Wicked Lasers' new lasers

[ElektroFreak]

http://home.hccnet.nl/maurits.groene...serpointer.htm

After a quick glance, I don't see a single official government or medical document in there, but I am at work so I can't look deeper right now. Also, no aircraft incidents. That's just somebody's propaganda site, full of supposed media heresay. I want to see the actual official documentation.

[mccarrot]

This site was made by a teacher who got permanent eye damage because a student thought it was funny to shine at the teacher during class, and if you read trough the site you can see its not the first teacher being hit by a pointer.

[wolfblue]

So if I stick a keyswitch on it, its not a pointer. Now its a "Dangerous Portable Tool"

I'm kinda new around here, help me out with what I use this tool for? Can I take it to a night club if I'm careful? Can I sell one to a fourteen year old? Is it not as much fun to pop balloons with something that's plugged into the wall?

Go look at the photos on LPF. Not many danger stickers. I suppose nobody takes them out of the house. So we don't need to worry that a kid or anybody that doesn't know would find one. Despite we would need proof (official government proof)that they could cause permanent damage. We all know that the damage goes away after some time. Or does it? A bad pixel can be filled in with the average of surrounding pixels. Now its not a bad pixel anymore. How many bad pixels do you need before you start to lose information?

And I don't mean to imply anything about LPF. Its the first place new people end up. Good in that its the first place some people will find out not to shoot their new toy at somebodys eye. And many people over there are really just interested in the fun of building something. Some will end up spending most of their time here. So parts get cheaper( for US, thats "US") because of somebody's initial $30 laser purchase. More hobbyist=lower prices.

And now a link to the real LPF
http://www.lespaulforum.com

--John

[ElektroFreak]

^There's some wisdom there.. Look, I would never downplay laser safety in any way. I know pointers are inherently dangerous, and should be treated as such. I'm not defending anyone who acts like a retard, and the real impact of portable lasers on me is minimal. If they're legal or not, it doesn't matter to me really. I'd rather have other lasers anyway. I'm just trying to make a point, which I think I've done, so that's really all I have to say about the subject. Shit, I don't think there's much left to say period that hasn't already been said about the subject in this thread.

For now, and until the powers that be say otherwise, I say to each their own.

[buffo]

Hey guys... Good debate going here, but I need to interject something:

Our original premise (that these high-powered hand-held lasers were illegal here in the US) turns out to be incorrect! True, you can never sell a laser "pointer" (that is, one which is hand-held, battery operated, and marketed for the purposes of alignment, surveying, or leveling) here in the US if it makes more than 5 mw.

*BUT*, in June of 2007, the CDRH issued Laser Notice # 50. And this document *changed* the way laser products are certified. Specifically, it allowed companies to certify lasers using the International Standard (IEC 60825-1) instead of 21 CFR 1040.10.

Now, not all sections of the federal code are subject to this exception. Some of the portions of 21 CFR 1040.11 are still in place even if you choose to certify under the IEC standard. But the IEC standard *does* allow you to omit certain safety features which would be redundant in any small form factor laser, whether it's a hand-held unit or a small lab module. One of those items is a mechanical shutter - it's not required under IEC rules. Another is the emission delay. This is also not required.

So, as of around 2 years ago, a company could legally sell a portable, hand-held, battery-operated class 3B or even class 4 laser product here in the US, as long as it met the requirements of the IEC standard (and the laser product report specified this) and it was not marketed as a "Pointer". (That is, not marketed for the purposes of leveling, surveying, or alignment.)

This gets to the heart of the issue that WolfBlue mentioned: What is the difference between a home-built class 3B lab laser and the same unit that is battery operated? Both are extremely portable, and could easily be misused. Yet one appeared to be illegal. Well, here's your answer: if you call it a pointer and market it as such, then yeah, it's always going to be illegal. But if you market it as a portable, hand-held, battery-operated laser, and you take the time to certify it under IEC 60825-1, then it is perfectly legal.

Personally, I think this is a good thing. It allows companies to legally sell these lasers (as opposed to forcing people to import them illegally), and brings the US regulations more in line with the rest of the world. So long as other companies are willing to go the extra mile with regard to special labels for hand held lasers (as explained on ILDA's LaserPointerSafety.com website), I support the availability of these lasers for purchase by the general public. (I guess that puts me in group # 1!)

Adam

[mccarrot]

I just found this on the ILDA's LaserPointerSafety.com website:

As of April 2009, there are roughly three incidents every night in the U.S. where pilots report being hit by laser light.

I think there are more stupid laserpointer abusers than you think.

Maybe it's funny to make a poll to see how all of us think about pointers

a: High power laserpointers are great toys and must made legal.

b: High power laserpointers are dangerous and must be banned.

[lasersbee]

Yeah.... and then run the same poll over at LPF....
You forgot to add..

c: Lasers pointers must only be sold to individuals with an IQ >100


Jerry

[john lawson]

wow what a great thread I own a Rpl 375 do I use it much no but I love it
I also own a hene 5mw 3 aixis labbies all about 150 mw do i use it much no but i love em too

every once in a while I take em out check to make sure they are still outputting the 400mw I paid for and put them back

should everyone own a Rpl heck no.All my kids have lasers there are rules

#1 eye proterction a must 2.5-3.0 od 480-590nm each own a pair -3 kids

#2 never take outside without me being there with them I live across the street from a small airport so this rule is a must

i think its when uninformed people kids and adults carelessly use pointers
I am a member on three or four forums I like them all

we just need to make sure we tell as many friends as possible the dangers of improper use


this is my BLACKJACK post # 21

[Things]

I think he'd be referring to people who do laser shows/displays specifically.

[mccarrot]

Do I understand this right and you give your kids high power pointers to play with?

and WTF do you need a 230mW 808nm pointer for?