Exatron only sells Class 1 lasers, that is lasers where the laser beam path and target area are sealed against human access. Moreover, the safety enclosures are interlocked. It is incumbent upon the customer to maintain these safety features intact and not alter them in any way. Exatron cannot be responsible for any damage which occurs as a result of customer alteration or defeat of any safety feature on Exatron laser markers.

All Exatron laser systems are shipped with a suite of safety materials including documentation, videos and a poster, all prepared by Rockwell Laser Industries. It is the responsibility of the customer to assure that all operators have been trained and are aware of laser safety procedures.

Proper operator training specifically should include training regarding the wearing of eye protection. While Exatron laser marking machines are Class 1, that is no laser energy can reach the human operator during operation or maintenance, Exatron recommends that all operators wear laser absorbing eyeglasses is a redundant precaution. One pair of laser goggles are shipped with each system, appropriate for the wavelength of that system. All laser eyewear is marked with the specific freqency of light energy it is designed to filter out. Please check on a regular basis to see that the safety goggles are of the correct type. Standard safety glasses designed for mechanical protection of the eyes and/or sun glasses are not acceptable as laser protection.

A. Radiation (light)
Lasers are classified according to how much laser radiation, either direct or reflected, can reach a human in the vicinity of the laser unit.

The governmental agency responsible for maintaining laser safety classifications is the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), a sub-department of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

CDRH regulations rate lasers on a Class scale of I through IV; with classes I and IV being relevant to Exatron.

Class I lasers are laser systems where only irrelevant amounts of laser energy can reach a human while the laser system is operating. This involves having a sealed beam path plus interlocks. Exatron uses a double shielding system whereby the laser beam is enclosed in a tube which is itself enclosed in the laser cabinet. The laser mark site on our handlers is sealed on top by the cabinet of the laser unit. The trackwork in the handler is sealed by a pair of gates which serve to completely isolate the laser mark site.

Class IV lasers are those which can emit direct or reflected radiation and which would injure a human. Thus, a laser without an enclosure would be a Class IV laser. The shoot-down laser is Class IV when there are no safety covers installed around the table.

Classes II and III deal with supermarket scanners, laser light shows and medical laser applications.

While not strictly necessary, Exatron recommends that all operators of our Class I laser systems wear protective eyewear specially designed to filter out radiation at the specific wavelength of the laser in use. The frame or the lenses of any pair of laser safety glasses will be imprinted with the wavelength of light that specific pair of glasses is designed to filter out.

The different wavelengths of laser light would effect humans differently, if directly exposed to a medium or high-energy beam. Direct exposure to a Nd:YAG laser beam can seriously injure the retina of the eye and can burn skin. Direct exposure to a CO2 laser beam can seriously injure the cornea of the eye, and can burn skin.

If all factory-installed safety features are operating properly, it should be impossible for any damage to be done to any operator as a result of the laser radiation.

B. Smoke/Dust
Whenever a laser beam strikes a target and cuts into the surface, some material will be released. This may be in the form of smoke and/or ash, what we call "slag." It is probable that this smoke or ash may be toxic.

The proper way to deal with this waste is to suction it out of the laser mark site and run the air through a scrubber or filter. Some companies just vent the air to the outside world.

Exatron is not in a position to say what the chemical nature of the smoke is because we are not privy to the composition of the materials being lased. The exact makeup of IC packaging plastics varies considerably, not to mention the ceramics and metals we often have to mark.

It is incumbent on the customer to take the necessary precautions regarding the dust and smoke created during the lasing process. Exatron laser systems provide a smoke tube, which is a plastic pipe which communicates between the laser mark site and the outside of the system. Customers are encouraged to attach a vacuum with scrubber or filter to the smoke pipe.