- Joined
- Jul 2, 2011
- Messages
- 1,011
- Points
- 63
Tested Budget Safety Goggles
Dark Red
OD 5+ 400nm to 520nm
OD 4.5+ 520nm to 535nm
Green
OD 1.5+ 405nm
OD 3+ 440nm to 460nm
OD 2+ 460 to 480nm
OD 2+ 630nm to 660nm
Light Red
OD 5+ 520nm
OD 4.5+ 532nm
Blue
OD 1+ 630nm to 660nm
Use this spreadsheet to automatically calculate which goggles for your specific laser, or what to expect from each of the different goggles.
Goggles Calculator
What is optical density?
Optical density is how much the goggles attenuate the power of the laser beam. Keep in mind all the values below are for a direct hit with the laser, which should never happen. "Safe" is considered .1mW anything at this power is completely safe. 1mW is also safe but only for the length of time it takes you to blink.
OD 5 .001%
Safe for lasers up to 10W
OD 4 .01%
Safe for lasers up to 1W
Will reduce to 1mW for lasers up to 10W
OD 3 .1%
Safe for lasers up to 100mW
Will reduce to 1mW for lasers up to 1W
OD 2 1%
Safe for lasers up to 10mW
Will reduce to 1mW for lasers up to 100mW
OD 1 10%
Safe for lasers up to 1mW
Will reduce to 1mW for lasers up to 10mW
Dark Red
OD 5+ 400nm to 520nm
OD 4.5+ 520nm to 535nm
Green
OD 1.5+ 405nm
OD 3+ 440nm to 460nm
OD 2+ 460 to 480nm
OD 2+ 630nm to 660nm
Light Red
OD 5+ 520nm
OD 4.5+ 532nm
Blue
OD 1+ 630nm to 660nm
Use this spreadsheet to automatically calculate which goggles for your specific laser, or what to expect from each of the different goggles.
Goggles Calculator
What is optical density?
Optical density is how much the goggles attenuate the power of the laser beam. Keep in mind all the values below are for a direct hit with the laser, which should never happen. "Safe" is considered .1mW anything at this power is completely safe. 1mW is also safe but only for the length of time it takes you to blink.
OD 5 .001%
Safe for lasers up to 10W
OD 4 .01%
Safe for lasers up to 1W
Will reduce to 1mW for lasers up to 10W
OD 3 .1%
Safe for lasers up to 100mW
Will reduce to 1mW for lasers up to 1W
OD 2 1%
Safe for lasers up to 10mW
Will reduce to 1mW for lasers up to 100mW
OD 1 10%
Safe for lasers up to 1mW
Will reduce to 1mW for lasers up to 10mW
Purpose:
Why did I do this?
A few reasons;
Lasers fascinate me and it seemed like an interesting experiment.
Some people just getting into lasers don't want to or can't afford a $50+ pair of goggles so they will just get a cheap pair off ebay, and there is no guarantee those will be safe. Or worse none at all. These are cheap and everyone can afford them.
Even if you do purchase a quality pair such as an eagle pair or something better, what do you do when you want to show your lasers to someone else? Buying a second pair is expensive, with these you can have 2-3 and not break the bank.
Testing Method:
Lasers were tested for exact output then goggles were put in front of the lasers and moved back and forth so they would not burn, once the LPM reading was stable the OD was calculated from there. The goggles were also tested for how long it took for them to burn. The goggles will start to burn relatively quickly ( depending on the goggles of course) but all goggles were able to maintain their OD rating for 5 seconds or more, however most of them were much longer than that.
Goggles were tested with ~1W lasers at 405nm, 445nm, 520nm, 638nm. Values were interpolated/extrapolated from there. Every time I order goggles I will re-test them to make sure they meet the specifications I listed for them.
Just as an FYI, I also have a pair that radiant electronics used to sell (light red) and I tested those. They performed as follows:
405nm OD 1.2
445nm OD 2.8
520nm OD 5
LPM used was a hyperion cuprum. I was able to get it to read reliably down to .03mW so all readings that read 0 were assumed to be less than .01mW so with a 1W laser the most I can claim the googles to be is OD 5. However I suspect they are probably OD 6+ maybe even 7.
The equipment to test all these goggles cost me nearly $700, and with the Ophir I purchased to do future testing with that number is close to (and probably once the ophir is finished, above) $1000. So the prices for the goggles reflect that, however I am trying to sell them as cheap as possible. That way everyone can afford a pair (or multiple pairs).
Pricing:
The lasers do not come with a case, however did source some if people are interested. It can either be an addon or come with every pair.
Dark Red: $20
Green: $20
Light Red: $10
Blue $5
Once my current stock runs out, only the Dark Red and Green Goggles will be sold, unless there is a high demand otherwise.
Shipping:
CONUS:
Orders $40 and over Free
Under $40:
Priority: $8
First Class: $3
International:
Location by location basis
Why did I do this?
A few reasons;
Lasers fascinate me and it seemed like an interesting experiment.
Some people just getting into lasers don't want to or can't afford a $50+ pair of goggles so they will just get a cheap pair off ebay, and there is no guarantee those will be safe. Or worse none at all. These are cheap and everyone can afford them.
Even if you do purchase a quality pair such as an eagle pair or something better, what do you do when you want to show your lasers to someone else? Buying a second pair is expensive, with these you can have 2-3 and not break the bank.
Testing Method:
Lasers were tested for exact output then goggles were put in front of the lasers and moved back and forth so they would not burn, once the LPM reading was stable the OD was calculated from there. The goggles were also tested for how long it took for them to burn. The goggles will start to burn relatively quickly ( depending on the goggles of course) but all goggles were able to maintain their OD rating for 5 seconds or more, however most of them were much longer than that.
Goggles were tested with ~1W lasers at 405nm, 445nm, 520nm, 638nm. Values were interpolated/extrapolated from there. Every time I order goggles I will re-test them to make sure they meet the specifications I listed for them.
Just as an FYI, I also have a pair that radiant electronics used to sell (light red) and I tested those. They performed as follows:
405nm OD 1.2
445nm OD 2.8
520nm OD 5
LPM used was a hyperion cuprum. I was able to get it to read reliably down to .03mW so all readings that read 0 were assumed to be less than .01mW so with a 1W laser the most I can claim the googles to be is OD 5. However I suspect they are probably OD 6+ maybe even 7.
The equipment to test all these goggles cost me nearly $700, and with the Ophir I purchased to do future testing with that number is close to (and probably once the ophir is finished, above) $1000. So the prices for the goggles reflect that, however I am trying to sell them as cheap as possible. That way everyone can afford a pair (or multiple pairs).
Pricing:
The lasers do not come with a case, however did source some if people are interested. It can either be an addon or come with every pair.
Dark Red: $20
Green: $20
Light Red: $10
Blue $5
Once my current stock runs out, only the Dark Red and Green Goggles will be sold, unless there is a high demand otherwise.
Shipping:
CONUS:
Orders $40 and over Free
Under $40:
Priority: $8
First Class: $3
International:
Location by location basis
:thanks:For your time and have a great day!
Last edited:
