Plenty of shops still run high-power engravers behind flimsy curtains. With such a bare-bones setup, one stray reflection or one missing pair of goggles could result in disaster. As a result, many of the most serious players in aerospace, medicine, and defense use industrial enclosures with tough walls, interlocked doors, and laser-safe windows. In this article, we’ll cover what laser engraving machine enclosures are, who uses them, how they help with compliance, and more.
What Is an Industrial Laser Engraving Machine Enclosure?
A laser engraving machine enclosure is a protective structure that surrounds a laser engraving machine, especially in a shop floor or manufacturing context. The main reason that businesses need them is to, of course, improve safety.
It should come as no surprise that lasers are dangerous, and it’s easy for them to be deflected. Enclosures protect the surroundings and workers from dangers such as radiation, as well as smoke and fumes that come from the engraving work.
Most are designed to be used with Class 4 laser systems. Because of this, enclosures are built with special panels that can block beams, as well as laser safety windows and interlocked doors, and even ventilation to remove smoke.
Enclosures for industrial use are much different than for small or hobby-level engravers, as the former are made tough for consistent use. As a result, they’re built with strong and lasting materials. Many manufacturers prefer modular designs for these enclosures because they can be installed quickly and at low cost, and with the option to reconfigure or move it later as well.
Who Uses Laser Engraving Machine Enclosures?
As you might expect, laser enclosures are used whenever high-powered laser systems (and especially Class 4 ones) are part of production. Some common users include:
- Manufacturing plants
- Aerospace and defense suppliers
- Medical device and electronics manufacturers
- CNC machine shops
- Research labs
- Automated robotics
How Enclosures Help Meet Industrial Safety Standards
Laser engraving machine enclosures can also help you reach compliance with ANSI Z136.1 or OSHA requirements, especially regarding Class 4 laser systems. As we mentioned already, these enclosures usually include interlocked doors that disable the laser if opened (as required by ANSI).
If air quality is an issue, enclosures can be outfitted with HEPA filters and ventilation in order to avoid health issues caused by hazardous gases.
What’s more, these enclosures can also help meet OSHA noise exposure limits, and can be created with sound-dampening panels.
Benefits of Modular Industrial Enclosure Systems
If you need short lead times and flexibility, then modular enclosures are the default choice. Shops hardly want to wait twelve weeks or more for a contractor to frame, drywall, and paint a permanent room anymore.
The installation itself is very fast. A basic space may take six to ten weeks with traditional construction, but with modular it can often be done in a few days.
When the process needs to change (or your layout), you can disassemble and reassemble it elsewhere. It can even be expanded or downsized as needed.
The Bottom Line
If you have high-powered laser systems, you shouldn’t go without a proper enclosure. It’ll protect your people, and even control fumes and noise. Modular systems can be installed fast, and they are far more flexible than permanent structures.
Interested in setting up a machine enclosure? Reach out to the experts at MachineEnclosure.com today to get a quote on new shelters.
FAQs About Laser Engraving Machine Enclosures
1. Can a laser enclosure be fit around an existing laser system?
In most cases, yes. Modular, as we’ve explained already, is very easy to take apart and put back together, so enclosing an existing laser is often straightforward.
2. Are custom sizes or layouts available?
Yes, absolutely. At MachineEnclosure.com, we can create a fully customized enclosure from scratch. They can even be made to fit things like conveyor systems or robotic arms.
3. Does an enclosure eliminate the need for PPE?
It does eliminate the need for PPE if it brings your laser system to Class 1, which means that there isn’t any chance of harmful exposure outside of your enclosure. If not, then PPE may still be required.
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