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Thread: Laser media frequencies

  1. #41
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    Why is it that on a technical forum (and this seems to be a systemic issue across many forums) that a large number of people are hyper focused on bureaucratic regulations rather than the technical details?

    It is excruciatingly painful to try to have an intellectual deep technical discussion without someone interjecting "you cant do that" or "its impossible". I mean are these forums filled with feds trying to gain control of the public to slowly pick away at the freedom we enjoy in the USA (enjoyed?) or is it just that people don't really know the technical side as much, but if its the later wouldn't people want to learn .... since we are on a photonics technical discussion board?

    I mean when I was getting my pilots license the FAR's were something you had to force yourself to read because a bureaucrat was forcing you to know it for the exam not because it was fun to read or that I needed to know it to land and control the aircraft (thats all stick and rudder skills). Granted the FAA produces some super good quality material but some of it is just bureaucratic and costs pilots and owners BIG money to comply with which is legally / constitutionally suspect (such as forcing someone to do business with another private entity in order to use your own personal property). It would be like saying I can only hire federally designated contractors to wire up a new switch in my house ... oh and they cost 80-100 hr because we only designate a very tiny number of people and if you do it yourself we will kick in your door and beat the s**t out of you and throw you in jail. Just let that sink in. Yes I get it, major commercial operations with huge jets flying hundreds of people of the public is a different situation but the FAA applies the same rules to a small aircraft in sparsely populated areas.

    As far as my OP for this thread, I think that I have more than enough to chew on with the text references from Steve, I got them all lined up in my cart and found them CHEAP. But I think this over arching issue of people being hyper focused on bureaucracy is a major issue and impediment to intellectual / technical discourse, it seems to permeate every on line forum I see, even ones I just lurk on, there is always multiple people that never fail to bring up some obscure buried regulation and its super irritating as they bring it up BEFORE the technical discussion.

    I don't know maybe people living in so cal packed in like sardines have to worry about every time you sneeze breaking a regulation but where I am no one cares. I can see having a nice robust technical discussion and then at the very end in a foot note indicate that our overlords frown on free people doing free things, maybe one or two lines and done.
    Last edited by akmetal; 12-21-2018 at 10:54.

  2. #42
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    Oh Boy, You have no idea how much the Scheduled Airlines and FAA/ DOD hate lasers in airspace.

    I've been there, done that, and have the T-Shirt for an outdoors New Years Eve show.

    There are the negotiated procedures per the book for a reason.

    You won't get a day in court, the "Notice of Apparent Liability" just shows up telling you to pay a Fine to a Federal account at Mellon bank in Pittsburgh. Well, they will give you 30 days to reply with endorsement. It is a procedural Civil matter.


    Then there is Endangering a Crew, and a Lasers in Airspace Felony...



    Steve
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  3. #43
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    ... scan through the forums with tags like "pointer-kiddies"

    Viktor
    Aufruf zum Projekt "Müll-freie Meere" - https://reprap.org/forum/list.php?426
    Call for the project "garbage-free seas" - https://reprap.org/forum/list.php?425

  4. #44
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    When someone goes to the trouble of explaining all the things you don't know that you don't know - the smart thing to do is read them and try to accommodate the new (to you) information. What you're doing is (at best) trying to assimilate the information. Assimilation is where you try to cram the information into your poorly equiped preconceptions. You might want to read up on Cognitive Dissonance and the Dunning-Kruger effect.


    Quote Originally Posted by akmetal View Post
    I know places to go that are the middle of nowhere and no one cares, trust me, no one cares. Maybe this stuff applies if your in southern Cali or something.
    "There are painters who transform the sun into a yellow spot, but there are others who, with the help of their art and their intelligence, transform a yellow spot into the sun." Pablo Picasso

  5. #45
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    Scan even further back and look at "Lasers in Vegas". We lost profitable outdoor shows nationwide for years, and when we got them back, the rules were draconian, and having to give 30 days notice killed the business for the pros.
    All because of one Idiot in Vegas that ignored a cease and desist and illuminated traffic coming into McCarren for weeks with an automated high power, laser system on a casino. They have lightened up a bit, but I do scientific lasing now, and not big outdoor shows, for a reason.

    I have a 60 Watt outdoor system setting on a trailer in the driveway. Pre-Vegas, It would have sold for 20,000 to 30,000$. Post Vegas, I'm lucky if I can get 500$ for it. No it is not for sale right now, unless you have a variance. If you'd like, I can show you a video of a guy with one in his apartment. He's lighting a cigarette from the beam, with no safety glasses, and a toddler is in a high chair about two yards away. The room is glowing bright green from no beam stop. Idiots spoil it for the rest of us.

    The folks on the other laser forum are hyper focused on "getting away with it", but even they say don't aim at aircraft, you'll spoil it for us. They generally do not reach our power levels and investment that we have on PL.

    We get to do what we love within reason. We know what has happened in other countries, we talk. Try doing a laser show in France, Outdoors. Maybe if the Prime Minister/Premier wants it to happen.
    Try importing a small laser to Australia. See if it makes it past customs without docs, if it is in a cylindrical package and over 5 milliwatts. Some of us here know the 20 year history of lasers in Airspace. Which went from have fun, once a year reporting. to good luck getting a decent beam power for your show.


    Steve
    Last edited by mixedgas; 12-21-2018 at 11:09.
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  6. #46
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    Quote Originally Posted by akmetal View Post
    Why is it that on a technical forum (and this seems to be a systemic issue across many forums) that a large number of people are hyper focused on bureaucratic regulations rather than the technical details?

    It is excruciatingly painful to try to have an intellectual deep technical discussion without someone interjecting "you cant do that" or "its impossible".
    "If everywhere you go it smells like shit, maybe it's time to check your own shoes."

    Maybe don't ask for the impossible if you don't want people telling you "it's impossible". Not that building a 10-40kW CW laser is necessarily impossible, but when you throw in some sort of limitation like a lack of infinite funds/time/resources it becomes impossible.

    Quote Originally Posted by mixedgas View Post
    No it is not for sale right now, unless you have a variance.

    Steve
    What if I live somewhere that doesn't require a variance? J/k, that much power is too scary for me.

  7. #47
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    What if I live somewhere that doesn't require a variance? J/k, that much power is too scary for me. [/QUOTE]

    Diachi, I'd gladly sell you the "Cobra". You've been around enough to know it needs respect. Long, but beautiful, drive with trailer or truck to get it there.
    Cobra's are 800 series made in a compliant package, with a touring PSU.

    Steve
    Qui habet Christos, habet Vitam!
    I should have rented the space under my name for advertising.
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  8. #48
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    Quote Originally Posted by Diachi View Post
    "If everywhere you go it smells like shit, maybe it's time to check your own shoes."

    Maybe don't ask for the impossible if you don't want people telling you "it's impossible". Not that building a 10-40kW CW laser is necessarily impossible, but when you throw in some sort of limitation like a lack of infinite funds/time/resources it becomes impossible.



    What if I live somewhere that doesn't require a variance? J/k, that much power is too scary for me.
    I would not say I have infinite time but like I said before if I run out of time and its not done then thats life. I would rather pursue what interest me rather than put together a lack luster project and have a glorified laser pointer at the end and get all excited that it lit a match, sorry, just like I could not get excited over a cessna 150 other than to rent for initial training, RENT. OR have something that is truly cool, like where you wave a 1/4" steel rod across the beam and the other end of the rod falls to the ground, I fantasize about that from time to time.

    there is no poo on my shoe, just an S2B in a hangar and a solo in my log book with less than 140 hrs total time, do you know how many people told me I was crazy that I needed a zillion hours to fly a pitts and that "air line captians" have wrecked pitts etc etc etc. Well here we go with a laser

    I figured out how to make money before and I will do it again I am just in a less that ideal situation right now. But times like these are perfect to read up and educate myself, maybe take an Edx class. i am hoping that edx releases their electrical masters program for cheap so I can start that soon.

  9. #49
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    Quote Originally Posted by mixedgas View Post
    What if I live somewhere that doesn't require a variance? J/k, that much power is too scary for me.
    Diachi, I'd gladly sell you the "Cobra". You've been around enough to know it needs respect. Long, but beautiful, drive with trailer or truck to get it there.
    Cobra's are 800 series made in a compliant package, with a touring PSU.

    Steve[/QUOTE]

    I could do with a vacation during these cold dark winter months...

    Maybe I'll take my truck down that way one of these days, would be a fun road trip and I'm in dire need of a good LEM photon fix, been a while.

    Remember seeing pictures of Pat B's (or one of them at least?), nice looking machines. Bet it still takes a couple guys to move one if it's anything like the last converted system I was around.

    Quote Originally Posted by akmetal

    But times like these are perfect to read up and educate myself
    That's never a bad thing.

  10. #50
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    So I am able to get 6 CRC laser handbooks (1-5 plus Crc Handbook of Lasers, With Selected Data on Optical Technology) and the Koechner book for $131

    Is this a pretty good deal?
    Solid-State Laser Engineering by Walter KoechnerSolid-State Laser Engineering by Walter KoechnerSolid-State Laser Engineering by Walter KoechnerSolid-State Laser Engineering by Walter Koechner

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