After reading a posting on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/3552...9191798093072/ I would love to have been able to point the OP who is playing with a class IV laser while casually mentioning that he has a bit of a colour cast in his eye after accidentally getting hit by the beam. His laser "had a bit fall out" (looks like the output window) and is now going to buy a new diode and see how it goes.
He mentions Nd YVO4, then said the laser was blue, next it seems to be a 10W laser which although seems like a horribly overdriven NUB or something, still seems spectacularly dangerous / stupid to build into a "pointer".
I know there are some amazing resources on the Net (Here and Sam's to name just two) BUT although VERY complete, they are so in-depth and fragmented that I think for a newbie that just wants to play with photons, there is too much to digest - and in too many linked parts.
I wondered if there was (on here or elsewhere) a kind of "five minute crash course utter basic basic basic" guide on keeping your eyes working, how diode lasers work (especially pumped ones), why 808nM looks so dim but blinds really well, why 1064 is not visible but also does the whole "burny thing" really well and the special hazards of ANY extreme blue light source on the UV side.
Not a complete tutorial - but enough explanation so people UNDERSTAND the basics and why even things like "dim light" can be lethal to eyes.
Before I start trying to find a "one page" special elsewhere, I wondered if there was already a page on the matter that can be used as a "general resource" for enthusiasts to be pointed too (and possibly recruit interested new members too).
I have tried searching but not found a "Brief Guide" anywhere, just loads of awesome but fragmented bits. Any feedback / links / ideas appreciated.
Kind Regards
Guy