The "Safecutter" project is a collaboration between scientists from the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) Greifswald and the Munich-based company Mr Beam Lasers GmbH, which specialises in the construction and sale of desktop laser cutting systems.

With a desktop laser cutter, detailed engravings and the cutting of many different materials are possible. A perfect introduction to the world of lasers. Until now, this technology could only be used industrially. The reason was mainly the high acquisition costs and the potential danger.
Since, depending on the material, different, sometimes toxic gases and vapours can be produced during the cutting process and the laser cutters are operated indoors, we are looking into how laser cutting can be made safer with regard to the exhaust gases in our research work.

The focus is thus on ensuring safety. By:

• hazardous material is detected before use


• cleaning up any waste gases produced


• analysing the composition of the exhaust gas


• a safety shutdown is integrated

Another important aspect of the work is the accessibility of laser cutting for the masses. Therefore, we designed low cost methods that make the purchase of the final product financially justifiable for the user and still reduce the dangers to a minimum.

Ultimately, it is important for us to invest in this research topic because laser cutters and products of this kind should be available to a broad mass. But safe.
Laser safe.

The project was supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as part of the "Open Photonik Pro" funding measure of the "Photonik Forschung Deutschland" programme. The funding measure is intended to enable new forms of cooperation between science and industry and the maker and start-up scene.