I just received my 50 watt VL300 Versalaser. Will be installing the blower tomorrow and should be ready to go tomorrow evening. I was reading the manual and it states not to look at the laser while in use. Also states there are visible and invisible laser beams within the machine. I just came from a LASIK operation 2 weeks ago and am concerned with the laser beams.
Are these harmful to the normal eye? What kind of eye protection should I wear? Are you guys even concerned about this? Would normal sunglasses be ok?
As the laser isn’t aimed at YOU, I wouldn’t worry. Dunno about a Versalaser, but on our Epilogs you can barely see the beams - only their result on the article you’re engraving.
No special eye protection is needed for normal use, and no one I know wears any form of optical guard while using their machines. Though you might want to ask your optician (ophthalmologist?) for your specific situation, I can’t see where there’s any real danger; indeed, this seems to me to be more like the kind of warning you’d find on a hair dryer (”do not shower while using” kind of thing).
Be aware that if the laser beam from even a 10 watt infrared laser reflected directly into your eye, you would almost certainly be permanently blinded. There is always a possibility that the laser could strike debris in the work area or in the material you are cutting and reflect the beam outward. This is why the covers on most laser machines are designed to filter the laser. If you have overridden the safety switches and are operating the machine without the cover in place, you should always wear laser safety glasses. These glasses are not the same as sunglasses and are often nearly clear in appearance. The clear glass ones are recommended.