Always consult your Laser Safety Officer (LSO) or another qualified laser safety professional when selecting a laser safety window. Required wavelength protection and optical density (OD) depend on the specific laser and reasonably foreseeable worst-case exposure conditions at the window.
If you are selecting a replacement or additional viewing window for an Orion Motor Tech 40W CO₂ laser, do not select the window based on the 40 W power rating alone.
Start by verifying the actual operating wavelength specified for your particular laser. Many CO₂ laser systems operate near 10,600 nm (10.6 µm), but CO₂ lasers can operate at other wavelengths.
The laser safety window's protection range must include the actual wavelength produced by the system.
What About Optical Density?
Wavelength coverage alone does not establish that a window is appropriate.
The required optical density depends on the reasonably foreseeable worst-case laser exposure that could occur at the window. Window location, beam path, enclosure design, distance from the process, and the type of potential exposure can all affect this evaluation.
For this reason, 40 W alone is not enough information to determine the required OD. As part of the hazard evaluation, you may find the LIA Optical Density Calculator helpful for evaluating OD requirements.
It is also important to distinguish a laser's classification from its hazard evaluation. Classification describes the laser's general hazard category, while the hazard evaluation considers the specific laser parameters and reasonably foreseeable exposure conditions for the application.
For a more detailed explanation, see Laser Classification vs. Hazard Evaluation: What's the Difference?
If Your Required Protection Falls Within Our Window Specification
Laser Safety Industries offers a CO₂ laser safety window rated:
OD 6+ @ 10,000–11,000 nm
If your Orion Motor Tech laser's actual operating wavelength falls within 10,000–11,000 nm and OD 6+ provides sufficient protection for the reasonably foreseeable worst-case exposure at the window, this window may be an appropriate option for the application.
For a more detailed explanation of how to select a window, see our guide: What Laser Safety Window Do I Need for a CO₂ Laser?