Googles Question - Sighting

[MSherman]

Hi, I haven't used lasers other than 5mw pointers.

I'm thinking of buying a 445nm 50mw or 100mw. I understand goggles can prevent a tragic accident from a beam shone directly into an eye.

But if the laser is mounted/fixed indoors or outdoors, it is required to use goggles to view along the path of the beam or the spot where it stops on a 50 or 100mw blue?

Thank you.

 

[MSherman]

Sorry, I meant "Goggles Question" in the thread subject, of course.

Thank you.

 

[InfinitusEquitas]

Hi, I haven't used lasers other than 5mw pointers.

I'm thinking of buying a 445nm 50mw or 100mw. I understand goggles can prevent a tragic accident from a beam shone directly into an eye.

But if the laser is mounted/fixed indoors or outdoors, it is required to use goggles to view along the path of the beam or the spot where it stops on a 50 or 100mw blue?

Thank you.

Welcome to the forum :beer:

If the laser is mounted, in a fixed position, and cannot move, then it is certainly safe to look at the beam.

As for the dot, it would depend on the material on which you are shining the laser, and the distance between your eyes, and said dot.

In general for a 445nm laser 100mW, if the material is a matte finish (not shine, piece of notebook paper, black cloth, etc,.), looking at it from a few feet away is perfectly safe, although not comfortable. There is also the blue light hazard to consider though, so I wouldn't stare at the dot for a long time.

Please do get yourself goggles though, because most accidents happen specifically when people are trying to set something up, where the laser is supposed to be in a fixed position.

Edit: Btw, in the future, if you want to fix an error, or want to add to your post, you can use the Edit, and Advanced Edit options, to for example update the title of your thread.

 

[yathern2]

For 100mW, you don't really need goggles if it is the laser is mounted and pointing at a non-reflective surface. I have used my 95mW (probably a bit lower) greenie inside without goggles. Only when burning I would need goggles, but at more than a few feet away, assuming no reflective surfaces, your eyes will be fine.

Now there is also this thing called the blue-light hazard. I'm no expert, but as I understand it, normally your eyes heal a bit from seeing bright lights, but with shorter wavelengths, for some reason, your eye doesn't heal as well.

It's always a good idea to get goggles either way. Better safe than sorry.