Laser Pointer

[gblake]

Originally Posted by Jon Stratis

I've done a little research on the subject, but am not by any means an expert. The classification system relates to device safety, not visibility or color (although I believe those are often a factor in safety). Generally speaking, class 1 lasers are either non-visible OR higher class lasers that are completely contained, such as in a DVD drive. The key there is that the laser in the DVD drive poses no risk, as it's never exposed during normal operation.

As an LRI, I know that I personally do not know enough to judge what class a laser is based on strength and wavelength (those seem to be the two main factors, outside of enclosures). So, I must rely on data sheets - give me a data sheet that says it's class 1, and your good to go. Fail to find such a data sheet, and you have to remove it from the robot.

So please, whatever you find and put on the robot... Bring the data sheet with you!

Jon,

Manufacturers are required to properly label any/all lasers sold in the USA. A proper label(s) includes specifying the laser's class.

You (and FIRST) should think twice about whether you really, really want a datasheet with every laser, or if you will trust the manufacturer's label.

I think you need to decide how to balance the possibility that an unscrupulous manufacturer might put a Class 1 label on a dangerous laser, and the possibility that requiring a datasheet places an undue burden on teams by preventing them from using perfectly safe, inexpensive, mass-market lasers.

If an inspector rejected my robot's properly labeled, class 1 laser, because I didn't have a datasheet for it, I would be mighty annoyed (unless FIRST told me well in advance that I would have to supply a datasheet).

Blake
PS: Lasers emitting any frequency can be Class 1 lasers. The classification system takes into account the multiple types of harm human tissues are vulnerable to, the watts and/or watts-per-second emitted by the laser for the time it might be turned on, the emitted beam's collimation (sp?) in areas where humans might be exposed to it, and the wavelength of the laser's light. If I forgot any other important factors, forgive me.