2W blue laser

johnnyt123 (John) · #1 16-03-2014, 12:59 PM

Hi everyone

I see therein an advert for a 2W blue laser on the IIS home page.

Is that legal to own in NSW or to even import?

John

MrB (Simon) · #2 16-03-2014, 01:17 PM

That's not an IIS sponsored advertiser, it's based on your Google search history.
For example, mine is for a company that makes gears, which was a search I did a couple of weeks ago, had even been to this company's site.

As for the legality, I suspect the answers are yes and no.
Legal to own, tho it is possible you would need a licence for that wattage.
Illegal to import if it is a pen. Laser parts are not illegal to import, I have imported lasers up to 8W without issue. I'm now looking at an 80W.

AstralTraveller (David) · #3 16-03-2014, 01:17 PM

My understanding is: no and no. Even sensibly-sized lasers, like 10mW are illegal but exemptions are granted to members of approved astronomical societies while (and only while) using them for astronomy. The laser you mention is dangerous and has no valid astronomical use.

BTW I don't see the add.

johnnyt123 (John) · #4 16-03-2014, 02:00 PM

So these ads are individually targeted.

That's right I was looking for a laser pointer a couple of weeks and just thought it was coincidence that this ad was in IIS.

Yeah I read there is No law against importing laser parts.
That leaves the door open for people with a little electrical and engineering know how to assemble a laser like that on the death star if they wished to.

I am not a member of any astronomical society and I thought it would be handy to have a green laser pointer on those nights when I have my friends over when we are star gazing. That would make it so much more easier than finger pointing ....lol

Can anyone recommend an astronomical society to join? I live in Sydney.

Thanks.

Occulta (Chris) · #5 16-03-2014, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnyt123

Can anyone recommend an astronomical society to join? I live in Sydney.
Thanks.

Sutherland would be your closest or the Astronomical Society of NSW who meet at Epping.

Chris

Pinwheel (Doug) · #6 18-03-2014, 08:09 AM

There is a video floating around of a Star Trek Phaser kit (hand gun) just like Kirks. It uses a blue laser & does burst balloons at 5 meters. When you pull the trigger the gun makes the phaser sound too. Found the video Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S71mPJ0F0Q

AG Hybrid (Adrian) · #7 18-03-2014, 10:11 AM

So I just checked out what a 2W laser actually is like. What does OP plan on doing with it? Shoot down Satellites?

Shano592 (Shane) · #8 18-03-2014, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinwheel

There is a video floating around of a Star Trek Phaser kit (hand gun) just like Kirks. It uses a blue laser & does burst balloons at 5 meters.

I have one, but it is a Next-Gen version It was really hard to find with the sounds. One day I will swap out the LEDs for the blue laser.

iceman (Mike) · #9 18-03-2014, 03:28 PM

Just a word of warning (as has already been pointed out), high wattage lasers are illegal to own in Australia.

We also certainly wouldn't condone selling them, or referring people to places they could buy illegal lasers.

AstralTraveller (David) · #10 18-03-2014, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AG Hybrid

So I just checked out what a 2W laser actually is like. What does OP plan on doing with it? Shoot down Satellites?

I used to know a bloke who was doing a PhD on combined laser/gas welding. He was working with a 3kW (yes 3kW) laser! As he said 'it can cut you in two'. I'm glad someone else had to deal with the safety and licensing aspects of that: the paperwork must have been horrendous.

johnnyt123 (John) · #11 19-03-2014, 12:03 PM

A 5-10mw green laser is sufficient for star gazing. It is not illegal to have one but you need a legitimate reason for possessing one.
Thats why you need to be a member of a recognized Astronomical Society.

so i have read......

John

Peter Ward · #12 19-03-2014, 01:01 PM

While I beg to differ with Mike's post regarding the legality of owning a 2 watt laser (or higher) I have had some experience with 1 watt, or class 4 laser, and I'd suggest you be *really* careful with such devices.

Class 4 devices can damage your retina even with diffuse reflections....and the damage will happen if you are not wearing safety goggles before you know it.

Unless you have a real need to use one, I'd suggest you look at a class II instead.

MrB (Simon) · #13 19-03-2014, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

Class 4 devices...
... look at a class II instead.

Nice mix of old and new classing systems there

My 8W laser is an IR device(808nm) and even tho I wear safety goggles it still scares the crap out of me!
The invisible beam is fun, not.
I was trying to adjust a correction prism one day and felt a sharp pain in my finger and saw a small whisp of smoke, yeowie!!

Pinwheel (Doug) · #14 19-03-2014, 06:46 PM

We had a big party about a year ago & I had two disco lasers going with the music all night. It was a combined Green & Red laser producing a swirling star pattern. Anyway I was seeing the dancing lasers in my eyes when closed for two nights before it stopped. God knows what retina damage I did to my self & other guests. Take extreme care kiddies, these toys do bite.

deanm (Dean) · #15 20-03-2014, 01:27 PM

"I was seeing the dancing lasers in my eyes when closed for two nights before it stopped."

Remember the warning event-organisers made to the crowd at Woodstock in 1969?

"Folks, stay away from the brown acid..."!!!

Yikes!

Dean

Pinwheel (Doug) · #16 20-03-2014, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deanm

"Folks, stay away from the brown acid..."!!!

Don't do drugs, just good old Australian made beer...

AstralTraveller (David) · #17 20-03-2014, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinwheel

Don't do drugs, just good old Australian made beer...

And, of course, alcohol is not a drug.

Shano592 (Shane) · #18 21-03-2014, 01:53 PM

Apparently, it is not a problem either ... rather a solution!

Back off the alcohol, and onto lasers.

MrB, I bet that would be scary stuff! The 110-150mW ones I make for myself frighten me with their power and intensity. I'd hate to see the damage that 8W could do. I'm sure it wouldn't stop at your eyes!

Stefan Buda · #19 22-03-2014, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AstralTraveller

I used to know a bloke who was doing a PhD on combined laser/gas welding. He was working with a 3kW (yes 3kW) laser! As he said 'it can cut you in two'. I'm glad someone else had to deal with the safety and licensing aspects of that: the paperwork must have been horrendous.

A 3kW laser will not cut you in two, it will only give you severe burns.
Just a couple of weeks ago I finished making a cutting head that was installed on a laser cutter with a 4kW laser. It is quite common now to have 3 or 4kW lasers on laser cutting machines and there are quite a few of them in that power range in Australia.

AstralTraveller (David) · #20 22-03-2014, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stefan Buda

A 3kW laser will not cut you in two, it will only give you severe burns.
Just a couple of weeks ago I finished making a cutting head that was installed on a laser cutter with a 4kW laser. It is quite common now to have 3 or 4kW lasers on laser cutting machines and there are quite a few of them in that power range in Australia.

OK, thanks for the voice of experience.

Obviously I was taken in by his exaggeration. I should have been more cautious in accepting his description, all the more so as I now recall the comment was made at the Unibar, after a few grape-juices, in front of a pretty woman and him a single bloke. The dramatic sweep of the arm while describing the 'cutting' should have also alerted me.