RGB-Lumia safety

[Chimme]

Hello everyone,

I've been thinking about building my own RGB lumia projector for quite a while. And when I found a super cheap 200mW RGB module on ebay (straight from China..) I couldn't resist. Now that it arrived I have some questions concerning safety.
First of all I am searching for some protective glasses that are suitable for all three wave lengths (532nm(30mW), 638nm(100mW), 445nm(100mW)). I found some IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) safety glasses with a wave length protection of 190-1800nm and OD4+. Now I am wondering if those glasses are good enough for working with lasers.

My second question is whether it is necessary to add additional safety features to the projector if I want to operate it on my living room table. I could imagine a motion sensor that shuts the laser down if somebody steps in front of it so that nobody can look into the beam accidentally.

And I am wondering if I should install an IR-filter in case that the green DPSS module is low quality.

Thanks in advance! :thanks:

Links:
RGB-Module: RGB 200mW Stage Light Laser Module High Power White Laser Compact Design TTL | eBay

IPL-Glasses: http://www.amazon.de/HPL-Schutzbril...TF8&qid=1437663622&sr=8-3&keywords=ipl+brille

(Sorry the last link is from the german amazon, I couldn't find the same model on amazon.com..)

 

[doubleone44]

Those glasses appear good for what you want. Also, those should protect you from the IR from the green module too. Good choice! And as long as you point it away from people, it shouldn't really cause problems with people walking infront of it. (would any normal thinking people walk straight into a bright laser projection? Don't think so)

 

[Chimme]

Thank you for your reply doubleone, I am glad to hear that. They are far cheaper then the multiple wave lengths protective glasses which you can find in laser shops around the internet! I am surprised they haven't been mentioned here before. :thinking:
I am thinking about placing it on a low table infront of the couch and letting it produce a Lumia light show across the whole ceiling using some line optics to achive a wide spread of the effect.
I am scared that someone could look into it while reaching over the table. But you might be right it should be obivous.. I'll see if it will be necessary during the process of making the projector.

 

[Bionic-Badger]

No, I would not trust those goggles.

Those goggles are only EN166 / ANSI 287.1 certified, which is for generic eye protection (impact, etc.) -- not laser eye protection, which is a different set of certifications (EN207 / ANSI Z136). It is common for companies to post those non-relevant certifications (e.g. "CE certified") to give the illusion that their goggle "laser protection ratings" claims are backed by the relevant certifications.

This does not mean that those goggles are necessarily non-protective, but those OD ratings are not certified to any relevant standards. Until someone has bought and measured the laser eye-protective qualities of those goggles -- i.e. self-certify the protection -- you shouldn't trust the protection ratings that retailer states.

Also the fact that those goggles claim OD4+ across the entire visible spectrum leads me to think that these are nothing more than impact-protection goggles with sunglasses darkening -- which will not be sufficient for any kind of laser protection. They may even be more harmful than no goggles for the mere fact that your pupils will dilate due to less ambient light, creating an even larger target for a stray beam to damage your eyes.

It'd be best to get some real certified goggles, but they can be relatively expensive. If you want some less expensive goggles that have been self-certified, get some Eagle Pair goggles (or Eagle Pair® 190-540nm Slip Over Laser Safety Goggles | eBay). Those only cover blue-violet wavelengths -- not reds -- but that'll provide you protection for a large range of wavelengths, especially the high-powered blues.

 

[Chimme]

Unfortunately that is more like what I expected to hear. Thank you for the advice! I think I might use a pair that also protects me from IR from the DPSS like this: Eagle Pair® Brand 190 540nm 800 2000nm Laser Safety Goggles | eBay This way I could work with the blue and green beam and keep the red one off until the projector is finished.

I have one more technical question. Is it possible for one to actually change the colour of the beam using TTL in the way people use PWM for LEDs? Of cause that is not possible with scanners but in a Lumia projector it should be no problem. Or am I missing out on something?

EDIT: I am going to post any further questions to the lumia thread (http://laserpointerforums.com/f47/lumia-one-thread-all-85396.html) thanks for the help so far!