I bought a small keychain laser at the dollar store. With the purpose of putting it to these welding googles (I play in an industrial band). I have seen it before and it looks cool having it comming out an eye into the fog (from a fog machine)
Ok, so my problem was, I took it apart, the laser mechanism from the small cilinder, exposing what seems to be a circuit. Now I add the batteries but it won't work, I am not sure if the batteries died (they were already low the day I took it apart), or more important, is the little enclosing cylinder neccessary for the laser to work?
(Once I dispossed of the cylinder, everything else was on one piece, nothing missing.)
Another question, do you know if there is a risk of radiation direct to my eye, even tho the laser would not be directed towards it, but would be right on front of.?
2007-06-07 07:31:28 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
That's just a silly idea.. And did you really REALLY expect the laser to work when you got it from the dollar store?
Since you don't allow people to contact you, I just want to say that if you are already in engineering, why are you asking a question like this? Shouldn't YOU know the answer? And besides, it's not very nice to insult someone via email and then not allow them to give some sort of retort. We can't all be engineers. Keep your comments to yourself and if you don't want opinions, don't ask questions you should already know. I stand by my previous answer. Why would you want to look like cyclops? And I'm the retard...
2007-06-07 07:39:47 · answer #1 · answered by devon 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I can speak specifically on the laser safety issue.
Don't use the warning text or label color as a guide. The FDA recently began accepting the international laser evaluation and labelling standards and those labels use only the word "Caution" and yellow label background.
Now if the device is classified as a IEC class 1 or FDA class I device, these are considered eye safe for all reasonably foreseable viewing conditions
Generally the worst case laser radiation you will see from a store bought laser pointer will be IEC class 2 or FDA class II This does present a small hazard to the eye. However, the exposure limits are determined based on the natural human aversion response to light in the visual spectrum of about .25seconds.
This means that the amount of energy transferred to the eye will not cause eye damage over 0.25seconds of expected exposure time. This also would require viewing the laser directly. If someone were a little crazy and decided to fight the natural aversion response and force themselves to view the laser light directly, then mild to moderate eye damage may occur depending on the length of exposure.
From time to time I have seen a FDA class IIIa laser pointer. These lasers could cause some minor damage to the eye even considering the normal aversion response so I would not recommend using a laser of this power for this application. Not so much for your safety as for anyone else who may be in front of you.
2007-06-07 16:03:46 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like most flashlights, the body of the device more than likley completes the circuit from the negative of the batteries, so unless you have, or do complete the circuit, it will not work. There would be no my risk of radiation than from a cell phone, even less as there is no "transmision" aspect to a laser. Even if you did point it at your eye, the power on the standard laser would not do much damage, but it could hurt for a short while.
2007-06-07 14:41:55 · answer #3 · answered by henn0166 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The metal tube probably completes the battery circuit.
If there is a Red and Black 'Danger' sticker on the LASER, then you should not shine it directly in your eye from a short distance. At a distance greater than 10 feet (from the stage to the audience), it will probably be eye-safe, especially if the batteries are weak.
If it has a Yellow "Warning" sticker, then it is already eye-safe, even from 2 feet away (in other words you can shine it in your eye and not damage your retina).
.
2007-06-07 15:31:03 · answer #4 · answered by tlbs101 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the can is part of the circuit. it provides a path for the negative side of the battery to return to the circuit board. you need to replace it with a wire of some kind.
the risk to your eye is if you look into the beam. having it point away from your eye is fine. however it is probably risky for the people in the audience, just in case you're worried about being sued...
2007-06-07 14:45:02 · answer #5 · answered by Piglet O 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
key chain laser doesnt have much effect on your eye because it has less intensity and low energy electrons passing from it.
2007-06-07 14:52:38 · answer #6 · answered by prem 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋