Any way to get more than 5mw in USA?

Hey, i live in the USA.

I wanted to get a 30mw green laser to see the beam, and maybe a 200mw red laser for burning fun.

Is there ANY way to get one of these in the USA?

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

aliasneo07 said:

Hey, i live in the USA.

I wanted to get a 30mw green laser to see the beam, and maybe a 200mw red laser for burning fun.

Is there ANY way to get one of these in the USA?

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Click to expand...

Hey aliasneo07...
   you've been on the forum since yesterday....
and have asked this same question more than once...

If you would have taken a small amount of that time and had done a forum search
or at least would read some of the threads and posts....
you would already know where to get Lasers even if you live in the USA... :-?

First of all, those answers are readily available around this website.

You can build the red or pay somebody to build one for you. You can get a green from optotronics.com or novalasers.com. There are a few other places but those are the first ones I thought of.

Sorry Laserbee, didn't mean to double post.

I HAVE been searching the forums. I've seen one thing, then seen it retracted later.

For instance, some people say they can get a laser from DX at 30mw green, others say theyve had theirs confiscated by customs. Some say dealextreme works, others say not.

I was just looking for clarity, i'm sorry if I annoyed someone

Any definite answers?

Thanks

aliasneo07 said:

Sorry Laserbee, didn't mean to double post.

I HAVE been searching the forums. I've seen one thing, then seen it retracted later.

For instance, some people say they can get a laser from DX at 30mw green, others say theyve had theirs confiscated by customs. Some say dealextreme works, others say not.

I was just looking for clarity, i'm sorry if I annoyed someone

Any definite answers?

Thanks

Click to expand...

NOVA, Optotronics, or LaserGlow.

LRMNmeyer said:

[quote author=aliasneo07 link=1226258600/0#3 date=1226261705]Sorry Laserbee, didn't mean to double post.

I HAVE been searching the forums. I've seen one thing, then seen it retracted later.

For instance, some people say they can get a laser from DX at 30mw green, others say theyve had theirs confiscated by customs. Some say dealextreme works, others say not.

I was just looking for clarity, i'm sorry if I annoyed someone

Any definite answers?

Thanks

Click to expand...

NOVA, Optotronics, or LaserGlow.[/quote]
I had ordered from Dragonlasers and Novalasers both came within a week both over spec I got the Dragonlaser viper 95 while I was living in Idaho and the NOVAlasers Alpha 105 while living in Michigan. I got a techlasers infiniti while living in florida but I wouldn't ever order from techlasers ever again

I would reccomend Dragonlasers and NOVAlasers for the pen style lasers. Laserglow and optotronics is great for higher end powers in the bigger models

Dragonlasers seems to have the best prices on the lab style lasers. but Newstarlasers seems promising too

Great, thanks all for your help.

Btw, I wasnt just someone posting for answers, I plan on staying a member of the forum. Maybe eventually I'll grow so bold as to build my own :-0.

Anyways, thanks again.

If you just want the cheapest lasers at that power, check out Sawt al Hurriyah's group buy for forbidden DX lasers. If you can't find it, we'll know that you didn't do the research you claimed.

-Mark

rocketparrotlet said:

If you just want the cheapest lasers at that power, check out Sawt al Hurriyah's group buy for forbidden DX lasers.  If you can't find it, we'll know that you didn't do the research you claimed.

-Mark

Click to expand...

Meh.

aliasneo07 said:

Sorry Laserbee, didn't mean to double post.

I HAVE been searching the forums. I've seen one thing, then seen it retracted later.

For instance, some people say they can get a laser from DX at 30mw green, others say theyve had theirs confiscated by customs. Some say dealextreme works, others say not.

I was just looking for clarity, i'm sorry if I annoyed someone

Any definite answers?

Thanks

Click to expand...

Try.....
- Members
- Name
-"S"
-Sawt al Hurriyah
- DX Group Buy Here

You now have been spoon fed............ :

In the US lasers over 5mW are illegal EXCEPT for lasers which are not part of a finished product. This includes "lab style" modules of all power levels, bare laser diodes, laser diode modules (Aixiz modules), HeNe lasers, Ion lasers etc... These are called OEM lasers-all of these can be legally owned in the US - of ANY power level - unless they are incorperated into some finished product (like a pointer, stage laser system, etc.). If they are used in a product, then an FDA "operating variance" is required in order to use them. In reality you could own a 20-Watt laser pointer (if only they made one) all day long, you just can't legally turn it on.

Unfortunately, laser pointers fall under the "finished product" heading and are limited to 5mW legally. There are some outlets that supply laser pointers over 5mW to US customers, but they are still illegal to operate without a variance.

Allowing the possession of OEM lasers allows educational users, laboratories, and responsible hobbyists to use lasers for research, experimentation, holography and much more. Not to mention the fact that they're more fun. If your wallet's big enough, you could own a laser big enough to bounce light off the moon (no kidding!). Always be safe, though..

http://www.novalasers.com/

http://www.laserglow.com/?gclid=CITw09SG65YCFSAUagodCwqxPg


http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1224130203

http://optotronics.com/

buy the 30mW on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-list...=UTF8&s=office-products&qid=1226337164&sr=8-6 but from More4Less2008 they're great to work with, and for $25.00 its a great laser

ElektroFreak said:

In the US lasers over 5mW are illegal EXCEPT for lasers which are not part of a finished product. This includes "lab style" modules of all power levels, bare laser diodes, laser diode modules (Aixiz modules), HeNe lasers, Ion lasers etc... These are called OEM lasers-all of these can be legally owned in the US - of ANY power level - unless they are incorperated into some finished product (like a pointer, stage laser system, etc.). If they are used in a product, then an FDA "operating variance" is required in order to use them. In reality you could own a 20-Watt laser pointer (if only they made one) all day long, you just can't legally turn it on.

Unfortunately, laser pointers fall under the "finished product" heading and are limited to 5mW legally. There are some outlets that supply laser pointers over 5mW to US customers, but they are still illegal to operate without a variance.

Allowing the possession of OEM lasers allows educational users, laboratories, and responsible hobbyists to use lasers for research, experimentation, holography and much more. Not to mention the fact that they're more fun. If your wallet's big enough, you could own a laser big enough to bounce light off the moon (no kidding!). Always be safe, though..

Click to expand...

Incorrect. FDA does not govern usage, they only cover import and manufacture for sale. Once you have and own a laser, it is completely legal to own, possess, and use unless there are local laws regulating those. It's not operating laser pointers that is governed, it is importing them. And you can still legally import lasers, they just ahve to have that variance you spoke of in the form of an FDA accession number.

FDA rules apply to lasers that are manufactured for sale in the US or imported into the US, and a company can get FDA permission to import or sell those lasers in the US, such as I believe Optotronics has done. They simply need the proper safety features and the FDA accession number to approve the lasers for import. You are right that OEM products (although an OEM product is one that simply cannot be incorporated into a working device trivially. If you buy a lab laser and can jsut plug it into the wall and turn it on, it's not OEM, it's a working laser and is subject to the same laws as all pointers and must also have approval for sale or import) are not governed this way, but once you buy OEM products and incorporate them into your own device, that device is completely legal to own and operate (as long as it is legal to won and operate in your locality, such as your state, city, or county). The FDA only regulates import and manufacture for sale, they specifically leave it up to localities to regulate ownership and usage as it stands now.

pullbangdead said:

[quote author=ElektroFreak link=1226258600/0#10 date=1226334942]In the US lasers over 5mW are illegal EXCEPT for lasers which are not part of a finished product. This includes "lab style" modules of all power levels, bare laser diodes, laser diode modules (Aixiz modules), HeNe lasers, Ion lasers etc... These are called OEM lasers-all of these can be legally owned in the US - of ANY power level - unless they are incorperated into some finished product (like a pointer, stage laser system, etc.). If they are used in a product, then an FDA "operating variance" is required in order to use them. In reality you could own a 20-Watt laser pointer (if only they made one) all day long, you just can't legally turn it on.

Unfortunately, laser pointers fall under the "finished product" heading and are limited to 5mW legally. There are some outlets that supply laser pointers over 5mW to US customers, but they are still illegal to operate without a variance.

Allowing the possession of OEM lasers allows educational users, laboratories, and responsible hobbyists to use lasers for research, experimentation, holography and much more. Not to mention the fact that they're more fun. If your wallet's big enough, you could own a laser big enough to bounce light off the moon (no kidding!). Always be safe, though..

Click to expand...

Incorrect.  FDA does not govern usage, they only cover import and manufacture for sale.  Once you have and own a laser, it is completely legal to own, possess, and use unless there are local laws regulating those.  It's not operating laser pointers that is governed, it is importing them.  And you can still legally import lasers, they just ahve to have that variance you spoke of in the form of an FDA accession number.

FDA rules apply to lasers that are manufactured for sale in the US or imported into the US, and a company can get FDA permission to import or sell those lasers in the US, such as I believe Optotronics has done.  They simply need the proper safety features and the FDA accession number to approve the lasers for import.  You are right that OEM products (although an OEM product is one that simply cannot be incorporated into a working device trivially.  If you buy a lab laser and can jsut plug it into the wall and turn it on, it's not OEM, it's a working laser and is subject to the same laws as all pointers and must also have approval for sale or import) are not governed this way, but once you buy OEM products and incorporate them into your own device, that device is completely legal to own and operate (as long as it is legal to won and operate in your locality, such as your state, city, or county).  The FDA only regulates import and manufacture for sale, they specifically leave it up to localities to regulate ownership and usage as it stands now.[/quote]


Thanks for the clarification. I'm no lawyer, nor am I an expert on FDA regulations, I merely wanted to point out that all is not lost if you want to legally own a high-powered laser in the US. There are ways to go about it, you just have to know where to look. If a person is interested in owning a laser with a power output over 1/2 watt, then laser pointers are out of the question anyway.

Also, I have yet to see the FDA enforce these regulations on individuals. They definitely enforce them with companies and distributors, but I'd be surprised to see the FDA come kick in my door because I own an illegal laser.

ElektroFreak said:

[quote author=pullbangdead link=1226258600/0#13 date=1226343972][quote author=ElektroFreak link=1226258600/0#10 date=1226334942]If a person is interested in owning a laser with a power output over 1/2 watt, then laser pointers are out of the question anyway.

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thats not true actually, there is a DIYer on here somewhere, i cant find the thread right now, who made a 1 watt hand held, i believe a 4 watt also, and is going to soon make a 20 watt