Goggles

[Gren]

Hi Forum,

I'm looking for a pair of goggles for my new laser (100W qswitched Nd:YAG), and I'm hung up on whether or not to buy reflective or absorbing glasses.

So, what would be the community's opinion on the matter? Should I purchase something like this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Industrial-L...item2582d9c729

Or glasses with a lens made from an absorbing material? Given the powers involved, I think reflective glasses may be the way to go, but I'm concerned about the q-switch blowing off the dielectric coating. Is that concern warranted?

Ideally, I'd have something that works at both the 10604 and 532nm lines, also.


Thanks,
-Adam

[The_Doctor]

On some other forum I remember we 'put out the Steve light' at moments like this... Different forum, different Steve, but the principle applies just the same. Steve?

(I won't try to advise, not qualified, I'll just add that you prompted me to test my OD6.77 1064nm goggles for reflection. They do it too, and I'd always thought they were absorbing types (dense heavy glass). Without setting stuff up at length I have no way to tell anything more useful so I'll just watch this thread.. It's a good question and not asked nearly often enough.)

[CountFunkula]

+100 points for KNOWING you need protective eyewear.

When you're dealing with 100W of YAG, you ABSOLUTELY ABSOLUTELY ABSOLUTELY ABSOLUTELY cannot skimp on eyewear!!!

SPECULAR REFLECTIONS FROM THAT BEAM WON'T JUST BLIND YOU, THEY WILL BURN YOU, TOO!!!!

While I can't speak to the quality or ACTUAL protection of any specific far-east protective eyewear, I've worked around enough high power and seen enough BAD happen to tread very cautiously.

Safety is an area nobody should skimp on $$$-wise.

...That being said, I tend to go with name brands because of reputation and reliable specs (no pun intended )
I am NOT plugging these brands, but all of my eyewear is Bollé, Glendale Protective, or Kentek.

Be careful with your eyes. You've only got two and I hear they're hard to replace.