Hey everyone, FNG here

Hello everyone, I am looking into getting into lasers cause they have always fascinated me.

I've been looking into a few lasers but the main one so far is the O-Like Power Rock 50mw. Does this seem like an alright laser for a novice?

Also is there anything I should know law wise? I've been looking through the site and have found some info but not exactly what I'm trying to find. Can any regular person in the US just buy a 50mw laser or is there a process I need to go through before hand? I'd like to get into building them as well but wanted to find out if there are any laws I need to look out for and read over.

Any and all help is appreciated!

(I'm Dave btw)

Howdy and Welcome to the Forum :wave:

Have fun and be Safe

Like remember to order laser safety glasses !

to the Forum....
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and the Forum Rules..

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PLEASE read this first...

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and this....

33 Reasons NOT to Buy From Wicked Lasers

Enjoy your stay...


Jerry

Welcome aboard! Don't forget to get some Laser Safety Glasses, and the search function here can be your best friend; don't forget to read the Stickies.

If you find the information you find on the Forum benefited you, you might want to consider making a PayPal donation.....Enjoy your stay :beer:

It is illegal to import a >5mW laser pointer, its not illegal to own one. Its not illegal to import a lab laser, or laser module, or the parts to build a laser. Its legal to build a laser, but not commercially. Its illegal to use your >5mW outside. It is legal to use in your lab, and any room in your house can be considered a lab environment.

Tech_Junkie said:

It is illegal to import a >5mW laser pointer, its not illegal to own one. Its not illegal to import a lab laser, or laser module, or the parts to build a laser. Its legal to build a laser, but not commercially. Its illegal to use your >5mW outside. It is legal to use in your lab, and any room in your house can be considered a lab environment.

Click to expand...

Source?

Which country?

Which states?

That seems like a broad generalization.

I might be wrong, but I am completely unaware of most of that being correct. It is technically illegal to import a >5mW "pointer" but it is completely illegal to import a "portable" laser over 5mW if it has the proper FDA safety features. I have an RPL-165 that is ~175mW of green in a very portable unit that has all the FDA safety features. I am completely unaware of any law prohibiting me from shining it into the sky, as long as I don't shine it at airplanes.

I might be mistaken there. Please let me know your source there - that would be interesting.

However, I would point out that many of these laws are are difficult to enforce, rarely enforced and probably not a big issue. Anyone reading the forum can easily see that most of the members here regularly beam shot outside.

Not sure why you are being unrealistically "down" on someone interested in learning about lasers. :yh:

tsteele93 said:

Source?

Which country?

Which states?

That seems like a broad generalization.

I might be wrong, but I am completely unaware of most of that being correct. It is technically illegal to import a >5mW "pointer" but it is completely illegal to import a "portable" laser over 5mW if it has the proper FDA safety features. I have an RPL-165 that is ~175mW of green in a very portable unit that has all the FDA safety features. I am completely unaware of any law prohibiting me from shining it into the sky, as long as I don't shine it at airplanes.

I might be mistaken there. Please let me know your source there - that would be interesting.

However, I would point out that many of these laws are are difficult to enforce, rarely enforced and probably not a big issue. Anyone reading the forum can easily see that most of the members here regularly beam shot outside.

Not sure why you are being unrealistically "down" on someone interested in learning about lasers. :yh:

Click to expand...

1. I'm not being down at all. I think you're reading something into my statement thats not there. I was giving a quick, general answer.

2. You didnt import that RPL. Opto is an US based company.

3. The OP was talking about the US, and I answered accordingly.

4. Of course its a broad general statement. I'm not going to sit here for hours making a laser wiki post. Thats why we have a section on Safety, and Legal Issues. There is also a search engine on the forum. I listed the answers that I've observed, and have discussed over the time I've been here. Its up to the individual, like yourself, on how far they want to educate themselves on exact law. I'm not, or pretend to be, a lawyer. D'uh.

5. You are correct about FDA approved lasers. My bad.

Here is an amazing new resource I just found on laser law. Link.

Enjoy. :wave:

Tech_Junkie said:

1. I'm not being down at all. I think you're reading something into my statement thats not there. I was giving a quick, general answer.

2. You didnt import that RPL. Opto is an US based company.

3. The OP was talking about the US, and I answered accordingly.

4. Of course its a broad general statement. I'm not going to sit here for hours making a laser wiki post. Thats why we have a section on Safety, and Legal Issues. There is also a search engine on the forum. I listed the answers that I've observed, and have discussed over the time I've been here. Its up to the individual, like yourself, on how far they want to educate themselves on exact law. I'm not, or pretend to be, a lawyer. D'uh.

5. You are correct about FDA approved lasers. My bad.

Here is an amazing new resource I just found on laser law. Link.

Enjoy. :wave:

Click to expand...

Dude, you are going to wear out the "let me google that for you" site. You use it to answer any question that is asked on the site. Why have a laser forum if the answer to every question is, "look it up on google and stop asking us?"

I didn't think you would need google since you stated that it was illegal to shine a >5mW pointer in the sky. I just asked for YOUR source on that since I had never heard that before.

I assumed since you stated it that you knew a source of that info.

tsteele93 said:

Dude, you are going to wear out the "let me google that for you" site. You use it to answer any question that is asked on the site. Why have a laser forum if the answer to every question is, "look it up on google and stop asking us?"

Click to expand...

When you have heard the same questions asked and answered
hundreds of times before you will notice that the person asking
has made no effort to help himself... and is expecting to get spoon
fed...

If you feel that you want to spoon feed a member then by all
means do so... but don't question why some of the members
feel that doing a Search would get the Question answered
even sooner by doing the least amount of legwork...


Jerry

lasersbee said:

When you have heard the same questions asked and answered
hundreds of times before you will notice that the person asking
has made no effort to help himself... and is expecting to get spoon
fed...

If you feel that you want to spoon feed a member then by all
means do so... but don't question why some of the members
feel that doing a Search would get the Question answered
even sooner by doing the least amount of legwork...


Jerry

Click to expand...

Seems like a good way to alienate someone who is just getting interested in your hobby. In your case, a potential future customer.

Wouldn't it be better to try and answer the question, and then politely suggest the search function rather than a link to the sarcastic "let me google that for you" site?

Or, if you really are tired of watching noobs come in with the same questions over and over, then just don't comment. Let those who don't mind helping make the comments and save your valuable time for more complex questions...

I just don't see how being sarcastic, snarky or rude helps at all.



P.S. One other thing, I understand when someone on here pops in and wants to buy a 2W laser to burn people and starts asking dumb questions how that might get annoying, but Dave was asking about a relatively responsible level of power 50mW for his first laser, which we all know can be found on amazon or eBay in many instances when you are trying for a 5mW. So he's not out to burn anything to the ground and pops in here to ask about an o-like laser and gets yelled at for not searching first. I don't see how that is good for the hobby.

no need to take some of these guys seriously most of us just ignore them..

tsteele93 said:

Seems like a good way to alienate someone who is just getting interested in your hobby. In your case, a potential future customer.

Wouldn't it be better to try and answer the question, and then politely suggest the search function rather than a link to the sarcastic "let me google that for you" site?

Or, if you really are tired of watching noobs come in with the same questions over and over, then just don't comment. Let those who don't mind helping make the comments and save your valuable time for more complex questions...

I just don't see how being sarcastic, snarky or rude helps at all.



P.S. One other thing, I understand when someone on here pops in and wants to buy a 2W laser to burn people and starts asking dumb questions how that might get annoying, but Dave was asking about a relatively responsible level of power 50mW for his first laser, which we all know can be found on amazon or eBay in many instances when you are trying for a 5mW. So he's not out to burn anything to the ground and pops in here to ask about an o-like laser and gets yelled at for not searching first. I don't see how that is good for the hobby.

Click to expand...

You seem to be pointing a finger at me... :thinking:
Where was I being sarcastic, snarky or rude...:thinking:
You asked a question and I responded with a logical and honest
answer. I'm sorry if that is not what you wanted to here...:cryyy:

BTW... the link to the Google Search actually does go to the
subject matter asked in the OP and even shows what input
to type to get those usable results...

I still find it was helpful even if you think it is sarcastic..:beer:


Jerry

tsteele93 said:

Seems like a good way to alienate someone who is just getting interested in your hobby. In your case, a potential future customer.

Wouldn't it be better to try and answer the question, and then politely suggest the search function rather than a link to the sarcastic "let me google that for you" site?

Or, if you really are tired of watching noobs come in with the same questions over and over, then just don't comment. Let those who don't mind helping make the comments and save your valuable time for more complex questions...

I just don't see how being sarcastic, snarky or rude helps at all.



P.S. One other thing, I understand when someone on here pops in and wants to buy a 2W laser to burn people and starts asking dumb questions how that might get annoying, but Dave was asking about a relatively responsible level of power 50mW for his first laser, which we all know can be found on amazon or eBay in many instances when you are trying for a 5mW. So he's not out to burn anything to the ground and pops in here to ask about an o-like laser and gets yelled at for not searching first. I don't see how that is good for the hobby.

Click to expand...

I applaud your conviction. But even your conviction is not unique here. We've had many good members with your same attitude fall from grace.

I dont use the Google link all the time. Just for simple questions that people can answer them selves if they just took a minute. Its a good idea to get people to use the search engine here, and on the web. There is too much info on this forum, and not enough time to help each n00b one on one. Its quiet now, wait till the flood comes back when there is a school break.

People come and go here all the time. The people who really want to get into the hobby will push through, the others will fall away. When we have a member push through, then we spend the time to help them along. Thats how we keep the hobby strong.

I'm going to bookmark this page. 6 months from now we'll have a good laugh when you're tired, mad, and frustrated. That is, if you're still here. :crackup:

:beer:

lasersbee said:

You seem to be pointing a finger at me... :thinking:
Where was I being sarcastic, snarky or rude...:thinking:
You asked a question and I responded with a logical and honest
answer. I'm sorry if that is not what you wanted to here...:cryyy:

BTW... the link to the Google Search actually does go to the
subject matter asked in the OP and even shows what input
to type to get those usable results...

I still find it was helpful even if you think it is sarcastic..:beer:


Jerry

Click to expand...

Your first statement is in error, rendering the rest null and void.

Not pointing a finger at you. Just disagreeing with you about other members' posts.

Damn, you guys really had your way with me via forums

But for the record I did look for local laws (being in PA) I just don't think I could comprehend them to a point.

The LMGTFY link made me laugh, that was the first thing I did upon reading some stickies and laser reviews. And Ultimately what brought me to O-Like's page.

I understand nobody likes someone who just rattles off questions, that's why I tried to at least seem somewhat informed instead of being some jackass off the street.

Thanks for all the input though guys!

Did you get the answers you were looking for?

Generally speaking the law is not up to speed with the tech. Other than some fairly obvious stuff like "don't point at cars, planes or cops" it is generally unregulated in most of the U.S.

The FDA does have rules that say any "portable" laser over 5mW must have certain safety devices. Many of the laser companies are starting to include those safety features. Others just label a 100 mW laser as <5mW and figure it won't get checked.

Others just gamble on getting past customs and send you another if it gets confiscated.

Ideally you would just buy one that has all the legal safe locks.

But there are plenty available on the Buy, See & Trade section of the forum. Your goal of 50mW is easily achievable at very little expense. that's a good starting point with a green. It will be very bright and minimal danger relative to the 200-500mW and higher greens available. And a much better starting place than a >1Watt 445nm blue burning laser.

Technically you need safety goggles even for a 50mW green, but I strongly suspect that very few of the members here really put on goggles or a 50mW laser.

We've seen folks not properly protecting their eyes at 2.5Watts! Which is crazy! But still, if you are ordering from o-like then toss a pair of goggles in your shopping cart as well. You will need them sooner than later I suspect.