most users online...

[buffo]

Sam's laser faq has a section on DPSS lasers that goes into pretty good detail about the wavelength conversions taking place at each stage in the laser cavity. Good reading! (That's where I looked up the conversion efficiencies in my other post above.)

Yeah, I bet a lot of new laser enthusiasts get screwed by people that sell lasers that are either not making the rated power, or have leaking IR included in the power rating. That's why so many people will tell you that buying a power meter (or even building one yourself) is such an important step in this hobby. (You should hear some of the stories DreamBeamz has told me about lasers he purchased that were rated for several watts and were only making 750 mn when he finally tested them!) Given that you can build one for around $50, or buy a brand-new, calibrated power meter for around $300, there's really no excuse not to have one. (Especially if you've already got several lasers...)

Adam

[BoomDog]

I just realized something, and if this causes a problem it'll be a major bummer... All lasers for public use (a.k.a. that get varianced) need to be CDRH certified, don't they... and I doubt that this laser is. I sent nono-shen another message but she's rather busy right now w/ an exhibition so I don't know when to expect her reply. Anyone know anything more about this?

Here's the laser:
VA-I/II/III-N-532
http://www.viasho.com/e_532nm.htm

CDRH requirements:
http://www.stockeryale.com/i/lasers/certification.htm

I don't even know where to find "certified" lasers; no one ever mentions it.

[Astroguy]

I just realized something, and if this causes a problem it'll be a major bummer... All lasers for public use (a.k.a. that get varianced) need to be CDRH certified, don't they... and I doubt that this laser is. I sent nono-shen another message but she's rather busy right now w/ an exhibition so I don't know when to expect her reply. Anyone know anything more about this?

Here's the laser:
VA-I/II/III-N-532
http://www.viasho.com/e_532nm.htm

CDRH requirements:
http://www.stockeryale.com/i/lasers/certification.htm

I don't even know where to find "certified" lasers; no one ever mentions it.

These are OEM lasers. It is not the laser itself that needs the variance but the application you use it in that needs it.

[BoomDog]

So essentially as long as I have all the safeguards (key interlock, shutter, etc.) installed inside the projector, it should be ok? I thought the laser had to have a CDRH certification for the projector to even be considered for variance.

[buffo]

Technically there are TWO items you need to talk to the CDRH about. One is the projector, and the other is the show itself.

If you buy a commerically assembled laser projector, it will have a CDRH certificate with it. But you still need to get a variance for the show itself. (The show variance is the hardest part - getting a projector certified is a lot easier.)

Since you are assembling your projector yourself from OEM components, that makes you a manufacturer. Well, technically you're only a manufacturer if you assemble units that are going to be involved in commerce of some sort, which means either selling them to others, or using them in your own commercial shows. (A projector built by a hobbyist and never used commercially doesn't need to be certified.) As a manufacturer, you will be responsible for getting your own projectors certified before you apply for a show variance.

Adam

[BoomDog]

Ok I've been well aware of what I need to do once this projector is together (in fact, the owner of a laser show company needs to be varianced him/herself, so that'll be fun). I was just worried about the projector itself, because of the money going into it. So I still need to get a CDRH certificate with the laser; that's what I need to know; thanks!

[BoomDog]

Since this discussion keeps going in a bunch of different directions, I've started a new one here:
http://photonlexicon.com/forums/view...hp?p=6495#6495

[cruch]

Most users ever online was 72 on Tue Nov 28, 2006 6:08 am

NICE!

[buffo]

I think that was the day that "hackaday.com" linked to PhotonLexicon... It was for the story of Spec and Marconi making a violet laser pointer out of a blue-ray diode. Lots of traffic off that story!

Adam

[allthatwhichis]

Yea that was wierd. I never did find a link on that site to here. Do they just mention it and people know enough to make a search and find it?