In industrial settings where laser cutting and plasma cutting are prevalent, the issue of dust and fume collection becomes a crucial aspect of maintaining a safe and clean work environment. These processes generate a significant amount of particles, smoke, and fumes that can be harmful to both workers and the equipment itself. Selecting the right dust collector for laser and plasma applications is essential to ensure efficient operation, compliance with regulations, and protection of worker health.
Laser and Plasma Applications have unique challenges.
- You need to keep the laser from escaping
While fume and smoke collection are necessary with a laser welding application, precautions around laser light escaping are also important. Most applications would involve a fully enclosed booth with windows protecting outsiders from being exposed to the laser while in use. - Plasma cutting operations are usually very smoky and messy
With plasma cutting, a lot of smoke and fume is generated. In many cases, this makes capturing the smoke with a source capture fume arm difficult. You need to find a way to contain the resulting fume and smoke to better capture it in a dust collector. - Plasma tables often have a solution built in
A plasma table will often have a plenum below with ports to connect to your dust collector. These types of tables are already designed by the manufacturer for dust collectors. Air purification specialists can size up a collector to match your table’s configuration. - Custom solutions are always possible
When your laser or plasma application is unique, there is generally always a way to help capture the harmful fumes and smoke. Sometimes this involves a hood or enclosing the area with strip curtains. Properly engineering the entire solution is critical in getting the best performance from your dust collection system.
Getting the right solution for Laser and Plasma
While laser and plasma applications have many challenges relating to smoke and fume collection, working with experts in the air purification field can be a big benefit. Knowing all the regulations around fume and smoke collection and having the experience is how you get great performance from the dust collector and keep your employees safe.