O-like has a 3.2W IR for sale on ebay !

[potatorage]

*FACEPALM* Where the hell did you come up with that?? IR is just as dangerous as visible light if not more so when it's by itself since you can't see the beam or the reflections. If you don't own suitable IR goggles, DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT BUYING THIS LASER!!!!!!! Even the diffuse reflections have the potential to damage your eyes if it comes from the right surface. Just be careful when you're working at these kinds of powers. It's not a trivial mater.

blah blah blah
You obviously haven't experimented with these things firsthand.

 

[ElektroFreak]

blah blah blah
You obviously haven't experimented with these things firsthand.

No, of course not. Have you? Please, post the results of your research, O learned one. Whatever was I thinking when I thought I could muster up your level of intelligence? You would risk someone else's safety just so you can look what you consider to be "smart"?? wow. There's very little worse in life than those who stick to their ignorance as if it were fact.. especially at the cost of others.

Really, though, it's posts like that that are the reason some view this forum as a dubious source of information. All I ask is that when it comes to safety, we keep the facts straight. I know I'm wasting my breath....

 

[sbdwag]

3watts of intensly focused narrow spectrum light generating specular reflections that I cannot see is reason enough for me to be very cautious about this endeavor.

If I choose to purchase this unit it will be a fixed lab unit, It will have a light trap it will have dual switches one for power and one for laseing with large red on indicators and no one will be allowed to view it without safety goggles.

It may be a lightweight laser to some but its my eyes not someone elses.

regards
sbdwag

 

[potatorage]

No, of course not. Have you? Please, post the results of your research, O learned one. Whatever was I thinking when I thought I could muster up your level of intelligence? You would risk someone else's safety just so you can look what you consider to be "smart"?? wow. There's very little worse in life than those who stick to their ignorance as if it were fact.. especially at the cost of others.

Really, though, it's posts like that that are the reason some view this forum as a dubious source of information. All I ask is that when it comes to safety, we keep the facts straight. I know I'm wasting my breath....

Well, you are overreacting with the extra safety precautions that you are suggesting. When I play with my higher power diodes it's totally fine not to have goggles or anything. I have never used them and I'm fine. Although it would protect you from something stupid, like a shine to the eyes, but if you're careful that won't happen. Where do you get your information that this laser requires the careful handling that you recommend?

 

[ElektroFreak]

Well, you are overreacting with the extra safety precautions that you are suggesting. When I play with my higher power diodes it's totally fine not to have goggles or anything. I have never used them and I'm fine. Although it would protect you from something stupid, like a shine to the eyes, but if you're careful that won't happen. Where do you get your information that this laser requires the careful handling that you recommend?

Check the safety section of Sam's Laser FAQ (Although I'm sure in your infinite wisdom you're MUCH smarter than the guys who wrote that right? What with their fancy college degrees and all) You can get there through the link in my sig.


So let's be clear: it's 3.2 WATTS. Not uW, not mW. WATTS Yes, if you're careful you stand less of a chance of something happening, but that's true of anything. If a junkie is careful about who they share their needle with, it's less likely they'll get AIDS, but wouldn't it be better just to not share needles? You only get one set of eyes and at these powers it only takes about a millionth of a second for a serious burn to happen. I know you already know, potato, but for the rest of us common folk: that's a HELL of a lot faster than you can blink.

 

[jeffd]

I agree with potato; i think everyone is a little overestimating the power of a lasers when they say that reflections off a wall or whatever will damage your eyes. I play with all my lasers with no goggles and im fine(Of course i try to be careful though and dont shine them at things that like mirrors/windows that could send the beam in my eye). Although i have taken two direct hits from my blu ray in my eye(damn pocket mini, maybe a little to small to handle carefully) and it has had no effect on my vision.

 

[ElektroFreak]

I agree with potato; i think everyone is a little overestimating the power of a lasers when they say that reflections off a wall or whatever will damage your eyes. I play with all my lasers with no goggles and im fine(Of course i try to be careful though and dont shine them at things that like mirrors/windows that could send the beam in my eye). Although i have taken two direct hits from my blu ray in my eye(damn pocket mini, maybe a little to small to handle carefully) and it has had no effect on my vision.

Are any of your lasers 3.2W? And you say being hit directly twice has had no effect on your vision? Perhaps it would be wiser to include "that you know of" on the end of that statement. Being hit by a laser beam does not cause immediate blindness, or even damage that you notice right away. If you took two direct hits from a high-powered blu-ray laser, then I guarantee you there are two spots of damaged retinal tissue in your eyes. Your brain will make up the missing portions for some time before it becomes noticeable. I would recommend being examined by an eye doctor as soon as possible to discuss this. There's a reason doctors use lasers for eye surgery, and those are only 50-300mW.. about the power of most blu-rays.

I'm certainly done posting in this thread, since I think the OP is wise enough to do the right thing. As for mr. potatohead and jeffd, here, well.. you guys really shouldn't be allowed to play with lasers.

All I'm saying is be careful. Why risk your vision when goggles aren't even that expensive?

 

[Tech_Junkie]

Well, you are overreacting with the extra safety precautions that you are suggesting. When I play with my higher power diodes it's totally fine not to have goggles or anything. I have never used them and I'm fine. Although it would protect you from something stupid, like a shine to the eyes, but if you're careful that won't happen. Where do you get your information that this laser requires the careful handling that you recommend?

I just lost what little respect I had for you

 

[Gryphon]

Looks like a very nice deal. I'd spring for one if i didn't just get my 1W, my folks will never let me get another just after getting one, especially one so similair.

 

[.3lite]

I have never seen such effective laser diode.

2,2A of current draw and 3,2W output after optic??

 

[nikokapo]

The longer the wavelength the less burn. What is more dangerous is that you cant see it coming.

You have to add that IR is really hard to focus, that is also why styro said that it'd be a good burner at close distances.

 

[DashApple]

Hi


NIce laser 3.2 watts would be ok fro some things but is it true " The longer the wavelength the less burn" i thought co2 are good at burming thing like wood and that they have a long wavelenght i think 10.6 micrometers or 10600 nanometers .

 

[MarioMaster]

Hi


NIce laser 3.2 watts would be ok fro some things but is it true " The longer the wavelength the less burn" i thought co2 are good at burming thing like wood and that they have a long wavelenght i think 10.6 micrometers or 10600 nanometers .

Yeah CO2 lasers burn just about anything, but that's 10600nm, much much longer than these IR diodes. Even with 60 watts of output power from my laser, sometimes certain objects can be difficult to burn.

Wavelengths in the beginning of the IR spectra do not burn well, but that reverses at a certain point and objects start becoming opaque once the longer wavelengths are reached.


And as for safety, goggles would 100% be needed to own this laser and I'm not seeing why people are saying they're not needed. If the laser is on, you should have goggles on.

 

[DashApple]

Yeah CO2 lasers burn just about anything, but that's 10600nm, much much longer than these IR diodes. Even with 60 watts of output power from my laser, sometimes certain objects can be difficult to burn.

Wavelengths in the beginning of the IR spectra do not burn well, but that reverses at a certain point and objects start becoming opaque once the longer wavelengths are reached.


And as for safety, goggles would 100% be needed to own this laser and I'm not seeing why people are saying they're not needed. If the laser is on, you should have goggles on.

Hi

I agree any laser that you are using you should ware goggles especially for high power laser i got my co2 to run at 20 watts and it set fire to wood straight away Ive seen the videos people do on their diodes bars and all that light produced that u can see shining every ware on the camera is not good for your eyes without goggles , in my opinion i think its stupid to use high power lasers with out goggles only one mistake and that could be ur eye damaged and you only get one set of eyes , but that's my opinion its their eyes so if they don't use goggles that's up to them but if they damage them its there fault

What wavelength do things like wood and plastic start to become opaque i guess co2 laser is absorbed very well by most things ?

 

[styropyro]

When you are dealing with multiple watts of Near IR, I wouldn't see why you wouldn't wear goggles. It's not like you are missing out on something, the goggles don't hide any of the cool effects because the beam is invisible anyways. The stuff you are burning will look the same through goggles, IR goggles are usually pretty close to clear. I even use my 808nm goggles when dealing with 200mW pumps from crappy green pointers, I really don't think the risk is worth it. My eyes are bad enough to begin with for my age (16), I really only have one good eye so I don't want to throw away the vision I have over a hobby of mine.

 

[Tech_Junkie]

Yeah I think Potato is sniffing some of the gas from his laser. Either that or he is talking out of his @ss. At the very least it is irresponsible to tell people not to worry about safety issues with high power lasers. Especially at those powers.