Specifications

Safety
5
Basic
Performance
Requirements
All laser products must be designed and built to the lowest hazard
class (Class IV most hazardous, Class I not hazardous) possible for
the product to still perform its function. In the U.S. this means there
are instances when a Class IV product would be allowed (although
human exposure to radiation is not permitted). In Europe, for laser
processing machines, only Class I machines are permitted.
In Material Processing applications, obviously, the laser must be
powerful enough to effect the process, so the method to achieve
Class I is to completely enclose the beam or otherwise prevent
human access to laser radiation.
Coherent Diamond lasers, like other CO
2
infrared lasers, can really
only be classified as Class I or Class IV (Class II to IIIb are virtually
limited to visible lasers). Shipped from the factory, they are either
Certified Class IV or uncertified OEM component products (with an
inherent Class IV hazard level).
All laser products, regardless of Class, require protective housings
which prevent human access to laser and collateral radiation to all
but the radiation emitted to perform the product function. This
means if you have purchased the OEM package you will have to
fabricate and provide a protective housing for the laser, regardless of
the application or class of the final use.
When incorporating Diamond products into systems, you, the inte-
grator, must provide the required features (or extend those as
provided by Coherent).
If you are completely enclosing the entire product and its process to
achieve a Class I product Classification, you must still make certain
warnings and features, which are appropriate for Class IV, available
on the product for application during service or other times (other
than normal operation) when the unit may be functioning with a
Class IV hazard present.
In addition to protective housings, Class IV laser products require
performance features under both 21 CFR 1040 and IEC 825-1:
• Key Control – controlling main power, must be removable, no
operation with key removed
• Remote Interlock Connector – in series with safety interlock
circuit, available to the end-user
• Safety Interlock – at any portion of housing which could
provide access to radiation, intended for operation or mainte-
nance
• Emission Indicator – audible/visible, indicates prior to laser
emission
• Beam Attenuator – to block all access to radiation