Dust is usually the enemy of productivity, but when it comes to jewelry processes involving lasers, it’s an extremely valuable commodity.
Lasers are used extensively in jewelry making, whether to create intricate patterns, weld metals together, or to create the hallmarks that underpin trust and quality. It’s a process that generates airborne contaminants consisting of particles of precious metals, notably gold. These particles need to be filtered to help maintain a clean working environment for operatives – but also to keep laser lenses free from dust, which might otherwise distort the laser energy beam and negatively impact product quality.
There’s another very good reason for jewelers to invest in filtration technology such as the systems designed and manufactured by Donaldson BOFA. We all know the phrase ‘It’s like gold dust’ to describe something rare and valuable…well for producers of jewelry, dust really can represent an excellent return on their investment in a portable dust extraction system.
It is estimated that up to 15% of gold can turn to dust during the manufacturing process. With the price of gold reaching record levels, more and more jewelers are realizing that capturing and recovering these particles can be a very worthwhile exercise.
The close-up work involved in this high-value sector means that small fiber lasers are typically used in the industry because of their effectiveness for intricate work such as marking, engraving and cutting. These processes lend themselves to filtration systems such as Donaldson BOFA’s AD Access, often with an extraction nozzle which can be placed within the laser enclosure close to the working area to capture the dust emitted during production.
This system includes a three-stage filter set-up and an optional system OK signal, so operators will know when there is a fault, when filters are blocked, and when filters are approaching full capacity. This allows users to schedule maintenance efficiently.
In the UK, it is a legal requirement for an Assay Office to hallmark any items containing precious metals and these offices also use lasers for marking purposes. Hallmarks must be clear and precise, so extraction technology plays an important role in this process to prevent laser fume from deflecting the laser beams and adversely affecting the quality of the mark. 
Laser, soldering, grinding, polishing, and welding are also used for the precision joining of delicate metals, and the fume emitted during these processes will also need extracting to help maintain a healthy working environment.
Graham Mattok, UK Sales Manager at Donaldson BOFA commented: “For applications involving welding, we also have our high-performance AD Oracle iQ extraction system, which is enhanced with our Intelligent Operating System (iQ). This system provides real-time information, as well as a cache of analytical data, enabling users to monitor system performance and schedule filter exchanges in step with production schedules to minimize downtime.”
