Use Without Goggles?

LesPaul · Mar 16, 2012

Hello,
I ordered a 100mW module from Lazerer and it arrived but I have to pick it up from the post office tomorrow.

I have ordered goggles, and they should be coming soon, but I want to know if the setup that I would use is safe to use my laser with:

I would have the laser in a fixed position on a bench, which can't move unless you drill the metal out from the desk. Then, I would have the laser pointing onto a black pillow.

Is that okay to operate the laser and maybe even light matches without goggles?

I searched and some people said that it's okay to look at the dot, just to some find it uncomfortable.

I appreciate your help!

sesam · Mar 16, 2012

Looking at the dot from a distance with 100mW might be OK but I think not if it is close,
but why take any chanses? It is not something you can "UNDO" if you damage your eyes!
It's better to always wear protective glasses !

TheReddish · Mar 16, 2012

I think you will be ok, the only way you will really get hurt, is if 1 the beam hits you in the pupil, 2 the beam gets directly reflected into your pupil, or 3 you stare at the spot from less than 3" away on a diffuse surface like your wall for more than a second or 2, or what ever your burning, up close don't burn things, if you must, then close your eyes. I however am not an expert so IDK your mileage may vary.

Ghostchrome · Mar 16, 2012

So how are you going to aim the laser at a match without looking at the dot?

TheReddish · Mar 16, 2012

the force? or use a bigger target than that match. plastic, Styrofoam. biggest danger or bigger than burning something dark that absorbs most of the beam, is the smoke, you get weird refection from it, hence eyes closed, also a spot wont insta hurt you, though if you stare to long it will give you snowblindess

ElectroMagneticFreak · Mar 17, 2012

I personally would not do ANY burning at all without goggles. You won't be able to look at the dot and if you do you will be squinting and worrying if it is damaging your eyes which it may well be.

It would be much better to get some goggles that block 532nm and IR which will be a danger as well when up close like that. Get some goggles so that you can actually enjoy burning with your laser without worrying about your eyes. And if your not worried than YOU really need to check yourself for if you even should experiment with lasers. I don't mean to sound harsh its just my personal philosophy for laser safety. If you are taking a risk where something could go wrong and you don't have goggles just don't do it period. You may really come to regret what you did. Here are some goggles that would work for what you need.

Eagle Pair® 190-540nm & 800-2000nm Laser Safety Goggles

EDIT: Oops, I was assuming you were talking about a 100mW 532nm green module. What color laser is this that you ordered from Lazerer?

LesPaul · Mar 17, 2012

I already have ordered some goggles but they don't block IR.

Thanks for your answer. Yes, it is a 532nm laser.

ElectroMagneticFreak said:
I personally would not do ANY burning at all without goggles. You won't be able to look at the dot and if you do you will be squinting and worrying if it is damaging your eyes which it may well be.

It would be much better to get some goggles that block 532nm and IR which will be a danger as well when up close like that. Get some goggles so that you can actually enjoy burning with your laser without worrying about your eyes. And if your not worried than YOU really need to check yourself for if you even should experiment with lasers. I don't mean to sound harsh its just my personal philosophy for laser safety. If you are taking a risk where something could go wrong and you don't have goggles just don't do it period. You may really come to regret what you did. Here are some goggles that would work for what you need.

Eagle Pair® 190-540nm & 800-2000nm Laser Safety Goggles

EDIT: Oops, I was assuming you were talking about a 100mW 532nm green module. What color laser is this that you ordered from Lazerer?

ElectroMagneticFreak · Mar 17, 2012

Best of luck with your project. :wave: Hopefully your goggles arrive soon, are they the T-Rex brand? Since they don't block IR are you thinking of adding an IR filter to your laser at all?

It might be good to get some feedback by the veterans if IR from a 100mW green is enough at close range to cause damage without IR blocking goggles or filter. It might depend on how much IR is in your particular laser if it would be enough to be a concern, although always better safe than sorry.

LesPaul said:
I already have ordered some goggles but they don't block IR.

Thanks for your answer. Yes, it is a 532nm laser.

LesPaul · Mar 17, 2012

ElectroMagneticFreak said:
Best of luck with your project. :wave: Hopefully your goggles arrive soon, are they the T-Rex brand? Since they don't block IR are you thinking of adding an IR filter to your laser at all?

It might be good to get some feedback by the veterans if IR from a 100mW green is enough at close range to cause damage without IR blocking goggles or filter. It might depend on how much IR is in your particular laser if it would be enough to be a concern, although always better safe than sorry.

They are Radiantshades, so they offer some protection against these lasers. When I move to a higher powered laser, I will get better goggles.

No, I am not putting an IR filter as many people think IR isn't too bad, but I would like to know what a veteran would think!

ElectroMagneticFreak · Mar 17, 2012

My understanding is that IR is less of a worry when pointing at objects a long ways away but it is a danger when focusing the dot on objects at very close range.

When you stare at the dot of your laser through the goggles your eyes will adjust to the low perceived brightness of the absorbed visible green that fluoresces the goggles. The laser dot looks dim through the goggles, so your pupils may dilate and let in the IR and you will be unaware of how high the intensity of the invisible IR actually is. This is the thing to worry about depending on the quantity of IR your laser has as a component of the total mW.

If no veteran responds, then I'm right! :na:

If they disagree with this then I stand corrected. :bowdown:

LesPaul said:
No, I am not putting an IR filter as many people think IR isn't too bad, but I would like to know what a veteran would think!

TheReddish · Mar 17, 2012

ElectroMagneticFreak said:
My understanding is that IR is less of a worry when pointing at objects a long ways away but it is a danger when focusing the dot on objects at very close range.

When you stare at the dot of your laser through the goggles your eyes will adjust to the low perceived brightness of the blocked visible green that fluoresces the goggles and looks dim but your eyes will be focusing on the dot and your pupils may dilate and let in the IR and you will be unaware of how high the intensity of invisible IR is.

yes IF you can't see the beam in your eye, you will do the worse possible thing, ignore it and as soon as you focus eyes out on a target as little as 20' away, you will be focusing the hell out any light in your eyes from a laser. the longer your focal point into the distance the more danger an IR beam in your eye becomes. well at the wavelength of out pump diodes. Some IR like from CO2 will impact on the lens but 808nm -1000is is going to go right on in.

LesPaul · Mar 17, 2012

Hmm...maybe I should get an IR filter. Is there some way I can test IR without an LPM?

ElectroMagneticFreak said:
My understanding is that IR is less of a worry when pointing at objects a long ways away but it is a danger when focusing the dot on objects at very close range.

When you stare at the dot of your laser through the goggles your eyes will adjust to the low perceived brightness of the absorbed visible green that fluoresces the goggles. The laser dot looks dim through the goggles, so your pupils may dilate and let in the IR and you will be unaware of how high the intensity of the invisible IR actually is. This is the thing to worry about depending on the quantity of IR your laser has as a component of the total mW.

If no veteran responds, then I'm right! :na:

If they disagree with this then I stand corrected. :bowdown:

Sigurthr · Mar 17, 2012

Are you planning on doing a lot of burning with this laser? 100mW doesn't burn very well IMO.

If I were in your shoes I'd use the laser for pointing and beamviewing, that's what green does best. IR output from 100mW isn't a lot and if you're not burning with it or pointing at things very close then I wouldn't worry about the unfiltered IR. Use a beamstop when admiring the laser beam in confined spaces and always secure the laser down when you can. That's the safest setup.

Goggles on before the laser turns on always, and only take them off once you've "secured" the area and made sure the beam is going where it should. Unfiltered IR from 100mW is only a major threat when you're burning or looking at the spot far closer than you should be anyway.

The simplest solution is of course to just get a good pair of goggles that does 532nm and 808nm like the EaglePair.

TheReddish · Mar 17, 2012

well once again I think you will be ok, the IR will be surrounding your green beam, and don't let either one in your eyes

But lasers are a extreme eys hazard, its important to be aware of the risks you take, I would try and have someone meter the IR for me, but avg is see at 100mw is 20ish wm of IR and lazerer's greenies are good quality. Its not that scary over the green your already rocking, I would burn not anything till you have glasses unless you think you can pull it off eyes closed, I know what its like to get a laser and have to wait on goggles, and I KNOW you would use it anyway, but just keep in mind we don't know yet the true danger of lasers on the eyes over a prolonged times. Reflection on smoke are rolling dice with your eyes, go take it out side aim it in the sky at night, that's what its about for me anyway, at night, a 100mw green will look so awesome if you never saw one before. and lead you to buying a 500mw before your wallet knows what went wrong, expensive hobby alert!

LesPaul · Mar 17, 2012

No, I won't be using it for much burning, more beam viewing.

Okay so what do you mean by a beamstop?

Thanks!

Sigurthr said:
Are you planning on doing a lot of burning with this laser? 100mW doesn't burn very well IMO.

If I were in your shoes I'd use the laser for pointing and beamviewing, that's what green does best. IR output from 100mW isn't a lot and if you're not burning with it or pointing at things very close then I wouldn't worry about the unfiltered IR. Use a beamstop when admiring the laser beam in confined spaces and always secure the laser down when you can. That's the safest setup.

Goggles on before the laser turns on always, and only take them off once you've "secured" the area and made sure the beam is going where it should. Unfiltered IR from 100mW is only a major threat when you're burning or looking at the spot far closer than you should be anyway.

The simplest solution is of course to just get a good pair of goggles that does 532nm and 808nm like the EaglePair.

TheReddish · Mar 17, 2012

take a clay brick and paint it black, something acts as a thermoplie and absorbs the beam of the laser.

Use Without Goggles?

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