Variable-frequency optical chopper 310CD

The Model 310CD is a high speed optical chopper based on our standard 102 mm diameter discs. By spinning the discs many times faster than our standard system, chopping speeds up to 110 kHz can be achieved. he high speed is reached by using a 100 W electrically commutated motor and drive unit. Fast chopping speeds come at a cost however. The 100 W of energy put into the motor has to be released somewhere. The action of the disc moving through the air causes the air to heat significantly. This coupled with the high speed of the disc causes jets of warm air to be released through any open apertures in the blade protector. Vibration is also an issue and it is therefore necessary to ensure that the chopping head is securely bolted to a secure surface at all times. Finally, the motion of the 2 slot disc, in particular, through the air causes a siren effect. Operation with the 445 slot disc is loud. Safety is an obvious concern with a system that has parts moving at 130m/s (290mph). This is achieved by enclosing the chopping disc in a blade protector. However, apertures in the blade protector remain a cause for safety concerns. To help reduce the dangers to a minimum, blanking plates are provided to cover all unused apertures. Plates are also supplied to reduce the size of apertures in use. However, in some experiments, due to the size of the optical beam to be chopped, it is not possible to completely remove the danger of finger ingress. It is therefore necessary for the user to ensure that it is not possible for fingers to come into contact with a moving disc through the use of guards etc.