Lasers?

[Tim]

Ever since I could remember, i liked lasers. I always had a liking to them. I had lasers since i was 10 and 11 years old, but my parents took them away cause they thought i would hurt some one with them. Anyway, I am a big fan of Trance music and electronica, and lasers are very popular within this scene, I make trance and electronic music and often thought of putting together a little laser show to go along with my songs. I have a few laser pointers nothing fancy just basic pointers for white screens and presentations. But I always wonder where you get lasers that make spectacular shows such as this for example: (Lasers start around 1min.) Quality is kinda poor, but you cans see the lasers

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I know its not just a basic laser you can get at radioshack.

This follows many other questions. In the video above the lasers move FAST and change quickly, like from a beam to a scanning motion. What makes them have that effect? Do the lasers move extremely fast? Also I know that in other countries such as Netherlands where the video was taken they have different rules or laws about audience scanning and pointing then into the crowd. how long and how much power dose a laser have to have to do damage to your eyes or skin? In the video the lasers move very fast across the audience, but dose speed really matter when it comes to your eyes? For a split second can it cause damage?

[Ben Robertson]

What you are interested in is "MPE" Maximum permissible exposure (MPE), is the level of laser radiation to which a person may be exposed without hazardous effects or biological changes .....

If there is any doubt ... Follow this rule ...JUST NEVER NEVER shine a laser in some ones eye's... Never ever

Do a search for "MPE laser" to find out more.

For control of a laser to do "shows"... you can start of fairly cheaply 1st level of control is DMX .. you can use a dmx controller to control intelligent lights, and in a DMX lasers case most DMX lasers will allow you to show 40-50 preset basic pictures shapes, rotate and zoom The more DMX channels your laser has the more effects it will be able to do. The DMX controller $110.0 DMX laser $150+ start.... colour and wattage will define the cost here, red cheapest then, green then blue being more expensive.

The next level of control is then ILDA compliant lasers, I think the entry point here is probably 600-700 for single colour laser. you will also need an ilda controller and software, you get what you pay for and are looking at least $1000.00 for something thats worth while. (at this point it’s a real expensive hobby or you need to be looking at a way to make money out of your toys)