saws), or ultrasonic instruments.

What they may not know is this: When operated unsafely, or without certain controls, the highly-concentrated light from lasers—even those in toys—can be dangerous, causing serious eye injuries and even blindness. And not just to the person using a laser, but to anyone within range of the laser beam.

Effects can range from mild skin burns to irreversible injury to the skin and eye. The biological damage caused by lasers is produced through thermal, acoustical and photochemical processes. Thermal effects are caused by a rise in temperature following absorption of laser energy.

Exposure to laser beam can cause severe eye damage or skin burns. Sharp edges could result in lacerations, and puncture wounds.

Unlike other forms of media cleaning — such as sandblasting or dry ice blasting — laser cleaning is safer for operators and employees. It doesn't produce additional waste and is environmentally-friendly. Plus, it's non-damaging and non-conductive, meaning it's safe for the material you're cleaning as well.

What is the principal hazard associated with exposure to a laser radiation? Eye Damage.

Thermal (burn) injury is the most common cause of laser-induced skin damage. Thermal damage is generally associated with lasers operating at exposure times greater than 10 microseconds and in the wavelength region from the near-ultraviolet to the far-infrared.

Initial treatments may cause short term muscle spasm, mild fatigue, mild nausea or headaches. It is thought that these healing reactions are the result of increased metabolites in the blood stream. This usually subsides within 48 hours.

Are there long term side effects to laser? ›

Rarely, laser hair removal can cause blistering, crusting, scarring or other changes in skin texture. Other rare side effects include graying of treated hair or excessive hair growth around treated areas, particularly on darker skin.

A suitable laser cutter ventilation system is also essential because smoke that lingers inside your machine can dirty the mirrors and focal lens and lead to optical damage.

The particles generated during the laser cutting process form a fume cloud comprised of very fine dust particles that can harm workers and the equipment. Because of these fumes, work sites need to follow ventilation requirements and should be equipped with the appropriate filtration systems.

Use tepid water and avoid using any harsh products, scrubs, exfoliating mitts, loofahs or sponges on your treatment area. Use an unscented body wash and pat dry your treatment area with a towel to avoid damaging the skin. Using 100% Aloe Vera directly after your shower will also help the skin to recover after laser.

​ In hygiene, lasers can be used for several things, depending on the State Practice Act. A few procedures provided by dental hygienists in several states include: Laser Bacterial Reduction, for reducing the bacteria around the normal healthy sulcus to prevent toxins from entering as aerosols.

The heat can burn the eye and permanently damage the retina. If the laser light is brief or weak, it may not produce the same heat or long-lasting damage, but instead could create a small after-image, which is a bright spot that prevents normal vision.