Illegal projectors being used by fellow PL Members

[hitekvoop]

General purpose lasers of any power are freely available to those with the $$ to buy them. 100% Legal. It's the intended use that places restrictions upon their commerce (restrictions that seem not to be enforced much).

I would think that aiming for the eyes is pretty much a moot point with 10GW.

[buffo]

I just looked on here and saw another US member buying a marked "No US Variance" projector, and talking about using them here in the USA.

I didn't see anywhere in his reply where he said he intended to use them for commercial laser shows here in the US. My understanding is that he will use them at SELEM, and for show development at home.

Furthermore, he already has a light show variance (and several legal projectors that have been certified under a manufacturer's variance), and he is also in the process of filing a laser product report for another projector series that he has been working on with another member here on PL. So he is quite aware of the rules, and he is following them.

In short, don't jump to conclusions. If you are unsure, ask in a private message before you foolishly try to call someone out in public who actually knows the rules, and follows them.

Adam

[polishedball]

Just because this has been brought up, I know you build some awesome projectors, but how do you get the certified before use? Meaning I know how you can submit and apply for them to be varianced, but really you wouldn't use them for the 6-12 months the approval process takes for a new unit? Or does one operate in a grey area on new builds since you can be seeking variance?

My you is not pointing fingers at you as I don't know what you do. Just using it in the terms of someone in the situation.

[dnar]

As far as I am concerned, I can and will do anything I god damn please in my home!

[The_Doctor]

As far as I am concerned, I can and will do anything I god damn please in my home!

Same here, but I did set a limit. I had a chance at a Laserscope. Was sorely tempting, but I passed, because if I had an accident, I might be unable to see well enough to respond to a fire caused by same event! WHich means that I might quickly end up like that guy who blew up his neghbour's sittingroom with DIY on a gas pipe, and killed their son. Some things I do NOT want to have to live with, and there are some things that are only safe if we just don't go there. (City centre flat! I mean, if I had some out-of-town place with concrete floor and concrete walls I'd think differently about that, most likely..)

[absolom7691]

Laserscopes are scary. That probably stems from me knowing very little about them. That much power keeps me away from them.

I have built my own projectors which probably wouldn't even come close to meeting CDRH requirements but I only use them in my living room and I only do projections, no beam shows.

[The_Doctor]

Well, I think I have been reliably told they're not as scary as their rep, but the problem is that things can go wrong.. If handled well I'm sure they can run finely, such that they are safe in the sense that a well-made lathe chuck lets us rest a finger on it when it turns, purring as softly as a sleeping tiger.... But I'd hate to wake one up in a bad mood caused by careless action!