Oooh! Oooh! Fun toy: ONE WATT Class 4 blue laser pointer - $198!

[Quantum]

http://www.wickedlasers.com/lasers/S...ies-96-37.html

Even includes laser eyewear.

[joe_momma]

Just bought one - I'll post my review of it when it arrives.

[StackerKen]

Very dangerous lightsaber there.

[madfranks]

It looks really cool, but is there a practical use for this or is it just a dangerous toy?

[joe_momma]

Exceedingly dangerous toy!

I figure these will be banned by the middle of next week (at least in California).

My little green pointer dot is visible at 1/2 mile - this should take it to the next level!

(edit)

I saw all the Star Wars movies, does that meet the recommend laser safety training requirement?

[madfranks]

From http://www.wickedlasers.com/laser-te...ht_hazard.html

Prolonged exposure to blue laser light can alter and have a diminishing effect on a person's perception of the color green.Patients who were treated for being exposed too long to intense blue laser light in the milliwatt range were only able to perceive the green color in a period of about 4-6 months.

The blue wavelength can cause a distinct biochemical action in the release of free radicals which are then effectively absorbed by red blood cells in the capillaries. Blue laser light, 445nm or 470nm is absorbed more effectively by retinal tissue compared to 532nm green or 650nm red laser light.

Though laser safety goggles can protect a person's vision, it's always best to remember NEVER to look into a laser beam or bright reflection even when wearing laser safety goggles. Overall, the best protection is still in arming oneself with preventive knowledge and to exercise responsibility and proper restraint when using lasers.

Direct or indirect skin exposure to blue laser light is also harmful. The MPE (Maximum Permissible Exposure) for skin for a 3mm beam of this wavelength is approximately 200mW/CM^2. This is laser can easily generate a power density (irradiance) of about 15 Watts/CM^2. Therefore, this laser's beam exceeds the skin exposure MPE by ( 15 / 0.2 ) = 75 times. At this level of irradiance, skin exposure to the intense blue laser light can possibly cause cancer. Do not allow bare skin to be exposed, including your face when wearing safety goggles, to light diffusely reflected from any surface closer than several inches. This laser is a thousand times stronger than sunlight on skin and any type of exposure should be avoided whether it be from the collimated beam or close exposure to its bright diffused reflections.

Blue light hazard can cause BLINDNESS and not just color perception issues. The power of this laser is no joke, at 1W the Spyder III Pro Arctic is a Class 4 Laser. Do not allow unprotected eye exposure to diffusely scattered light from the beam terminating on a wall, the floor or other flat surface from this laser closer than 3 feet. Accidental eye exposure will definitely result in instant retina tissue damage even within just milliseconds of exposure. Direct eye contact with the beam or reflected will cause instant permanent damage and blindness. Sometimes blindness may take a day or longer for the onset. Unlike instant injury from a bright flash of a red or green laser, this effect is cumulative over 24 hours. It is also possible that such an exposure could cause retinal degeneration and even loss of vision later in life.

This is a very serious issue and would like to reiterate that extreme care, proper safety gear and the necessary safety precautions be followed when using the Spyder III Pro Arctic, it is not a toy, it is a high power Class 4 1W laser. In addition, this laser must NEVER be used to play with your pets. At close range, this Class 4 beam will cause immediate and irreversable retinal damage. Close proximity to the beam's diffused reflection off floors and walls could potentially cause injury and blindness. In general, DO NOT aim this laser on yourself, on your skin, on animals, on others or target moving vehicles and airplanes.

The Spyder III Pro Arctic blue laser should only be handheld by individuals who have appropriate laser safety training and product familiarity in using Class 4 lasers. For more information and guidance please refer to ANSI Standard Z136.1 from the American National Standards Institute on the safe use of lasers.

[Ragnarok]

Class IV lasers are already regulated "in extremis" (and for good reason), and these hand-held lasers fall under those regulations; even though they are small in size they can do a lot of irreversible damage in a short time in the wrong (or stupid) hands.

I'd love to have one too, but am waiting for the reviews in laser forums.

Beware, the blue diodes used to make these lasers are"repurposed" from Casio projectors, they are "multimode" and their beam quality may not be all that great without corrective optics. Buyer beware.

AND... THEY ARE NOT TOYS! Keep in mind that a one-watt visible beam a millimeter or two in diameter impinging on a white surface generates approximately the same luminous intensity in that spot as it would if you were looking at the Sun through a hole of that size.

I also understand that Novalasers is taking pre-orders for a similar product.

R.

[Saul Mine]

Unsafe in any position. Is there any known use besides to blind people?

[willie pete]

Exceedingly dangerous toy!

I figure these will be banned by the middle of next week (at least in California).

My little green pointer dot is visible at 1/2 mile - this should take it to the next level!

(edit)

I saw all the Star Wars movies, does that meet the recommend laser safety training requirement?

So how far would this one project? and if this is 1 watt, I suppose it would take training and maybe specialized clothing for a phase-plasma rifle in the 40 watt range

[Ragnarok]

How far a laser will project depends on many factors: the wavelength (color), the divergence (beam spread, typically listed in milliradians) the beam mode factor (TEMxx), and the quality of the atmosphere being four worth considering imo. These factors contribute to scattering and absorption of the light and hence the distance visibility.

Wavelength - the shorter the wavelength the greater will be the scattering, even in clear air.

Divergence - All laser beams spread out over distance, the higher the number the greater the spread.

Beam mode factor - The "lowest order" mode, TEM00, has the lowest divergence and the best beam qualities. Typical numbers are 0.2-1.2 mr . "Multimode" lasers have much higher divergence (typically 1.5-5mr)

Atmosphere quality - moisture/haze/dust in the air contribute to scattering and absorption of the beam energy.

All that said, the spot from a high-quality laser beam in the watt range can be seen for many miles in clear air from the viewing position, and possibly for tens of miles if one is looking into the beam from the target area.

If a beam expander/collimating system is used, the beam spread can be further limited over distance and range improved.

The laser in question is not going to have optimum beam specifications for distance because it is a multimode diode laser, but nevertheless a one watt beam of any color is impressive.

Do NOT shine it towards vehicles or aircraft - that's a FELONY, no matter the power of the laser!, and do not use it for a cat toy!

fyi, R.