SafeCutter

Duration from 01.02.2020 - 31.01.2023, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) under the funding code (FKZ) 13N15206.

Laser cutting enables fast, precise cutting or engraving of numerous materials and is ideal for individual production in small quantities. In recent years, cheaper and more readily available hardware components have helped laser cutters - similar to 3D printers - to move from the industrial sector to the mass market, where they are used as desktop devices by tech-savvy private individuals ("makers") in particular, but also by other professional groups (e.g. model making in architecture). However, use by non-professionals requires improved safety precautions - the user must be protected not only from the laser radiation, but also from the toxic gases and respirable particles produced. However, the filters currently in use do not retain all gases completely and need to be changed more frequently. In addition, plastics in particular can sometimes produce corrosive gases that damage the laser cutter itself. It is therefore currently mainly up to the user to ensure their own safety and that of the device.

In the "SafeCutter" project, together with a manufacturer of desktop laser cutters (Mr Beam Lasers GmbH), several innovative safety components are being investigated and developed to close this technological gap: laser-based material identification to detect potentially hazardous materials, a plasma-catalytic process to break down and filter pollutants that were previously difficult to retain and an electrostatic separation of particles implemented in the process. The INP also draws on many years of expertise in the field of plasma-based pollutant degradation and its own patent. The particular challenge is the technical implementation of the safety features with the most cost-effective hardware possible. The result should be a system suitable for the mass market that enables the safe and user-friendly operation of desktop laser cutters indoors.

Project video: bit.ly/3LpaSTN