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Design Criteria for Flexible Laser Safety Barriers... used in the industrial laser environment

Design Criteria for Flexible Laser Safety Barriers... used in the industrial laser environment. Ryan F. Hemmerle Jay Parkinson R. James Rockwell, Jr. Rockwell Laser Industries. The most commonly asked questions. What is special about a “Laser Barrier”? When are laser barriers necessary ?

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Design Criteria for Flexible Laser Safety Barriers... used in the industrial laser environment

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  1. Design Criteria for Flexible Laser Safety Barriers...used in the industrial laser environment Ryan F. Hemmerle Jay Parkinson R. James Rockwell, Jr. Rockwell Laser Industries

  2. The most commonly asked questions... • What is special about a “Laser Barrier”? • When are laser barriers necessary? • What options are available? • What type of signs/labels are needed? • Is the highest rating always needed? • Can barriers be interlocked to the laser? • What are the economics? (Is it cheaper to just build walls?)

  3. Lets Review ANSI... “Where safety latches or interlocks are not feasible… One alternative is: • A door, blocking barrier, screen, curtains, etc. shall be used to block, screen or attenuate the laser radiation at the entryway.” ANSI Z136.1 4.3.10.2 (3)b

  4. Total Hazard Evaluation... “Such laser barriers shall be specifically selected to withstand direct and diffusely scattered beams. In this case, the barrier shall exhibit a damage threshold for beam penetration for a specific exposure time commensurate with the total hazard evaluation for the facility and specific application” ANSI Z136.1 Section 4.6.4

  5. When are Laser Barriers Necessary? • To establish a permanent enclosure around a Class 3b or Class 4 Controlled area • Where conventional walls or windows would impede the manufacturing process • When the laser area may be frequently moved or repositioned to a new area • Efficiency and safety during times of maintenence and service…(Time is money)

  6. Laser Protective Barriers for Clean Room Environments

  7. Laser Protective Barriers Using Ceiling Mount Design

  8. Laser Protective Barriers Using Floor Mount Design

  9. Laser Protective Barriers With Interlocking Features

  10. Objective: To Establish a Protocol For Choosing a Barrier Main items required... • Laser parameters needed to determine barrier threshold specifications • Facility conditions during use: Operation - Maintenance - Service • The barrier mounting options: Ceiling - Floor - Movable Frame • The integration of entryway controls and protective windows

  11. Typical User Requirements • Cost effective alternatives to permanent on-site construction • Compliance with ANSI Z136.1 and OSHA • Design flexiblity for changing demands • Temporary and/or permanent area safety

  12. What Options are Available? • Mounting Configuration • Ceiling mounted track hardware • Moveable floor frames • Clean Room computability • Low particulate generation • Anti-Static compatibility • Washability

  13. More Options... • Interlocks • Infrared photo-trancevers wired to alarms • hard-wired into laser system • Protective Window Films • Wavelength dependant • Sinage and Labeling • Compliance with ANSI and OSHA

  14. Protective Barrier Labeling…. Proposed language for the “new” ANSI Z136.1 Standard: “ All laser protective barriers shall be labeled with the barrier threshold limit (BTL) and exposure time for which the limit applies and the beam exposure conditions under which protection is afforded.” Proposed ANSI Z136.1 4.6.5.4

  15. TYPICAL LASER BARRIER BTL TESTING Laser barrier test showing various test spots at different radiant exposure levels

  16. Nd:YAG Laser @ 1064 nm & Argon Laser @ 514 nm for 100 s. PTL 300 W/cm2 200 W/cm2 100 W/cm2 Irradiance (Wcm2) PTL criteria set at a 5 mm beam diameter 2 W/cm2 Laser Beam Diameter (mm) Laser Protective BarrierPenetration Threshold levels for four different barriers

  17. Protective Barrier Labeling:A Suggested Format… • Barrier Model No. • Exposure criteria • Care and cleaning • Laser exposure time, BTL & Beam size specifications • Manufacturer ID

  18. Other Typical User Requirements... • Need for convenient barrier Storage • “Complete” beam Containment • Converting a Class 4 Controlled Area into a Class 1 Area • Maintenance and Service options • Special Environments (ie: clean room, medical, heavy industry…)

  19. LPB CHECKLIST...INSTALLATION ANALYSIS Application of laser: Beam access possible in operation? Y/N Comments: Beam access possible in maintenance? Y/N Comments:

  20. Floor Frames: Gusset Strips: Ceiling Mount: Connection Strips Interlocking: Latch/Jamb: Windows: Clean Room: Particulates: Anti-Static: Warning Signs: CHECKLISTBARRIER MOUNTINGINSTALLATION Items to consider...

  21. BTL GEOMETRIES Each case is defined by the application: INTRABEAM LENS-ON-LASER FIBEROPTIC

  22. CHECKLISTLASER PARAMETER DATA: LASER PARAMETERS Laser type:______________________________________________ Class: _______________________________________ Wavelength(s): ______________________________________ (m) Beam divergence: ________________________(mrad) (see ill A # 1) Beam diameter at exit of laser: __________________________(mm)

  23. CHECKLISTLASER PARAMETER DATA: OPERATION MODE Pulsed ( ) Continuous Wave ( ) Pulse energy: __________________________________________(J) Maximum Average Power: __________________ (W) Pulse length: _______________________________________ (sec.) Repetition rate: _____________________________________(Hertz)

  24. CHECKLISTLASER PARAMETER DATA: DELIVERY OPTICS Beam conduit ( ) Fiber optics ( ) Beam diameter just prior to lens: ________________________ (mm) Fiber optic numerical aperture:___________________ (see ill. B #3) (see ill. C # 5) Focusing lens: focal length: ____________________________ (mm) Cone angle:___________________________(degrees) (see ill. C #6) (see ill. C #6)

  25. CHECKLISTLASER PARAMETER DATA: SYSTEM DESIGN & GEOMETRICAL FACTORS Worse case viewing distance (diffuse targets): ___________________________ (in) Nominal distance(s) from laser aperture to barrier: max: __________________ (feet) min: _____________________ (feet)

  26. Choosing a Laser Protective Barrier…. 1. Establish whether a conventional enclosure (walls or housing) is appropriate and will not impede the laser use 2. Establish whether a permanent or removable enclosure is required 3. Establish the features desired (dimensions, style, interlocking…etc.

  27. Choosing a Laser Protective Barrier…. 4. Evaluate the laser parameters and BTL 5. Determine the Installation requirements (ie: Floor Frames, Gusset Strips, Ceiling Mount, Connection Strips, Interlocking, Latch/Jamb…etc.) 6. Determine special requirements: (ie: Windows, Clean Room, Particulates, Anti-Static, Warning Signs…etc.)

  28. SUMMARY…. • Laser barriers can provide special area protection that is MOVEABLE and/or PERMANENTand still provide area safety • Laser barriers are most often necessary when FLEXIBILITY and SPEED is needed for the laser installation • CEILING and FLOOR mounted units are available

  29. SUMMARY…. • Laser protective barriers come in different BTL ratings for different user needs • Barriers can easily be interlocked to the laser • Barriers are not inexpensive - but are usually LESS expensive that building solid, permanent walls around the laser installation • Standard ansi-based signs/labels are recommended

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