ILSC 2009 Paper #C101 (Properties of Optical Frequency Combs)

Properties of Optical Frequency Combs
Authors:
Steven T. Cundiff, JILA, NIST and University of Colorado; Boulder CO USA
Presented at ILSC 2009

Optical frequency combs have become a very active area of research over the last decade. Their primary applications have been optical frequency metrology and optical atomic clocks, however they are also being applied to chemical sensing, length metrology, optical waveform generation and extreme nonlinear optics. I will briefly introduce frequency combs, how they are produced and why they are useful for these applications. Typically frequency combs are produced by using nonlinearity in optical fiber to spectrally broaden the output of a mode-locked laser....

ILSC 2009 Paper #905 (Qualification of Technical Safety Measures for the Safe Use of Hand-held Laser Processing Devices)

Qualification of Technical Safety Measures for the Safe Use of Hand-held Laser Processing Devices
Authors:
Thomas Puester, Laser Zentrum Hannover E.V.; Hannover Germany
Andreas Ostendorf, Laser Zentrum Hannover E.V.; Hannover Germany
Dirk Herzog, Laser Zentrum Hannover E.V.; Hannover Germany
Erik Romanus, Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; Dortmund Germany
Martin Brose, Employer�S Liability Insurance Association, Electrical Engineering, Textile Industry, Precision Mechanics; Cologne Germany
Presented at ILSC 2009

From an occupational safety point of view the market launch of hand-held laser processing devices (HLDs) should...

ILSC 2009 Paper #904 (Risk Assessment, Guarding and Control Reliable Interlocking)

Risk Assessment, Guarding and Control Reliable Interlocking
Authors:
Paul R. Daniel Jr., Delphi Corp. Energy & Chassis; Flint MI USA
Presented at ILSC 2009

An experienced Manufacturing Controls Engineer and Laser Safety Officer (LSO) from the automotive parts supplier industry shares some of the ways he applies laser safety to building custom industrial laser machines. The engineering controls considerations will cover selected topics from risk assessment, guarding and control reliable circuits. These considerations may apply to custom laser machines built in your facility, or at a machine tool company. It also may be used to evaluate standard off the shelf laser machines.

ILSC 2009 Paper #903 (Laser Safety Measures in the Work Environment of a Laser Manufacturer)

Laser Safety Measures in the Work Environment of a Laser Manufacturer
Authors:
Nadia Capolla, StockerYale, Inc.; Montreal QC Canada
Presented at ILSC 2009

Since the environment of a company that manufactures lasers is different than other industrial environments where lasers are simply used, it is often difficult to implement the standard safety measures that are proposed in text books. For example, the lasers that are built on the production floor, and that need to be characterized at different stages of fabrication, are not yet classified and often not yet adjusted to their final output power. Also, the production floor needs to be an open space in order to optimize flow efficiency, so the la...

ILSC 2009 Paper #902 (Practical Assessment of Laser Processing Machines)

Practical Assessment of Laser Processing Machines
Authors:
Michael Barrett, Pro Laser Consultants; Abingdon Great Britain
Presented at ILSC 2009

The safety of Laser Processing Machines is an important part of the machine design and the validation process. International standards such as ISO 11553 Parts 1, 2 and 3 give excellent guidance but within the European Union further measures must be taken to ensure compliance with established EU Directives. Although the Directives themselves are not a legal requirement, their enactment into the law of individual EU countries effectively makes them a legal requirement. The purpose of these safety related Directives is the enhancement of the health, sa...

ILSC 2009 Paper #901 (High Powered Lasers - Using International Standards in Industrial Laser Robot Safety Compliance Design)

High Powered Lasers - Using International Standards in Industrial Laser Robot Safety Compliance Design
Authors:
Thomas Lieb, L*A*I International; Elk Grove CA USA
Presented at ILSC 2009

There are several obvious hazards associated with laser end-effectors which are manipulated by robots (5-axis motion systems). But there are also risks which may be more subtle. Robot software is still subject to going berserk. Containment systems, unless properly designed, can complicate as many problems as they are intended to reduce. High powered Fiber Lasers, capable of utilizing very long focal lengths, present another element, which is becoming of increasing concern, as users of conventional...

ILSC 2009 Paper #804 (Laser Safety Training in a Large University)

Laser Safety Training in a Large University
Authors:
Sandu Sonoc, University of Toronto; Toronto ON Canada
Presented at ILSC 2009

University of Toronto has over 230 class 3B and class 4 lasers and laser systems. Few hundreds users work with open beam on daily basis. Due to the large turnover at the university we have to train every year more than 100 new users.

The new user training has two parts. First part consists of six hours in class including presentations, discussions and calculations followed by a short video and a test. The second part is a follow-up in the laser laboratory. During the follow-up we discussed the results of the test ensuring 100% understanding of the test questions,...

ILSC 2009 Paper #803 (OP-TEC National Center for Optics and Photonics Education and ANSI Z136.5 American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers in Educational Institutions - How They Will Work Together to Improve Laser Safety in Educational Institutions

OP-TEC National Center for Optics and Photonics Education and ANSI Z136.5 American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers in Educational Institutions - How They Will Work Together to Improve Laser Safety in Educational Institutions
Authors:
Fred P. Seeber, Camden County College; Manahawkin NJ USA
Presented at ILSC 2009

A consortium of two-year colleges, high schools, universities, national laboratories, industry partners, and professional societies created OP-TEC. This ATE-NSF program is committed to join forces in creating a secondary-to-postsecondary pipeline of highly qualified and strongly motivated students and empowering community colleges to meet the urgent need for technicians...

ILSC 2009 Paper #802 (Making Laser Safety Training More Cognitively Effective: Making Training Videos Interactive and Adaptive)

Making Laser Safety Training More Cognitively Effective: Making Training Videos Interactive and Adaptive
Authors:
Tom Cherrett, School of Civil Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton; Southampton Great Britain
James C. Gates, Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton; Southampton Great Britain
Pearl John, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southampton; Southampton Great Britain
Laura Holdaway-Salmon, School of Psychology, University of Southampton; - Great Britain
Joseph Price, School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton; Southampton Great Britain
Gary B. Wills, School of E...

ILSC 2009 Paper #705 (Airway Fires: Concerns, Causes, Case Histories and Prevention)

Airway Fires: Concerns, Causes, Case Histories and Prevention
Authors:
Richard S. Hughes, High-Rez Diagnostics, Inc.; Placerville CA USA
Presented at ILSC 2009

The author presented the details of two laser-induced airway fire cases for which he had served as an expert witness, the first at ILSC 2003 and the second at ILSC 2007. The outcome of the first reported case was and continues to be tragic in that the patient, 11 years old at the time of the accident, is permanently eating and breathing through plastic tubes. The outcome of the second case, while not as tragic, resulted in a permanent tracheotomy with its associated problems of periodic tube replacement and airway debridement, speaking...