Tester Needed - Let's Try Out Some Cheap Goggles

Time and again I see the same subject emerging, and being argued about.

The subject of cheap laser safety goggles.

Personally I recommend and prefer to use certified goggles, unfortunately many don't have the money or aren't willing to pay for certified. For these folks the choice seems to come down to cheap goggles or nothing.

So it would be great if there was another source of cheaper goggles out there.

This is one promising option:

http://laserpointerforums.com/f44/cheap-safety-glasses-tested-71621.html

Unfortunately to date, that is the only pair that was "tested". That is simply not enough data to go on.

A couple people have already volunteered to donate to have more of these tested: Link.

I would love to be able to do this myself, but IMO for this a tec based LPM is not enough, one with a fast response time is required.

Can anyone volunteer to test out a bunch of these?

Would more people be willing to donate to have a a few of these destroyed?

Goggles For Testing Donor List;
1. Ghostchrome (1)
2. TJ (1)
3. InfinitusEquitas (2)
4. offroadfreak8582 (1)
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.


04/12/12 - EDIT/UPDATE - Did a bit of testing on my own...

http://laserpointerforums.com/f52/c...test-uvex-s0360x-ultra-spec-2000-a-73484.html

Yes, I'm in for a pair. :wave:

You're on the list:beer:

Still need a tester, but 4 goggles to test is a GOOD start

InfinitusEquitas said:

Time and again I see the same subject emerging, and being argued about.

The subject of cheap laser safety goggles.

Personally I recommend and prefer to use certified goggles, unfortunately many don't have the money or aren't willing to pay for certified. For these folks the choice seems to come down to cheap goggles or nothing.

So it would be great if there was another source of cheaper goggles out there.

This is one promising option:

http://laserpointerforums.com/f44/cheap-safety-glasses-tested-71621.html

Unfortunately to date, that is the only pair that was "tested". That is simply not enough data to go on.

A couple people have already volunteered to donate to have more of these tested: Link.

I would love to be able to do this myself, but IMO for this a tec based LPM is not enough, one with a fast response time is required.

Can anyone volunteer to test out a bunch of these?

Would more people be willing to donate to have a a few of these destroyed?

Goggles For Testing Donor List;
1. Ghostchrome (1)
2. TJ (1)
3. InfinitusEquitas (2)
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Click to expand...

I think you would need to describe the testing procedures so
that everyone uses the same process and calibrated LPMs..

You will also need to do destruction tests at certain powers
to know how long it takes for a beam to melt through a
plastic lens...
Again with testing criteria and procedures outlined...

I agree with you about the Budget LPMs that use the large TEC
sensors.. They would be too slow.

There is no reason that the higher end and faster response
LaserBee I... LaserBee IX... LaserBee II or 5W LaserBee LPMs
could not be used...

A lot of members have these models of LPMs..

MarioMaster tested the red Shades that he sells.. maybe
he would be willing to use the same procedure to test
the Goggles you are gathering..
Not sure if he has the time or wants to... you will need to PM
him and ask...


Jerry

lasersbee said:

I think you would need to describe the testing procedures so
that everyone uses the same process and calibrated LPMs..

You will also need to do destruction tests at certain powers
to know how long it takes for a beam to melt through a
plastic lens...
Again with testing criteria and procedures outlined...

I agree with you about the Budget LPMs that use the large TEC
sensors.. They would be too slow.

There is no reason that the higher end and faster response
LaserBee I... LaserBee IX... LaserBee II or 5W LaserBee LPMs
could not be used...

A lot of members have these models of LPMs..

MarioMaster tested the red Shades that he sells.. maybe
he would be willing to use the same procedure to test
the Goggles you are gathering..
Not sure if he has the time or wants to... you will need to PM
him and ask...


Jerry

Click to expand...

All very good and valid points.

In so far as testing is concerned, I gave it a little thought but probably not enough.

The goggles would need to be tested against 405nm, 445nm, and 532nm lasers. There is no reason why the lens of each goggle cannot be tested for each of the wavelengths.

What I'd like to see is how long it takes for each of these types of lasers to burn through the goggles.

As a rough estimate this works out to six tests per one set of safety goggles, which translates to about 10-15 minutes for testing of each.

I realize that this is a time consuming effort so it may make sense for the tester to keep a couple of goggles as some sort of compensation.

I'm not that familiar with the other laserbee models, but I'm sure some of them would work great for this project... fact is I was going to buy either an LB or ophir lpm myself, but then a couple others things came up and my own funds are tied up a bit.

Any suggestions on testing procedures are definitely wanted and needed. My main goal is to see if these are a viable low cost option to provide at least OD 2.5 protection for 445nm and OD ~1.5 for the other two wavelengths. For this I want to see how much the goggles pass through to begin with and for long they can sustain a hit.

Unfortunately I don't see any better way to test.... but PLEASE post any suggestions.

I've always thought the cheap glasses I've owned do a great job.

I just did this:
Glasses - YouTube
How can you argue with that?

The beam was focused to infinity. I'll try the same with the focal point set to impact right on the lens (and far enough from the sensor for it to diverge and no cause any damage if it makes it through).

rhd said:

I've always thought the cheap glasses I've owned do a great job.

I just did this:
Glasses - YouTube
How can you argue with that?

The beam was focused to infinity. I'll try the same with the focal point set to impact right on the lens (and far enough from the sensor for it to diverge and no cause any damage if it makes it through).

Click to expand...

Those are GREAT results, and exactly what I had in mind in so far as testing as concerned.

I own two pairs of those and they seem to do a decent job... just don't that well on my large noggin, over my glasses.

If MarioMaster has a large stock of them in place, this issue could be put to rest, although I think another independent source for cheap safety gear would still be a big benefit to the community.

rhd said:

I've always thought the cheap glasses I've owned do a great job.

I just did this:
Glasses - YouTube
How can you argue with that?

The beam was focused to infinity. I'll try the same with the focal point set to impact right on the lens (and far enough from the sensor for it to diverge and no cause any damage if it makes it through).

Click to expand...

Buy laser eyewear, laser safety goggles, laser glasses, 2010 Promotional Laser Eyewear at Aliexpress.com

I have a set (4actually) of the dark blue to be used when operating a red laser and the blues are DARK. Not a lot of visible light trans on mine.

My Laser Precision power meter can measure up to 10W with 100nW noise level and has a rise time of less than a second. I have a spectrophotometer to characterise the OD over a large spectrum. The only thing I still need before I start is to build a powerfull 445nm laser, I hope to build something above 4W. The GPIB measurement setup needs some improvement but it already works. I have this idea for some time, I even have a few goggles already just for testing.

tsteele93 said:

Buy laser eyewear, laser safety goggles, laser glasses, 2010 Promotional Laser Eyewear at Aliexpress.com

I have a set (4actually) of the dark blue to be used when operating a red laser and the blues are DARK. Not a lot of visible light trans on mine.

Click to expand...

This is an interesting option to consider as well.

I would rather stick to a source that would ship the goggles out faster to individuals, but this is a good find.

Bluefan said:

My Laser Precision power meter can measure up to 10W with 100nW noise level and has a rise time of less than a second. I have a spectrophotometer to characterise the OD over a large spectrum. The only thing I still need before I start is to build a powerfull 445nm laser, I hope to build something above 4W. The GPIB measurement setup needs some improvement but it already works. I have this idea for some time, I even have a few goggles already just for testing.

Click to expand...

THAT would be awesome:wave: Hopefully in a bit we can provide you more goggles to burn through

Originally I figured a 2W or even ~1.5W would be enough for the 445nm testing, but measurements based off of nearly double what we see in handhelds would be even better.

I already have plenty 445nm diodes and stuff, I only need some time to build that laser, the rest of the setup is easy.

pm sent infinitus

greetings,,

Here is another option if anyone wants to try them.

http://www.shenzhen-wholesale.com/laser-glasses-green-laser-safety-glasses_sku964.html

offroadfreak8582 said:

pm sent infinitus

greetings,,

Click to expand...

PM Replied to, and I'll update the OP momentarily

tsteele93 said:

Here is another option if anyone wants to try them.

http://www.shenzhen-wholesale.com/laser-glasses-green-laser-safety-glasses_sku964.html

Click to expand...

Hmm, we'll need to to settle on one or two types to test out I think.

The Uvex were appealing because there is at least some info available about them.

What I don't want to happen is we order and test a bunch, they work great, we start recommending them, and they get switched without us knowing. Which with a chinese vendor is more likely.

InfinitusEquitas said:

PM Replied to, and I'll update the OP momentarily



Hmm, we'll need to to settle on one or two types to test out I think.

The Uvex were appealing because there is at least some info available about them.

What I don't want to happen is we order and test a bunch, they work great, we start recommending them, and they get switched without us knowing. Which with a chinese vendor is more likely.

Click to expand...

Very good points. I agree completely.

InfinitusEquitas said:

What I don't want to happen is we order and test a bunch, they work great, we start recommending them, and they get switched without us knowing.

Click to expand...

I suggest we come up with a "good 'nuff" procedure for testing goggles, i.e. nothing completely destructive. Then, it can be up to the sellers to serialize, test, and pass off the data to the end user.

I have some red goggles, they look exactly like the ones that everybody says are great. They let a lot of 445nm through.

I have some yellow goggles. Nobody here seems to use them. They let no 445nm light through.



Bases that need to be covered:
OD rating per wavelength
time for a standard power to completely defeat barrier

When a seller tests goggles, they can etch, carve, or somehow mark that specific pair with an identifying mark and prove that THAT particular pair performed within the community "good 'nuff" specifications.

But yeah, I cringe every time I see someone recommend "Just buy a pair of the red lensed goggles" or something like that.

Oh, and I also suggest we call it something besides "good 'nuff," that was just my example....

Those abex look like they might be worthwhile, they seem like they're specific and non-generic enough to have relatively consistent results across teh board.