[General] Laser Cutter Class Announcement: 1/31/12 @ 7:00pm

Thu Jan 26 12:08:21 CST 2012

Hello,

On Thu, Jan 26, 2012 at 9:36 AM, Alice Scanland <alice.scanland at gmail.com>wrote:

> David,
>
> You do bring up an interesting point here. If it is appropriate for the
> person working on the project to be using a respirator is it ok for the
> people also in the room to not be wearing a respirator?
>

Rule of thumb, if you can smell it, you should be wearing gear.
 Analytically, if there is no barrier between you and the local work area
that stops air transfer, or if you are not far away enough to not smell it,
then you will also need gear.

> I had noted that 2storyprops use respirators for some projects, but those
> fumes are still in the room around the rest of us. Often times that work is
> being done outside (which I'm sure helps) but the doors are usually open
> and the smell certainly is wafting into the building. Is the danger also
> wafting into the building?
>

If you can smell it, then hey.

>
> I don't understand the dangers from these things, I have not worked with
> the mediums and therefore not looked into the safety. What are your
> thoughts on this? Should I supply myself with a respirator for the times
> when plexiglass is being cut, and bondo/fiberglass being worked?
>

Yes, your choices are to wear your gear or stay out of the area.  In most
shop setups, it is typical to do the most noxious work when people are not
around to reduce exposure.

              - Ethan

P.S. Take note, the dangers include fumes, dust and smoke.  Not all of
which will be detectable by smell.  Also, for your reference, here are the
industry (OSHA) standards for
ventilation<http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9734>and
respiratory
protection<http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=12716>
.

> Thank You,
> Alii
>
>
> On Thu, Jan 26, 2012 at 9:23 AM, David Reimer <davidreimerartist at gmail.com
> > wrote:
>
>> Hey everyone. I just wanted to toss this out there in hopes that members
>> become aware of other safety concerns with the laser cutter. A few people
>> have been cutting plexiglass on the laser cutter, and when that happens, it
>> vents out into the rest of the shop. Not only does it just smell bad, but
>> the odor is actually toxic and harmful to breathe in. I'm aware that the
>> cutter is set up to vent out of that area, but when dealing with toxic
>> fumes, you can never be too safe, so I'd just like to encourage members who
>> regularly work with plexiglass on the cutter to pick up an
>> appropriately-rated respirator (not a dust mask, a *respirator*).
>> 2StoryProps uses respirators when we work with our fiberglass and bondo. So
>> I'd just like to encourage everyone to be safety-minded when burning
>> plastic-based materials on the laser cutter.
>>
>> David Reimer
>>
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Jan 26, 2012 at 8:40 AM, David <ainut at knology.net> wrote:
>>
>>> **
>>> I'm not a safety Nazi but there was no mention of the laser goggles on
>>> the wiki.  Do we even have any?  Highly recommended whenever the beast is
>>> in operation.
>>>
>>>
>>> David Merchant
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Enabrin Tain wrote:
>>>
>>>  I think Candleknight did update the wiki page: (
>>> https://256.makerslocal.org/wiki/40_Watt_Laser_Cutter)
>>> /me applauds
>>>  :-D
>>>
>>>    ------------------------------
>>> *From:* Joshua Pritt <ramgarden at gmail.com> <ramgarden at gmail.com>
>>> *To:* General discussion about makerslocal
>>> <general at lists.makerslocal.org> <general at lists.makerslocal.org>
>>> *Sent:* Wednesday, January 25, 2012 8:37 PM
>>> *Subject:* Re: [General] Laser Cutter Class Announcement: 1/31/12 @
>>> 7:00pm
>>>
>>>  I hope someone takes notes and puts it on the wiki!
>>> On Jan 25, 2012 7:43 PM, "Justin Richards" <ratmandu at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> I've been experimenting with it a lot as well, but i'll be there also.
>>> It's always good to see other peoples opinions and results with things
>>>
>>> On Wed, Jan 25, 2012 at 6:21 PM, WebDawg <webdawg at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> Ill be dere.
>>>  On 25 Jan 2012 18:08, "Enabrin Tain" <enabrintain at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>    according to the fount of all human knowledge:
>>>
>>>  Fiberglass:  yes, sans polymer (
>>> http://www.cnczone.com/forums/laser_engraving_cutting_machines/46407-can_laser_cutter_cut_fiberglass.html
>>> )
>>> Carbon fiber: No (http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/749)
>>> Kevlar: Requires 1,500watts? (
>>> http://www.ambox.com/laser-cutting/materials/kevlar.html)
>>>                 I dunno about this one, there was very little about
>>> Kevlar...
>>>
>>> [-CO-C6H4-CO-NH-C6H4-NH-]n doesn’t have any Cl in it, so experimenting
>>> with a piece  shouldn't be disastrous. ;-)
>>>
>>>  All that said, ours is a 40W laser so there are things that could be
>>> cut by a more powerful laser, that ours can't.
>>>
>>>      <<<snip>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> General mailing list
>>> General at lists.makerslocal.org
>>> http://lists.makerslocal.org/mailman/listinfo/general
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> David Reimer
>> 256-323-0853, davidreimerartist at gmail.com
>> Graphic Designer / Illustrator / Web Designer
>>
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>
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