OpticalSupplies
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Lasers
Safe (5mW)
Low power lasers (<5mW) are eye-safe, useful for manual alignment, HUD prototypes, etc.
- Red - $3/10 http://www.ebay.com/itm/10pcs-mini-650nm-6mm-3V-5mW-Laser-Dot-Diode-Module-Head-WL-Red-/251450386357?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a8b9c67b5
- Green - $10 http://www.ebay.com/itm/INDUSTRIAL-LAB-3VDC-532nm-Green-Laser-5mW-Diode-Module-/251194595549?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a7c5d58dd
Moderate (~200mW)
Medium power lasers emit a beam powerful enough to cause severe permanent retinal damage if directly viewed. However, at substantially less than Class IV power, indirect viewing (ie. spot on wall, specular reflections, etc) is relatively safe. This compromise can be useful to illuminate large areas, project a near-daylight visible green beam under standard atmospheric conditions, and burn some darkly colored objects.
- Green - http://www.ebay.com/itm/High-Quality-LAB-200mw-532nm-Green-Laser-module-diode-suitable-for-standard-host-/330876154653?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d09c1731d
- UV - HacDC already has a bunch, 405nm estimated in the 50-150mW range.
High-Power Class IV
Above 0.5W, even indirect viewing is immediately blinding. Extremely dangerous, must be used with safety glasses and/or other shields. Use is generally restricted to HacDC members with safety training.
Despite the risks, high-power lasers are often necessary and justified for cutting, sintering, photoexposure, LIDAR, ICF, etc.
- Far Infrared (~10micron) - Primarily useful for cutting. Safer than other Class IV lasers, as retinal damage is limited by opaque eye lens. See HacDC Category:LaserCutter .
- Near Infrared (~1micron) - Primarily useful for cutting. Dangerous invisible laser beam, any viewing is blinding. - http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-905nm-13W-high-power-infrared-ray-Laser-Diode-to-measure-cloud-distance-/271521597693?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f37f2c8fd
- UV - Useful for photolithography, high-precision cutting, fluorescent illumination, and more. Extremely dangerous, any viewing is instantly blinding. - http://www.ebay.com/itm/2W-445nm-M140-Blue-Laser-Diode-in-Copper-Module-W-Leads-405-G-2-Lens-/180948106909?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a2158fe9d http://www.ebay.com/itm/2W-Copper-445nm-M140-Blue-Laser-Module-W-X-Drive-405-G-2-Glass-Lens-/180950109519?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a21778d4f