What kinda laser is this?

[ZankeRH]

Hi, completely new here, I don't really know much about lasers, I got this as a birthday present and it looks pretty awesome to me (as a guy who's never fired a laser before).

It's green, pretty bright, in daylight the ray can be seen faintly when viewed in parallel to the laser, and in darkness it can be seen brightly from any point of view. Here's some pics:

There are screw threads on the business end, so it looks like it can take addon lenses? Is there a lense that makes it work like a flashlight, or burn harder?

 

[calvinng]

it is a cheap ebay laser!!!

or cheap china laser hooray!!!!

 

[Arshus]

I wouldn't suggest opening your laser and messing with the lens at all. No that laser's focus is not easily adjusted without internal modification.

Also, your laser can burn things easier with the aid of a simple magnifying glass :yh:

Be casreful though, because from the label it looks like that laser may be able to output 50-100mW, and you probably should get eye protection, if anything becareful where, and at who/what you shine that thing.

Have fun,

Sal

 

[Tonga]

Yeah, the warning label is blurred where the power rating is but it looks like 3 digits. I wouldn't mess around with this without Proper eye protection, you could be sorry! Anything over 5mW is a need for eye protection. Cheap or not it can to some Permanent damage to Your eyes and it is Not a pet toy!

 

[ZankeRH]

Yeah, it says the power output is <100 mW.

Also, I found an add-on lens in the case just now, it produces a kind-of "starfield" effect (lots of dots spread over a large area), surely there's other lenses available?

 

[EDC Laser]

These lasers...also know as ebasers are notorious for spewing I.R. (infrared radiation).

If it has a I.R. filter, which I highly doubt it does. I would be more apt to believe whats printed on that label. It is more than likely some china men got hyped up when he was printing the labels. You won't be able to get a accurate LPM reading without that filter in place. You can't see I.R. and it will damage your eyes, regardless of the actual power output.

 

[ZankeRH]

Wait, are you saying looking at the beam/dot alone is dangerous, even if it doesn't point at someone's eye?

 

[Arshus]

Wait, are you saying looking at the beam/dot alone is dangerous, even if it doesn't point at someone's eye?

According to the FDA, Simply observing reflected and/or refracted beams that are indirectly hitting your eyes (i. e. looking at the laser's "dot" on the wall) is only dangerous if the laser is class IV and above, which means lasers that are 500mW and above.

However, the government is not always right. Try and keep as much distance as possible and if the laser seems annoyingly too bright, or is constantly leaving "scars/marks" in your vision when you close you eyes or after you look away, refrain from looking at the dot indoors. Laser damage to your eyes is cumulative, and even though your eyes do heal, if stared at excessively, it may lead to a problem, so keep that in mind.

Generally though being from ebay, it probably doesnt reach 100mW, so use it and have fun with it, but be mindful of the symptoms I mentioned.

These are the exact Classifications:

1, 1M:
Considered non-hazardous. Hazard increases if viewed with optical aids, including magnifiers, binoculars, or telescopes. laser printers CD players, DVD players

IIa, II 2, 2M :
Hazard increases when viewed directly for long periods of time. Hazard increases if viewed with optical aids. bar code scanners

IIIa, 3R :
Depending on power and beam area, can be momentarily hazardous when directly viewed or when staring directly at the beam with an unaided eye. Risk of injury increases when viewed with optical aids. laser pointers

IIIb 3B: <------THIS IS YOUR LASER
Immediate skin hazard from direct beam and immediate eye hazard when viewed directly. laser light show projectors, industrial lasers, research lasers

IV 4:
Immediate skin hazard and eye hazard from exposure to either the direct or reflected beam; may also present a fire hazard. laser light show projectors
industrial lasers, research lasers, lasers used to perform LASIK eye surgery

Regards,

Sal

 

[rhd]

I'm sorry, but there is no way an ebay green laser is going to present an "Immediate skin hazard"

This style laser, labelled at 100mW, is certainly not going to be any MORE than that (even with the IR as part of the equation), and is very very likely to be substantially less.

But even at 100mW... hell even at 200mW and focussed... it feels pretty comfortable on the skin.

Don't be dumb with your eyes, but I wouldn't over-react and act as though this is going to hurt your fingers if they momentarily get in the beam path!

 

[joeyss]

^ I agree with this. You need the power level of my 400mw o-like for it to start buring skin when focused to infinity. Just be careful and have common sense and don't shine at anything shiny, metallic or white nearby.

 

[Arshus]

@Joeyss: Dude, hows that 400mW O-like? I ordered one a couple weeks ago!

-Sal