


Most hobby-grade machines include safety features that prevent beam escape, but it's important to properly maintain the machine to avoid injury.

Laser-beam escape: Low-quality machines and poor machine maintenance can result in laser-beam escape that can cause personal injury.These include polystyrene, polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Though the risk of fire is low with a hobby laser cutter, it's important to be aware of flammable materials that are more likely to ignite than produce clean lines. Fire: Many materials are flammable, including wood.That said, there are some hazards to be aware of. Hobby-grade laser-cutting machines have extensive safety features built right in to protect the crafter from some of the risks associated with industrial-grade machines. Safety Considerations with Home Laser-Cutting Machines A diverse range of materials can be used with laser cutters, such as wood, plastic, metal, glass and paper, to create intricate and complex designs. Laser cutting is a fabrication process that uses a high-powered, focused laser beam to cut material into custom designs. While there's no doubt that home laser cutters are convenient and open a world of possibility for creative crafters, how safe are they? Understanding Home Laser-Cutting Machines Using the same technology as industrial-sized CNC laser cutter engravers in a small, household format, laser cutters give crafters the ability to create their own artisan goods in the comfort of their own home. Once reserved for industrial fabrication shops with extensive safety systems and protocols, the incredible capabilities of laser cutting have been brought into the homes of crafters everywhere with household laser cutters.
