彫刻システムに投入するほぼ全ての材料は、何らかの残留物や破片を含有または放出しますが、一般的にほとんどの材料はシステム内で安全に使用できます。ただし、レーザー彫刻・切断に適さない特定の材料が存在します。これらの材料は機械内部を腐食させ、性能低下や保証無効の原因となります。材料の安全性は、レーザーシステムの寿命を延ばす上で不可欠なステップです。
塩化水素と塩化ビニル（主にPVCやその他の人工素材に含まれる）は、レーザーシステムの寿命に有害です。これらの素材を彫刻・切断すると機械に不可逆的な損傷を与える可能性があるため、切断・彫刻素材の成分を特定することは極めて重要です。では、レーザー切断や彫刻したい素材の構成成分をどのように判断すればよいのでしょうか？ 続きをお読みください。
Material Safety Data Sheet
A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is designed to provide you the proper procedures for handling or working with a particular substance. These documents contain the elements used to make up the material and will indicate whether or not it contains elements that are potentially harmful to your engraving system. MSDS’s also include information such as physical data (melting point, boiling point, flash point etc.), toxicity, health effects, first aid, reactivity, storage, disposal, protective equipment, and spill/leak procedures.
Obtaining a MSDS
There are several ways to obtain a MSDS for the material sheet. The easiest way is to perform an Internet search with the key words “MSDS” and whatever material you’re working with (example: MSDS + Neoprene.)
この方法で必要な情報が見つからない場合は、該当する物質のMSDSを入手するため、製造元へ直接お問い合わせください。
Sample MSDS
Below are some sample safety data sheets for various products.
Neoprene – Notice that under hazardous combustion products, the MSDS indicates hydrogen chloride is emitted when the material is heated.
Polyester – there is no mention of toxic or questionable elements in this material so it appears safe to laser cut and/or engrave.
What happens if you engrave or cut something containing hydrogen or vinyl chloride?
If you don’t know what’s in the material you’re engraving or cutting, you may have unintentionally cut or engraved items containing polyvinyl chloride. Performing this once or twice will likely not drastically damage your machine; however, continued engraving or cutting of this material will corrode the inside of your machine.
A more important consideration are the potentially hazardous fumes that might be released from processing these materials. Some materials are quite toxic when burned and the damage to your health is much more important than the minor damage you might do to your machine.
Material Safety Data Sheets are an invaluable resource for laser engravers. To protect your health and the life of your machine, always obtain a MSDS for materials about which you are uncertain.
