LIA NEWS
Medical and Technical Practical Applications Seminars (PAS) and Laser Safety Scientific Sessions (LSSS). Te experts in charge of those educational tracks promise a hard- hitting slate of trailblazing content. At least four key issues confront the laser
safety community at the moment, said John O’Hagan, general chair of the Laser Safety Scientific Sessions: ‘Te first is the huge problem of laser products being imported from emerging markets at costs considerably below standard market prices. Tis may sound like good news for purchasers; however, many of the safety features we may expect are absent.’ Second, he said, is the
growth of the market for home-use lasers; ranging from pointers to devices for cosmetic applications. ‘In the past, labels gave some indication of the power of the laser beam. Tere is a lot of experience now of products being mislabeled. Although individual countries or regions may try to regulate the supply of such products, enforcement is challenging. Products may be imported by consumers direct or bought while on vacation. If they are incorrectly labeled, do enforcing authorities have the capability to check the emissions?’ Tird are the challenges of ever more
powerful lasers used in materials processing, O’Hagan continued. ‘Traditional methods of laser safety management may not be appropriate. It is tempting to build fortresses around lasers, limiting their practical use. We need some lateral thinking to provide solutions that appropriately manage the risk.’ Finally, he said, LSOs may be asked to comment on the safety of non-laser optical radiation sources. ‘Te challenges are different, as are the risks, usually.’ Applying standard laser safety control
measures to non-laser optical radiation sources is oſten over-restrictive. ILSC provides an opportunity to share practical experience. For the medical sessions, co-chairs Vangie
Dennis and Leslie Pollard promise to keep attendees abreast of the ‘fast-moving future world of lasers in the medical/surgical field.’ Pollard said: ‘Te amazing technological advancements under way in laser technology, optoelectronics, biophotonics, biochemistry, minimally invasive surgical techniques, cell biology, semiconductor technology and many other related areas will most certainly blaze
54 LASER SYSTEMS EUROPE ISSUE 23 • SUMMER 2014
technological science advancement and synergy has begun
This era of
the path and begin to incorporate the amazing characteristics of lasers and light technology.’ Although lasers have been used in medicine and surgery for decades, ‘advancements in other areas of science and technology are beginning to allow laser technology to reach potentials not available in the past. We have been patiently waiting for other technological advancements to allow us to truly engage the unique characteristics of laser light in medicine and surgery. Tis era of technological science advancement and synergy has begun.’ ILSC 2015 will ‘offer today’s medical/ surgical laser professional insights and tools for the challenges of today as well as continue to prepare the medical laser safety officer, laser engineer and medical laser professional for technological advancements and their impact on patient applications, medical laser
programme efficacy and laser safety,’ Pollard said. Technical PAS chairman Tom Lieb said:
‘We want to emphasize the practical things people need to get their job done.’ He intends to cover not only the new Z136.1 standard, but the recently published Z136.8 guiding the safe user of lasers in research, development and testing and the Z136.9 for manufacturing environments. He aims to illustrate ‘what separates them from what we’ve done in the past and what is critical information for carrying on work as an LSO in industry.’ In between these lines should be the
following paragraph: Ultimately, “ILSC has provided an
excellent networking opportunity over the years,” O’Hagan said. “Where else can you meet and talk with some of the most experienced laser safety professionals in the world in one place?” l To learn more about ILSC 2015 and to register, visit
www.lia.org/ilsc.
ABOUT THE LIA
Laser Institute of America (LIA), founded in 1968, is the professional society for laser applications and safety. Our mission is to foster lasers, laser applications and laser safety worldwide.
www.lia.org
13501 Ingenuity Drive, Ste 128, Orlando, FL 32826, +1 407.380.1553
LASER INSIGHT S
Laser Insights gives an insight into the latest developments in laser safety and the possible applications of laser materials processing. These overviews are designed to give you insight into the content and applications of the papers presented at our conferences and workshops.
Visit
www.lia.org/laserinsights to begin your search.
Non-Disruptive, Low Loss In-Line Laser Beam Monitoring System for Industrial Laser Processing By Michael Scaggs and Gilbert Haas
The BWA-MON (Beam Waist Analyzer MONitor) system is a ‘smart’ focus head that provides ‘real-time’ laser beam measurement, analysis and monitoring of low to very high power lasers. This is in accordance with international standards ISO11146 and ISO13694 related to lasers without disrupting the laser beam in use and with minimal loss. Prior to the genus of the BWA-MON, any measurement of a focused laser beam required a complete disruption of the beam; regardless of the application. Laser manufacturers that develop or research lasers have to align the laser based upon arbitrary conditions, take it to an M2
measurement
setup; make a measurement and if not desirable, go back and realign. This process can take months to fully develop a system. The BWA-MON aids the laser manufacturer by allowing them to adjust the laser in real time; so there is no need to remove the laser and test in another location and thereby greatly reduce development, setup and alignment time.
Sapphire Cutting with Pulsed Fibre Lasers By Christoph Ruettimann, Noémie Dury and Markus Danner
With almost 40 years of experience in precision processing of synthetic crystalline materials, Swiss laser manufacturer Rofin-Lasag has developed a process for cutting sapphire glass, which is now increasingly used in mobile electronic devices and high-quality mechanical watches. Synthetic sapphire is a mono-crystalline aluminium oxide with outstanding technical properties, such as a high thermal conductivity, very high light transmission and complete acid resistance. In addition, it is an outstanding electric insulator and extremely scratch-resistant: With a Mohs’ hardness of 9, sapphire is beaten only by diamond. Sapphire can be cut with a variety of laser technologies. Ultrashort pulse lasers, such as picosecond lasers, cut the material using very short pulses. The energy of these pulses is transferred so quickly to the electrons that the chemical bonds of the atoms are destroyed. In contrast to that, pulsed fibre lasers with a pulse length in the range of microseconds to milliseconds work with another cutting process, so-called fusion cutting.
@lasersystemsmag |
www.lasersystemseurope.com
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