Do you know what LASER means ?
LASER is actually an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
As aforementioned, lasers work by stimulated emission and depending on the material that is being lased you can get different colored lasers.
Good to know !
Lasers are grouped into classes
The weakest lasers are eye safe and are classified as class 1 lasers. The most powerful lasers in the world are class 4 – these are the types of lasers that can start a fire.
The main laser classes are:
- Class 1: These lasers are eye-safe under all operating conditions. They have very low power and are usually enclosed in a protective housing.
- Class 1M: These lasers are also eye-safe under normal conditions, but they may be hazardous if viewed with optical instruments such as magnifiers or binoculars1.
- Class 2: These lasers emit visible light that can cause eye damage if stared at for a long time. However, they are usually safe because of the natural blink reflex that protects the eyes from bright light. They have a power of up to 1 milliwatt (mW).
- Class 2M: These lasers are similar to Class 2, but they may be hazardous if viewed with optical instruments.
- Class 3R: These lasers can cause eye damage if viewed directly or reflected. They have a power of up to 5 mW for visible light and up to 500 mW for infrared light. They require caution when used.
- Class 3B: These lasers can cause serious eye damage if viewed directly or reflected. They have a power of up to 500 mW for visible light and up to several watts for infrared light. They require safety measures such as protective eyewear and warning signs when used.
- Class 4: These lasers can cause severe eye and skin damage if viewed directly or reflected. They can also start fires or burn materials. They have a power of more than 500 mW for visible light and more than several watts for infrared light. They require strict safety measures such as interlocks, beam shutters and controlled access when used.
In our shop you can get hands on Snapmaker 10W High Power Laser Module. Supports more than 20 kinds of materials for engraving and more than 10 for cutting. This is a class 4 laser product. You should always operate the 10W High Power Laser Module with the Snapmaker 2.0 Enclosure covered. In addition to safety, we recommend Snapmaker 2.0 Emergency Stop Button.
Did you know LASER is great for cutting and engraving !
Laser cutting was first used in the 1970s. In modern industrial production, it is widely used for cutting sheet metal, plastics, glass, ceramics, semiconductors, as well as materials such as textiles, wood, and paper.
In the next few years, laser cutting is expected to gain substantial growth in precision machining and micro-machining applications.
First, let’s take a look at how laser cutting works.
When the focused laser beam hits the workpiece, the area of irradiation rapidly heats up, causing the material to melt or vaporize. Once the laser beam penetrates the workpiece, the cutting process begins: the beam moves along the contour, melting the material. A jet stream is typically used to blow the melted material away from the incision, leaving a narrow gap between the cut part and the frame. These narrow seams are almost as wide as the focused laser beam.
We have this technology available in our store in a secure Snapmaker A350ENT 3 in 1 bundle . The Snapmaker can not only be used as a safe laser cutting or engraving machine but also as a 3D printer and cnc carving. Perfect working station with Enclosure included.
Fun fact !
Einstein had a role in the discovery of the laser
Believe or not, Einstein had a role in the discovery of the laser. If it weren’t for his theory of stimulated emission we wouldn’t have lasers today. Einstein is truly a God in the sciences – he contributed to so much technology that we see today; GPS and lasers are just two of them.
Albert Einstein was the first to have the idea of stimulated emission that could produce a laser. From that point many years were spent to see if the idea worked. At first, people succeeded in making masers and later figured how to make shorter visible wavelengths. It was not until 1959 that the name laser was coined by Gordon Gould in a research paper.
The first working laser was put together and operated by Theodore Maiman at the Hughes Research Laboratories in 1960. Many people started working on lasers at this time, and the question of who would get the patent for the laser wasn’t decided until 1987 (Gould won the rights).
