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reliable laser sources?

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Shrad

Fri Mar 11 2011, 12:58PM

Registered Member #3215 Joined: Sun Sept 19 2010, 08:42PM
Location:
Posts: 780

keep in mind this is a weapon and illegal in most countries

do NOT point living beings, vehicles, planes and the like with a powerful pointer

the major thing pointer guys do not understand about that warning (which has already caused fierce disputes in the field) is that the more the incidents, the worse the legislation will become and people like laser show enthusiasts and "personal researchers" will not be able to get lasers anymore

if you make it, use it wisely please

haxor5354

Fri Mar 11 2011, 01:15PM

Registered Member #2063 Joined: Sat Apr 04 2009, 03:16PM
Location: Toronto
Posts: 352

Shrad wrote ...

keep in mind this is a weapon and illegal in most countries

do NOT point living beings, vehicles, planes and the like with a powerful pointer

the major thing pointer guys do not understand about that warning (which has already caused fierce disputes in the field) is that the more the incidents, the worse the legislation will become and people like laser show enthusiasts and "personal researchers" will not be able to get lasers anymore

if you make it, use it wisely please

is that why importing 5mW+ laser pointer are banned in the states?
i live in canada, no laws against buying/operating laser yet...

Dr. ISOTOP

Fri Mar 11 2011, 07:02PM

Registered Member #2919 Joined: Fri Jun 11 2010, 06:30PM
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 652

@Shrad: no, its not a weapon, and no, its not illegal in most countries. Marketing such a device as a pointer is illegal, Class 4 lasers themselves are perfectly legal.
However, that is not to say that I approve of Class 4 handheld lasers. IMHO you should make it a lab-style module; much more useful, and you can shoehorn it into a 445 projector in the future.

haxor5354

Fri Mar 11 2011, 09:58PM

Registered Member #2063 Joined: Sat Apr 04 2009, 03:16PM
Location: Toronto
Posts: 352

bwang wrote ...

@Shrad: no, its not a weapon, and no, its not illegal in most countries. Marketing such a device as a pointer is illegal, Class 4 lasers themselves are perfectly legal.
However, that is not to say that I approve of Class 4 handheld lasers. IMHO you should make it a lab-style module; much more useful, and you can shoehorn it into a 445 projector in the future.

can't i make the laser module detachable so i could use it as a lab laser and can be used as a portable laser pointer

Dr. ISOTOP

Sat Mar 12 2011, 04:23AM

Registered Member #2919 Joined: Fri Jun 11 2010, 06:30PM
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 652

Please for everyone else's sake don't use the 445's as a pointer. It is:
(1) Dangerous
(2) Useless
(3) Bad for the diode
(4) Socially irresponsible
Curse Wicked Lasers and their evil marketing campaigns...
Remember, Class IV lasers ARE NOT A TOY!!!
Also, GET SAFETY GOGGLES! OD5 or higher.

Adam Munich

Sat Mar 12 2011, 09:46PM

Registered Member #2893 Joined: Tue Jun 01 2010, 09:25PM
Location: Cali-forn. i. a.
Posts: 2242

If you want a real laser, the 445 is beast.

But remember it's not a toy and can blind you.

James

Thu Apr 07 2011, 07:44PM

Registered Member #3610 Joined: Thu Jan 13 2011, 03:29AM
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 506

I have a bunch of the 445nm diodes, I bought a couple of the projectors and sold a pile of them but I still have a few more in stock.

I got modules on ebay and glass lenses from Aixis. To run at 1W put out a lot of heat so I machined an aluminum block and pressed the module into it. Driver is a linear regulator based on the LM317, I can post the PCB files or I could etch another batch if anyone is interested in buying one. As with any laser diode, you need to be careful, a static discharge, overcurrent, or reverse voltage spike can damage it instantly.

Also I cannot emphasize enough how critical it is to be careful with these things. Treat them like handguns, pulse capacitors and x-ray machines. 1W of laser light is VERY dangerous. It will cause burns to skin and set fire to paper and cardboard easily. The blue is heavily absorbed by blood so it can clot blood and damage blood vessels through your skin. Eye exposure either direct or reflected off a shiny object will cause a *PERMANENT* retinal burn in less time than it takes to blink resulting in a fuzzy blob in your vision for the rest of your life. I am reminded of this daily due to a small retinal burn I got some time back from a much less powerful 120mW laser when I was too lazy to put on my safety glasses while aligning a mirror. The damage was done before I realized anything had happened. Additionally, you can easily blind a person from hundreds of feet away. DO NOT skimp on safety, get some proper glasses and always be mindful of where the beam is landing.

Back when I started playing with lasers, a 1W visible laser meant a 3 foot long water cooled plasma tube with 3 phase power. It was a lot harder to forget how dangerous it was. Now when you can have this power in something the size of a pocket flashlight that runs off batteries it's rather disarming.

Shrad

Thu Apr 07 2011, 08:37PM

Registered Member #3215 Joined: Sun Sept 19 2010, 08:42PM
Location:
Posts: 780

totally agreed

I have myself many diodes, some 20W IR bars and other pulsed things I have never put to use BECAUSE I fear them enough and I have no real use (yet) for them

James

Tue Apr 19 2011, 05:25PM

Registered Member #3610 Joined: Thu Jan 13 2011, 03:29AM
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 506

Hey I found my stash of diodes last night. I've been meaning to post them on ebay but if anyone here is interested I can sell them a bit cheaper since I don't have to pay the exhorbitant ebay fees. Say $40 each plus actual postage which is about $3 in the US for insured USPS. To get insurance on foreign shipments I have to use international priority mail which is more expensive, I'll check the rates if someone wants one.

These are diodes from the Casio XJ-A140, more powerful than the older A-130 diodes. Easily capable of 1W reliable continuous output with adequate heatsinking. Extracted at a professional ESD safe workstation and tested before packing.

Edit: I just realized there's a separate Sale/Trade section. Apologies if this post is in the wrong place.

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