"Laser equipment for show and projection applications is as versatile as the events for which it is used. They take the audience into another world, arouse emotions and sometimes even give them goose bumps. But playing with light is not always without danger." These are the introductory words of the article linked below from the magazine etem of the Employers' Liability Insurance Association for Energy, Textiles, Electrical and Media Products (BG ETEM). The BG ETEM is the professional association in Germany that deals with safe handling and working in the event industry and therefore also with (show) lasers. As many of you are also impressed by the goosebumps that can be created with lasers, the question often arises here in the forum as to whether and how to control a (show) laser with DMXControl (3) or what a suitable DDF might look like.
Such a laser often ends up “just in case” in the shopping cart. Despite various warnings, the purchase is just as uncomplicated as the purchase of other devices. In some cases, the low price is also tempting. What many people tend to disregard, partly out of ignorance: Lasers are and remain dangerous - no matter how big or small or how cheap or expensive! What's more, a simple purchase does not automatically imply that (show) lasers can (or should) be used just like that.
To point out what it means to use a (show) laser, there are already numerous warnings and corresponding explanations in our forum. Our user Beni200 has already posted one of these very detailed warnings and explanations several times. Here he quotes an expert in event technology who frequently deals with lasers. In order to emphasize these warnings from us as well, we would now like to take up this post and enrich it with further information - including from the sources listed at the end.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
There are different laser classes: Lasers are divided into different laser classes depending on their power and potential danger. At the same time, the laser classes also correspond to the various safety devices required for operation, which can be both technical and organizational in nature. The laser classes are defined in EN 60825-1 and are internationally comparable.
Devices of laser classes 1 and 1M as well as 2 and 2M may be used by anyone. Lasers of laser class 3, 3R, 3B and 4 may only be used by persons who have been appointed as laser safety officers or who operate in their presence. The laser safety officer must "clearly mark the laser safety areas and regularly test the emergency stop for proper functioning. In most cases, the laser safety officer is also responsible for registering the lasers with the relevant health and safety authority and coordinating acceptance by a state expert." In event technology, lasers from laser class 3 are usually used.
Definitely! Lasers concentrate an enormous amount of energy onto a very small area. In contrast to a classic light source, the power density of the laser beam does not really decrease with increasing distance from the device. In physics, this is known as a coherent beam. Even in large arenas, quite small points of light still reach the spectator stands. This means that they cause a great deal of damage to objects, skin and, above all, eyes. Even lasers of the lower laser classes can cause damage if the irradiation time is long enough! In both cases, the laser beam does not even have to hit the eye or the object directly. Damage can also be caused by reflecting or scattered laser beams!
To illustrate the effect of a laser in a different way: perhaps you have inadvertently looked directly into the beam of light from a beam moving head. You are sure to have found this unpleasant and had to give your eyes a short rest afterwards in order to be able to see again to some extent. Nevertheless, the fact that your eyes can recover in such a case is solely due to the x-times larger diameter of the light beam of a beam moving head. However, even with the comparatively large diameter, the light sources combined with the optics of the beam moving heads bring together enough power (i.e. concentrated light) in one point that you can feel the beam of light on your skin as it is unpleasant for the eye when looking directly into it.
In addition to the physical properties, you should not be dazzled by the technical data. The power of a laser, which is often given in watts, is in no way comparable to a normal light source or LED. This is why lasers with a laser diode power of just 0.2W are already assigned to laser class 3R. This means: 0.2W is already an enormous power for a laser, whereas a normal LED with this power is rather dim and therefore harmless.
(Unfortunately) yes. Just because nobody has banned it, the dangers of lasers are still there! If an accident happens, no insurance company will pay, and many damages are only noticeable years later!
Leave it alone. Cheap lasers are much slower. This makes the effect worse and the danger greater. In addition, there are far fewer safety devices and hardly any options for regulating the power.
Hence the recommendation: Leave the laser shows to the real professionals who do it full-time and own lasers that cost more than €10,000!
Quite simply: DMXControl 3 in its current state is not designed to control lasers. It lacks various program functions that enable the safe operation of lasers. These include the “Safety Zones” function. As the name suggests, this function is used to define areas into which no laser beam may enter. These are primarily, of course, areas in the audience where people may be too close to the laser or reflective surfaces that reflect the laser beams back into the room in an uncontrolled manner. However, safety zones also serve to protect equipment. For example, safety zones can be used to block off precisely those areas where the laser beams are likely to be reflected.
The problem is of a similar nature. One thing they have in common is the DMX protocol and the implementation in the devices. If the control software fails, many DMX interfaces - whether USB or network interfaces - remain at their last DMX value. This tends to happen exactly when a sample is running in the audience area. The radiation exposure literally explodes at the performance points, causing permanent damage to health, especially to the human eye. If the required safety shutdown device - the emergency stop - is also missing, the damage can be immeasurable. It doesn't matter whether only one or a large number of people are potentially affected.
By the way: even if you were to ensure that the control system itself would not become a “problem”. A bad DMX cable can also cause the laser to react uncontrollably and, in the worst case, cause irrevocable damage.
ILDA is the control protocol of the International Laser Display Association of the same name. The ILDA has set itself the task of establishing lasers in the fields of art, entertainment and education. Today, the ILDA is the largest association in the laser show industry and is generally regarded as the world laser show umbrella organization. If you would like to take a look at the specifications, you can find them at the following link: https://www.ilda.com/resources…ocs/ILDA_ISP99_rev002.pdf
An essential and one of the most important features of the ILDA protocol is that an interlock signal is sent directly to specially designated pins when using the cables and interfaces of the same name. If this signal or signal loop fails to appear, the laser projectors must automatically switch off the laser source or close a mechanical shutter that prevents laser beams from escaping. There is no such signal loop or feedback with the DMX protocol, which is why the ILDA protocol was specially developed for applications with show lasers.
Of course, we do not want to and cannot ban the use of (show) lasers. Our intention with this news article is to sensitize you accordingly by presenting the potential dangers of lasers when used carelessly.
If you want to develop your skills accordingly, please do so not only in terms of hardware, but also by attending a seminar to become a laser safety officer, for example. There you will not only receive further information that will make it easier for you to handle lasers safely. With this qualification, you are also officially authorized to operate (show) lasers. This is particularly important if you are an entrepreneur of any shape or size planning to use show lasers.
Your 
DMXControl-Team
We have compiled the content of this article using information from the following mostly German sources, among others:
nutzer99 
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LightningBrothers 5
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