Projects/Sharplan

Sharplan 3000 100W Nd:YAG Surgical Laser
Reading Hackspace has a Sharplan 3000 Nd:Yag laser under refurbushment.

SAFETY
Additional hazards specific to these lasers.
 * Laser Beam. The laser emits a very powerful (150Watt Class IV laser) yet invisible beam in the near infrared (NIR)(1064nm). The characteristics of this NIR beam are very different from a CO2 laser. Even though the beam is invisible, the eye will still focus the light onto the retina, causing massive damage. Many plastics(polycarbonate, acrylic) that stop far infrared (CO2 laser) will not stop NIR light. Materials may be reflective to NIR light while not reflective to visible or far infrared light. This laser can inflict serious burns which are extremely painful and slow to heal.
 * High voltages. The voltages present (10kV +) in the laser are lethal. A large volume of water under high pressure is also contained within the laser. The beam also contains a HeNe red laser beam ( 5mW Class 3A laser)

Applications
Although his laser is powerful, it may not be very useful in its present state. The beam quality is supposed to be rather low on these lasers, so a small focussed spot cannot be acheived. The output is a 1064nm in the infra red, it will not cut as well as the C02 laser cutter on materials such as acrylic and wood. It might cut thin metal if we can focus it enough.