Welcome to Laser Pointer Forums - discuss green laser pointers, blue laser pointers, and all types of lasers

LPF Donation via Stripe | LPF Donation - Other Methods

Links below open in new window

ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Laser Projector Safety Goggles Necessary?

DC92

0
Joined
Nov 4, 2016
Messages
3
Points
0
Hopefully someone much more knowledgeable on the subject than myself can help me out.

I recently purchased a laser projector from a company called wicked lasers (link). It is rated as follows:

Class 4 Laser Product
160MW @ 637NM
120MW @ 520NM
<700MW @ 450NM

I am looking to understand the risks associated with this product before I start using it in my business. There are two places I would like to use it that may pose different hazards.

The first scenario:
Essentially the projector will be positioned about 6 to 8 feet above a table and project down. This table will be covered with a semi-glossy black vinyl material (think fake leather). Assuming the operator does not look up into the projector, how much danger would they be in from looking at the projected pattern on the black vinyl? Would limiting the projection to say 520NM be safer? Are there any distance considerations for how far the operator should be from the projection surface (table)?

The second scenario:
Essentially the projector will be positioned on a wall about 6 feet above a table and project down at a 45 degree angle. This table will be covered with a raw steel plate. Assuming the operator does not look up into the projector, how much danger would they be in from looking at the projected pattern on the steel? Would limiting the projection to say 520NM be safer? Are there any distance considerations for how far the operator should be from the projection surface (table)?

The major question for both of these scenarios, would be are there safety glasses that can be worn that will limit the risk to the operator while still ensuring the visibility of the projection?

Any help with the above will be greatly appreciated!
 





diachi

0
Joined
Feb 22, 2008
Messages
9,700
Points
113
Hopefully someone much more knowledgeable on the subject than myself can help me out.

I recently purchased a laser projector from a company called wicked lasers (link). It is rated as follows:

Class 4 Laser Product
160MW @ 637NM
120MW @ 520NM
<700MW @ 450NM

I am looking to understand the risks associated with this product before I start using it in my business. There are two places I would like to use it that may pose different hazards.

The first scenario:
Essentially the projector will be positioned about 6 to 8 feet above a table and project down. This table will be covered with a semi-glossy black vinyl material (think fake leather). Assuming the operator does not look up into the projector, how much danger would they be in from looking at the projected pattern on the black vinyl? Would limiting the projection to say 520NM be safer? Are there any distance considerations for how far the operator should be from the projection surface (table)?

The second scenario:
Essentially the projector will be positioned on a wall about 6 feet above a table and project down at a 45 degree angle. This table will be covered with a raw steel plate. Assuming the operator does not look up into the projector, how much danger would they be in from looking at the projected pattern on the steel? Would limiting the projection to say 520NM be safer? Are there any distance considerations for how far the operator should be from the projection surface (table)?

The major question for both of these scenarios, would be are there safety glasses that can be worn that will limit the risk to the operator while still ensuring the visibility of the projection?

Any help with the above will be greatly appreciated!

Where are you located? Laws vary in different regions, they are strict in the USA for example (At least for public venues or anything commercial) but less strict somewhere like Holland.

It's impossible to say without actually going to the location, looking at all of the shows you want to do and then measuring them all accurately, calculating the danger. You need a professional Laser Safety Officer for that. We can't work that out over the internet.

There are no safety glasses that can protect the operator while still allowing them to clearly see the beams, laser safety glasses work by blocking out the light, if you can see the beam/dot then the laser safety glasses are not blocking the light and thus not protecting you.
 

DC92

0
Joined
Nov 4, 2016
Messages
3
Points
0
Let me clarify a few things.

I am located in Ontario, Canada. The laser laws here are nearly non-existent as far as I am aware.
This will be used in a manufacturing environment, where the hazard would be limited to the one operator working in the area.
Essentially, with both situations, the goal is to allow the operator to display a projection of the shapes to be cut out of a given material (either steel or black vinyl). The operator would use the projection to optimize the number of parts (shapes) that can fit on a single piece of raw material in real time. Once the alignment of the parts on the material has been verified through the projection, the operator would activate the corresponding machine to cut the shapes out of the raw material.
Visibility of the beam is not necessary, only visibility of the projection (pattern) on the end surface.
 

diachi

0
Joined
Feb 22, 2008
Messages
9,700
Points
113
Let me clarify a few things.

I am located in Ontario, Canada. The laser laws here are nearly non-existent as far as I am aware.
This will be used in a manufacturing environment, where the hazard would be limited to the one operator working in the area.
Essentially, with both situations, the goal is to allow the operator to display a projection of the shapes to be cut out of a given material (either steel or black vinyl). The operator would use the projection to optimize the number of parts (shapes) that can fit on a single piece of raw material in real time. Once the alignment of the parts on the material has been verified through the projection, the operator would activate the corresponding machine to cut the shapes out of the raw material.
Visibility of the beam is not necessary, only visibility of the projection (pattern) on the end surface.

There are laws about this in Canada, just not as strict as the US.

With safety glasses on the projection won't be visible, or at the least it's definitely not going to stand out, especially on a black surface.

Really, the best place to ask is Photonlexicon.com - that forum is more geared towards Laser Projectors.
 

Benm

0
Joined
Aug 16, 2007
Messages
7,896
Points
113
As a rule of thumb: looking at a projection from this laser on a matte surface like (wall)paper is not dangerous at any distance closer than arms length.

Looking at a reflection from a shiny surface like steel can be dangerouns depending on the angles, and would not be recommended.

This is not a very poweful laser projector by todays standards, but the output is still enough to quickly damage eyes by even looking into it through some reflective surface, which could also be just that from an ordinary glass window.

I'm not sure on the diameter or divergence of the beams at all, but this is one of those 'do not look into laser with remaining eye' types of deals. It might not be expensive at all, might not meet advertised power, but still has enough to blind you when looking directly into it, or into it reflected from any glossy surface.
 

DC92

0
Joined
Nov 4, 2016
Messages
3
Points
0
Thanks for the input guys. I think I have a better understanding of where to go from here :)
 




Top