Proper switchgear operation and standard daily maintenance are the basis for ensuring the long-term stable operation of lasers and maximizing performance. Not only can improper operation easily damage core components such as pump source, crystals, optical lenses and power modules, but it can also cause serious safety risks such as laser radiation, electric shock and even fire.

To this end, this paper will systematically describe the standard switching process for solid lasers, key maintenance points and necessary safety precautions. It is designed to help operators and technical researchers to fully master standard operating methods, effectively improve the efficiency and service life of equipment, and ensure the safety of personnel and equipment.

I.Instructions for the Laser Interface

• Nanosecond laser: The power supply and laser are separate structures, equipped with a power supply and laser interface as shown below:

△ Femtosecond / Picosecond and Nanosecond Lasers are Equipped with Power

△ Annotation Diagram of Nanosecond Laser Interface

• Femtosecond/picosecond lasers: featuring an all-in-one design integrating the laser, power supply, and water chiller。 In a conventional configuration, the remaining core components, except for the water cooler, are provided by our company.The physical laser and its interface are illustrated as follows:

△ Pictogram of Picosecond Laser Interface and Button Annotation

II.Safety and Protection Requirements for Laser Switchgear

In the process of operation, solid lasers will produce high-energy laser beams, which are accompanied by high-voltage electricity, high temperature, strong light reflection and other risks. In order to ensure the personal safety of operators and the stability of equipment, the following safety protection requirements must be strictly followed:

(1) Safety protection of laser radiation

Laser radiation is the most important safety risk of solid masher, and protective measures should be implemented according to the laser level (usually solid masher is Class 4, a high danger laser).

①Personal protective equipment （PPE）

• Wear laser protective glasses : It is essential to wear specialized protective glasses that are fully matched to the output wavelength of the laser； regularly inspect the lenses for scratches or cracks, and replace them immediately if any damage is found.
• Wear protective clothing and gloves: wear flame-retardant, laser-scatter-proof protective clothing （to avoid skin exposure）, and wear heat-resistant, laser burn-proof specialized gloves.

②Optical road safety control

• Make sure the entire light path is closed or set up a physical isolation barrier before starting the system.
• When adjusting the optical path, the laser must be set to low-power mode, and a laser power meter should be used to monitor the energy in real time.

③Warning signs set up

• Post prominent laser radiation hazard warning signs on the entrance to the operating room and around the laser, indicating the laser wavelength and power rating;
• When the laser is turned on, the red warning light needs to be lighted to prohibit unrelated persons from entering the operation area.

(2) Electrical Safety Protection

Solid-state lasers are equipped with high-voltage power supplies and high-power pump sources, posing electrical risks such as electric shock and short circuits.

①Grounding and Insulation Inspections

• Before starting the operation, it must be confirmed that the grounding of the equipment is reliable (grounding resistance ≤ 4Ω);
• Check the power lines, plugs, and sockets regularly for damage and aging, and damaged insulation needs to be immediately stopped.

②Operating specification requirements

• Operators should wear insulated shoes;
• Wet hands are strictly forbidden to touch power switches, control buttons or the internal electrical components of the equipment.

③Emergency Management

• In the event of an electrical failure (e.g., a leak or a flood), immediately disconnect the total power supply.

(3) Environment and Personnel Management

Inter-operational environmental requirements

• It is necessary to maintain good ventilation between operations to prevent the accumulation of harmful gases such as ozone and metal vapor generated during processing.
• A fire extinguisher (dry powder or carbon dioxide extinguisher) should also be provided in case of need from time to time.

Credentials and management of personnel

• Operators must be professionally trained and familiar with the working principles of lasers, operating procedures and safety regulations;
• Unlicensed persons are strictly prohibited from operating lasers.

Emergency Rescue Preparation

• Develop emergency response plans, including first aid procedures for accidents such as laser burns, electric shocks, and fires;
• Equipped with first aid kits (including burn cream, insulated gloves, etc.) and organized emergency drills on a regular basis.

III.Operating steps of laser switchgear

The correct procedure for switching on and off a solid-state laser is crucial for ensuring equipment longevity and preventing damage to optical/electronic components； it must be strictly followed “cool down before pumping when starting up, and pump before cooling down when shutting down” as the core principle.

△ Turn on / off the Machine

Note:After the laser is connected to water and power, it requires preheating （e.g., for 15 minutes） to reach thermal stability, ensuring the stability of the output laser power/energy during use.

(1) Start-up Process

The solid laser auxiliary system (cooling, venting, etc.) needs to be started before the mainframe to ensure heat dissipation and safety.

①Start the cooling system

• Water-cooled model: Turn on the power switch of the water-cooling unit, check whether the coolant level is within the marked range, set the target temperature of the water-cooling unit （typically 20°C ~ 25°C）, which must match that of the laser；
• Air-cooled model: confirm that the fan speed is normal, there are no abnormal noises, and the equipment’s heat dissipation channels are unobstructed.

②Start other assistive systems

Turn on the interoperating exhaust system, and if laser processing is involved, turn on the dust removal and smoke removal device to prevent the accumulation of harmful gases.

③Set operational parameters

In the control system interface, input and output power, pulse frequency, pulse wideness, working mode and other preset operation parameters; Once you have confirmed that the parameter is set correctly, click “Save the parameter” to ensure that the parameter remains locked and to prevent the manipulation of the parameter.

④Laser output operation

Clicking the “Laser Enabling” button of the control system, the laser enters the output state and slowly increases the output power (each increase is ≤ 10% of the rated power), while monitoring with a power meter whether the actual output power is consistent with the set value.After the power is stabilized, the laser output mode and the shape of the spot are confirmed to meet the requirements before they can be officially put into use.

(2) Shutdown Process

The operating process needs to be followed in a step-by-step manner. The core principle is to disconnect the pump source, release the energy storage / high pressure, cool the system and stop the operation to avoid equipment failure due to thermal shock, high pressure residue or optical damage.

①Step-by-step shutdown of operations (core steps)

• First, cut off the pump source as the main heating source to avoid overheating of the gain medium:
• Keep the cooling system running and carry out waste heat dissipation;
• Finally turn off the mains power and auxiliary systems.

②Reverse the power supply in order

When you turn off the power supply, you must operate in the following order:

• Turn off the laser host power switch;
• Turn off the water cooler / wind cooling system power;
• Turn off the power supply of the external control unit (such as motion controller, industrial control machine, etc.);
• Finally, disconnect the general power switch (such as the switch breaker).

(3) Protection of optical systems

If the laser is down for a long period of time (more than 24 hours), you need to:

• Cover the resonance cavity input / output mirror and fiber-optic coupled ports with a dust cover to prevent dust pollution of the optical surface;
• For optical components using organic coatings, avoid ambient humidity > 60% and place a desiccant when necessary;
• It is prohibited to touch optical surfaces with your hands, and if cleaning is required, use dedicated optical wipe paper and waterless ethanol.

Regulating the switchgear operation of lasers is a fundamental prerequisite for ensuring the stable operation of equipment, the safe conduct of experiments and the health protection of personnel. From environmental inspection, parameter reconciliation, to each step of operation and condition monitoring in the switchgear, it needs to be rigorous and meticulous, and cannot be neglected.

As high-energy precision equipment, the operational standardization of lasers is directly linked to both the lifespan of the device and personnel safety。 Only by firmly establishing safety awareness and strictly adhering to operational procedures can equipment failures and laser injury risks be effectively avoided. All operators must prioritize safety and standardization, starting with standardized operations to ensure that every laser operation is completed efficiently and safely, thereby building a solid safety barrier for research and production work.

appendix: Laser Safety Features

①Laser safety marking

The side label of the laser indicates technical parameters such as the output wavelength, power and pulse width of the laser, and a hazard warning sign is affixed to the front. The triangular label indicates the direction of the laser emission, and the bared window displays the laser hazard warning, as follows:

△ List of Hazard Warning Signs

② Laser Safety Levels

All lasers in the Huachuang Hongdu series belong to Class IV。 Class Lasers (greater than 500)mw）， According to the Chinese standard GB 7247.1-2012, it is also classified as Category 4. Necessary precautions must be taken to prevent the output beam or reflected beam from being directly exposed to the human body, as both scattered light and reflected light can cause severe damage to the skin and eyes； therefore, operators should always wear appropriate protective eyewear during operation.

Safety Requirements for operating lasers with a radiation strength rating of 4:

• It is strictly forbidden under any circumstances to open the casing of the laser cavity;
• For grade 4 laser products, signs should be placed near the area where the laser is operated;
• Reflected light is just as harmful as scattered light, so you should avoid looking directly at the output beam of the laser.
• A protective eye mask must be worn when using the laser (the 355 nm band has a high reflectivity);
• Equipment integrators should make the optical path system as closed as possible;
• A principle must be followed during use: the light path cannot be at the same height as the human eye.

③ Electrical Safety Instructions

The power supply voltage for the laser equipment is single-phase AC 220V； it is essential to ensure that the live wire, neutral wire, and ground wire are connected correctly according to their labels. Note: Different models of power supplies should not be mixed, or it may cause damage to the device.

Copyright © 2026 Anhui Huachuang Hongdu Photoelectric Technology Co.,Ltd. All Rights Reserved