Lasers Buyers Guide
Lasers are used in many things that we come across in our daily lives. Since it was invented, people have taken advantage of its usefulness in a variety of applications including in consumer electronics, information technology, science, medicine, industry, law enforcement, entertainment, the military, and even for personal use. Nowadays, different gadgets and devices which incorporate the use of lasers are readily available in the market.
Laser Pointers
Lasers are used in many things that we come across in our daily lives. Since it was invented, people have taken advantage of its usefulness in a variety of applications including in consumer electronics, information technology, science, medicine, industry, law enforcement, entertainment, the military, and even for personal use. Nowadays, different gadgets and devices which incorporate the use of lasers are readily available in the market.
Laser Printers
Laser printers have many significant advantages over other types of printers because they are capable of rapidly producing high quality text and graphics on plain paper. But choosing the right printer can be a daunting task. First of all you need to know which laser printer is suited to your printing needs:
- Monochrome Laser Printers - for printing black-and-white text or graphics
- Color Laser Printers - for lots of graphic-heavy materials
- Multifunctional Laser Printers - for scanning, copying, or faxing documents.
It is also important to take note of the printer's specifications such as its resolution, printing speed, and paper handling capacity.
- Resolution - measured in dpi (dots per inch). The higher the number of dpi, the sharper the results.
- Printing speed - measured in ppm (page per minute). Consider the number printed pages per minute and how long to start print the first page.
- Paper handling - see the number of pages and the size of paper the laser printer can handle. The best laser printer is rated by the number of printed page it is expected to produce per month. Make sure the printer meets your workload requirements and suit with your paper size needs.
Rangefinders
Rangefinders are devices which can help establish the distance of the observer to a target or an object. They come in many shapes and sizes: large, small, waterproof, digital and combined with other devices such as binoculars or digital cameras. Rangefinders have different capabilities and performance levels and suit particular uses or sports. To get the right type of rangefinder, consider the type of activity in which it will be used most frequently.
Diode Lasers
Laser diodes are numerically the most common type of laser, widely used in telecommunications, various measuring instruments, in barcode readers, in the printing industry, image scanning, optical data recording and many more.
Hair Removal Lasers
Hair removal is another popular application of lasers. With modern technology, it is now even possible to be done at the comfort and privacy of your own home. These devices are relatively safe if used properly. But before spending a substantial amount of money on laser hair removal kits, look very carefully into the model. Take into consideration any allergies you may have and fully read the instructions and precautions before using.
Fiber Optics Sights
Fiber optic sights are becoming popular for shotgun and archery enthusiasts, as they gather available light and concentrate it at the ends of the fibers, making it much easier to see in limited lighting situations. When choosing a sight, make a checklist of the features you desire most. Bright, durable and adjustable – these are just some of the factors you'll need to consider when buying fiber optic sights.
Laser Scissors
Laser Scissors are simply modern scissors which uses lasers to guide cutting in a straight line. Its very easy to use. Just follow the beam to a perfectly straight cut
Levels
Laser levels are replacing water levels and transit compasses on modern construction sites. The most important thing to consider when buying laser levels is accuracy. The stated accuracy of the level is a function of the distance between the level and its target. All accuracies for laser products are specified along with their effective range. There are four basic types of devices:
- Rotary levels - shoot a rotating dot to create a 360 degree line. They also usually come with a detector to assist in reading the hard to see laser lines outdoors.
- Line levels - (point to point levels) shoot multiple horizontal and vertical laser lines. These levels are for indoor use, and usually include plumb up and plumb down functions.
- Single line lasers - shoot a single line, and usually have a more restricted range.
- Point generators - levels which shoot a single laser dot. They may sometimes include a line generator that can be flipped down in front of the beam.
Laser Stud Finders
Another convenient modern tool is the laser stud finder which can measure distances as well as detect studs. Laser stud finders can be used with wood or metal. Some stud finders not only mark stud locations, but can detect and identify separate materials behind walls such as rebar, wiring, metal studs, wood studs, etc. These, however, cost more. The key to choosing the right device lies in understanding your current and future needs, whether you need the device for more than just finding studs.
Laser Mice
The laser mouse is the most sensitive mouse-style data entry device available for computer users today. The most important thing to consider then buying a laser mouse is ergonomics. Look for a mouse that sits comfortably in your hand and that does not stretch your fingers too high to cause overextended curvature of the hand, or that your fingers have to move too much to reach the scroll wheel.
Radar Detectors
Radar detectors come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Some are dash mounted, some are wireless and some are remote mounted. Laser guns or Lidar (Light Detection And Ranging) work much like a radar detector, but instead of radio waves it shoots out bursts of invisible light. When buying a radar/laser detector one may consider whether to buy a corded or cordless, dash mounted or concealed. After which, the features which are important to the user must also be noted, such as overall performance, POP, GPS equipped, three band or twelve band.
Thermometers
Infrared (IR) thermometers are also known as pyrometers and non-contact thermometers. These are used to measure the temperature of things that would be difficult to measure with conventional thermometers. An important feature that is standard on most instruments like these is a laser pointer. This assures that the correct point is measured particularly with instruments with a large spot ratio.
