Legal Varianced Chinese Laser

[Bradfo69]

Pretty much. Again, it's more stringent for a manufacturer whose purpose is to build them for sale. If you are attempting to get a variance on your own projector, that you have no intention of selling, renting etc., there are more areas where that list comes in to play. And a lot of areas where they are reported to be more lenient. In many cases you'd be protecting yourself from yourself and you've already got intimate knowledge of the projector. There are some that are still necessary such as writing an instruction manual, which doesn't make much sense to me but, nonetheless it does to CDRH. I'm going through the process right now and am just finishing diagrams, paperwork, writing a manual, and so forth for a home build and we'll see what happens. I don't have the electrical expertise I should probably have to describe circuits and may be asking for assistance with that.

I still think the real emphasis should be on the level of competency of the operator more than the box itself. You study, you take an exam and have a license of some sort from CDRH allowing you to purchase and use a projector for public, compensated display. 3 meters up, with a physical beam block in place, the emission from my CR-Tec chi-jectors or, Kvant Spectrums is no more or less safe than my Luminance RGB, a X-Laser Skywriter, an LSDI Compact 2, or whatever.
But, the system we have is the system we have. I'm still learning more about playing in it.

[JD3]

Attachment 40611

^all te warning labels Able provides you. They said at my request they can either put them on the laser or just give me the stickers to apply myself.

[gottaluvlasers]

^^

Will reply in more detail when i get home, but *VERY GOOD* points and information has been brought up. Brad and John- good discussion! Very impressed with the stickers supplied also.

[JD3]

So from what Able just told me ...
Stickers on = laser
Stickers off = disco light

"Hello John Dickson,

If you insist to import it as laser projector/system, we must need your updated variance.
But if you import it as disco light, we can sell laser to you before you get your updated variance.
Laser will be built as FDA standard. All warning labels will be gave you.

Best regards
Crystal"

[Bradfo69]

Ok. So, that's strike one. A creative way of thinking but, still strike one. They know to ask if you have one at least so, that's a plus. An awful lot of lasers are sold to people without variances or the question being asked.

[JD3]

well in my mind, i want a laser BEFORE i add it to my variance. Who wants a 6 week waiting period on a gun they buy? Or would you rather get your gun today and be responsible.
This is a customs issue.
At least they asked for my variance. Which honestly doesn't mean shit if i have a variance if the laser im buying isnt on that variance. I cant legally use it in public until its on my variance.

Do they DIY guys apply for the variance before they build their lasers? i think not

[Bradfo69]

Not disagreeing with you. The system is probably flawed in that regard. And I give them credit for asking if you have one. I just think skirting around it by calling it a disco light in order to sell it to you is where their flaw lies. Technically of course, they shouldn't do that but, I'm also certain it happens all the time, and not just with Able. I "think" the idea here is that if you hold a show variance and buy a new approved projector then you simply are required to send in a supplemental notification to the CDRH adding that laser to your variance. I can't imagine they expect you to have to hold up the sale until they finally get around to the paperwork, as that could potentially take weeks/months. In my own experience they do seem to acknowledge things pretty quickly though.

If I want to buy another projector from CT Lasers for example, I don't think Marc is forced to wait to deliver it to me until after the CDRH acknowledges they've received my request/notification that I'm buying it. And then show it to him. I think he just delivers the projector since he knows I have a show variance (or I send him a copy for his records or something. Marc, wanna clarify when you have time?

[DanG]

I would add to this discussion that as has been revealed in the last few posts, there is a big difference between "certified" compliant, and actually compliant. You can write anything on a sheet of paper and people have varying degrees of commitment to live up to what has been written.

A compliance consultant told me one day in speaking about another laser company " I know how the lasers SHOULD be built based upon the paperwork, but of course I have no idea whether or not that is actually occurring."

At the end of the day, it is the user's responsibility to make sure that their show (and their equipment) is in compliance. That's pretty hard to feel good about when the nature of the product seems to change based upon whether or not stickers have been attached.

I applaud Able for getting the variance paperwork done. That is more than most people do, but as Brad said... creative.

[DanG]

John,

Google laser notice 51. They can't sell it to you if you don't have a variance in hand at the time of purchase. The DIY guys are either breaking the law OR if it is really DIY the laser does not officially exist until it is manufactured and reported. And yes, it is a customs issue - also a common sense one. If you know enough to build a functioning laser projector from scratch, you know it well enough to keep yourself safe until you variance comes through. For people just buying them, who knows what they know? The variance process is very educational for most.

[Bradfo69]

Dan,

What is your take on the buyer adding a new projector to their existing variance in relation to the sale process. We can use me as an example. I have a show variance... with several certified projectors listed I don't even own, as well as the ones I do. (No X-Laser models.) I purchased the X-Laser gift certificate from Aaron that he won at SELEM, to someday apply towards finally buying a product from X-Laser. ( ). When that time comes...what do you do and, what do I do, in order to purchase that (probably) projector or X-pod system?