Editing Laser Manual/Basic Safety (section)

= Fire =

[[Image:Laser_water_estop.jpg|thumb|right|upright=3|alt=Laser cutter with water and estop| The water squirt bottle is sitting on top of the laser, and the estop is the round red button.]]

You can really hurt yourself or burn the building down with this machine. If you follow the safety rules, the chances of you causing this is close to zero. Some materials are very flammable on the laser cutter, and shouldn't be cut.  Never cut an unapproved material, or a material you can't identify.  A laser beam can also initiate a fire if the speed of the cut is too slow or the laser power is set too high.

  
Ways to not cause fires:
* '''Always monitor the laser cutter whenever it is cutting as fires can happen.'''  The laser affects your material by heating it. Your job can change in seconds with the accumulation of heat in your material. Never leave the room while the laser is in operation.  If you leave the laser unattended, your access to the laser cutter will be permanently revoked.
* Use reasonable speed/power settings.  Start with the recommended speed/power settings for your material. Be patient - resist the temptation to crank the power and speed to rush through your job.  This can cause fires.
** There will be some light when material is cut. This light at the point of lasing may be ok as long as it stays with the motion of the laser. If a flame appears while the laser is in operation, stop your job and try again with lower heat settings.
* Know where the fire extinguisher is in case of a fire.  The ONLY fire extinguisher that should be used on the laser cutter is the halotron extinguisher right next to the laser cutter.  Other fire extinguishers are corrosive and will ruin the machine.

How to put out a fire:
* Push the pause button (if you can't find the pause button quickly, the e-stop will do).  (To turn the machine back on after the estop was hit, you need to switch the power switch on the right hand side of the machine off and on again).
** If paused and not e-stopped, move gantry out of the way
* Open the lid.
* If it's small, try and blow it out.
* If it's smallish, try and squirt it out with the water squirt bottle sitting on the right hand side of the machine.
* If that doesn't work, use the halotron fire extinguisher to the right of the laser cutter.  Aim it at the base of the flame.