4 ms·
450w total (150wx3) of laser power seems like it could start a fire. I doubt farmers would be allowed to use this in summer or early fall here in New Zealand.
by teruakohatu 6y ago
450w total (150wx3) of laser power seems like it could start a fire. I doubt farmers would be allowed to use this in summer or early fall here in New Zealand.
I am sure they have thought of this already and don't run the lasers long...but still, running 3x high powered laser cutters outdoors unsupervised seems risky.
A 150w laser can cut 1.2mm thick steel.
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- lokimedes 6y agoThe best option would be using femtosecond lasers that ablate rather than burn the material. No idea if that is possible at those power levels.
- jcims 6y agoThat would definitely reduce/eliminate the fire risk but I think the challenge with that approach is that you would effectively just be cutting the weed off at the surface. With the CO2 laser they are basically cooking it to death. The long wavelength likely penetrates much further into the root as well, increasing the likelihood that its permanent. That said they could moderate the dwell time of the laser to avoid having things burst into flame if/where that is an issue. I do wonder if they could use microwave instead.
- LorenPechtel 6y agoCrop fields will be watered, not a big fire issue.
- angry_octet 6y agoI'm guessing you haven't seen many fires.