Synrad 32-1 - Page 35

SYNRAD® 32-1 Operator’s Manual Version 2.2
35
Technical Reference
Cleanliness is another important issue aecting performance and becomes increasingly im-
portant as laser power increases. Dirty or scratched lenses will under perform, exhibit a vastly
shortened lifetime, and may fail catastrophically.
When the application requires air (instead of nitrogen) as an assist gas, use only breathing
quality air available in cylinders from a welding supply company. Compressed shop air con-
tains minute particles of oil and other contaminants that will damage optical surfaces. If com-
pressed shop air is the only choice available, it must be ltered and dried to ISO 8573-1:2010
Class 1, 2, 1 specications shown in the table below.
Table 4-2 Assist gas purity specications.
Assist Gas Typical Purpose Specication
Air Cutting/Drilling Breathing Grade > 99.9996% purity; ltered to ISO Class 1
particulate level
Air Cutting/Drilling Compressed Instrument-grade air ltered and dried to
ISO 8573-1:2010 Class 1, 2, 1 (< 10 1.0–
5.0 µm particles/m
3
; < –40 °F dew point;
< 0.01 mg/m
3
oil vapor)
Argon Welding High Purity Grade > 99.998% purity; ltered to ISO Class 1
particulate level
Helium Welding High Purity Grade > 99.997% purity; ltered to ISO Class 1
particulate level
Nitrogen Cutting/Drilling High Purity Grade > 99.9500% purity; ltered to ISO Class 1
particulate level
Oxygen Cutting/Drilling Ultra Pure Grade > 99.9998% purity; ltered to ISO Class 1
particulate level