Laser Information

Laser Safety Information?

There is serious laser safety issues and concerns that should always be kept in mind whenever using high power lasers, hand held laser pointers or any laser light tools. Although lasers produce powerful beams of brilliant light and have the ability to burn from the high heat generated from the laser beam itself, they can be very dangerous and there are certain safety measures and precautions to keep in mind.

The danger from the high power lies in your eyes. Think of your eyes as a lense and light receptors where exposure to the laser beam can damage the eyes nervous system, potentially causing permanent damage.

However, your body has a natural protection to over exposure to light and immediately responds with blinking which immediately protects the eye from any laser light. There have been few, if any, reported cases of any damage caused by laser pointers, but it is always important to keep the safety of yourself and others in mind whenever using your laser.

Using specific laser goggles that are designed to specifically protect the eye against specific light wavelengths like 532nm green and 473nm blue is a simple and effective laser safety option.

Laser use guidelines?

1. Never point your laser directly at any person, animal, or vehicle.
2. Never look directly into the beam of your laser. Even at low output powers it can be dangerous if directly exposed to the collimated light.
3. Be aware of any reflective or light sensitive materials as even reflected laser light can be a danger.
4. Laser beams can be visible for miles, even at output powers of just 5mW. Be sure to take care of the direction and location of the beam whenever using your laser.
5. Be prepared with proper laser safety equipment, like laser safety goggles or glasses, whenever working with high power lasers.
6. Never, under any circumstances, point your laser at an airplane or aircraft of any kind.

Taking even the simplest of precautions can protect you and others from any of the very minor dangers involved with safe and fun laser pointer applications.

Laser operation manuals?

Laser Pointer Safety: It is important to exercise extreme caution whenever using a laser, or laser pointer, as the intense light can cause certain safety concerns for both the user and any spectators. Consult our Laser Safety guide if you have any questions regarding proper safety measures.

Laser Power Supply (Batteries): It is suggested to utilize fresh or fully charged batteries for maximum output power and length of use. Certain hand held pointers use simple AA while others include rechargeable batteries of the proper voltage (depending on model). All laser pointer varieties come complete with new power supplies. DPSS laser modules also have incorporated power sources for each unit (unless otherwise requested).

Diode Temperature: Because all lasers produce light energy, they also produce heat, and this should be kept in mind whenever using your laser. If the temperature of the laser diode becomes too high or too low the appearance of the light may appear weak or feint. The ideal temperature for laser use is between a range of 20-26 degrees Celsius, however, the general working temperature range for all laser models is between 10-35 degrees Celsius. Certain laser models incorporate cooling systems including fans to maintain the proper diode temperature during use, while others need simply be monitored and given time to properly cool after use.

Laser Lense (Beam Defraction): The front of every laser diode is protected by a lense (either glass or plastic) that protects the diode and helps collimate or condense the laser light. It is always possible that this can become a bit dusty or dirty which can cause the the beam to diffuse, even just slightly. Be sure to keep the lense of your laser clean with proper cleaning equipment, and carefully stored when not in use.

Laser Maintenance / Modification?

All lasers and laser pointers available through Thinklasers.com should function properly for approximately 5000 hours when cared for and maintained properly. Many models have an expected life time of more than 25,000 hours, meaning that even with daily use of 1-5 hours your laser will shine brightly for 4-10 years.

Here are a few simple tips that can help you maintain the functionality and 5000+ hour lifetime of your laser:

1. Take careful notice to not damage the lense (or front cap) of your laser as this can cause changes to the beams collimation and direction. Always keep your laser lens covered when not in use, either through a soft cover or case, or by simply closing the lasers lense cap or shutter (for certain models).

2. Always store your laser in a dry and temperate atmosphere (from 0-50 Celsius) with as little humidity and moisture as possible.

3. When not using your laser it is a good idea to remove the batteries or power source to protect your gadget from any internal corrosion of the batttery or power compartments.

4. Handle your lasers with care! All of our lasers are finely tuned high precision optic tools and should always be handled with care. Treat your laser gently and always protect the lense from damages, falls, or scratches. While certain laser models are very shock resistant, never throw or drop your laser intentionally.

Burning Lasers?

Because of the heat energy produced by the collimated laser light, a high power laser or laser pointer has the potential to burn a number of different surfaces.

While popping balloons, lighting matches, and cutting electrical tape with your burning laser can be amusing and looks great on youtube, there are some real safety concerns to keep in mind and factors that determine how much burning power any laser really has.

Laser mW (Output Power): Laser light is measured in milliwatts (mW) where the higher the power of the beam; the stronger, brighter, and hotter the burning capabilities of the laser become. More mW equals faster and stronger burning lasers.

Laser Beam Collimation (Width): the more condensed or thin the laser beam, the stronger its ability to burn becomes.

Light Frequency (Color) Absorbtion: Because of the different light frequencies within the visible light spectrum, different colored surfaces or objects absorb laser light heat energy faster than others. Dark colors are easier to burn and absorb far more light than bright colors which refract light and will burn less.

Quality Control

There have been many changes and developments to laser technology over the past several years. The lasers available today are manufactured under a much higher standard than they were even just a few years ago. But, this does not mean that every laser or laser pointer out there is worth your investment as not all tools are created equal. Because lasers are such high precision gadgets, even the slightest flaw during production can cause major damage to the functioning ability of the finished laser.

There are a few simple steps you can take to avoid buying any shoddy or cheap laser.

Don't Be Fooled: a pretty packaging or case does not guarantee a high quality laser product, just as a low price does not guarantee a good value. There are many places to find cheap laser pointers and pens ranging from low to high powers which will not last more than 10-50 hours. The key is the design and laser developer behind the finished working models. This requires research, prototypes, investment, and more.

Thinklasers has worked hard to develop the most technologically advanced unique lasers and laser pointers available anywhere, offering a broader range of laser goods than any other laser retailer or distributed world wide. The difference between a genuine thinklasers pointer and a shoddy laser is clear, from body design, diode and lense collimation, to laser life time and quality control; there is no comparison.

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