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Hello, I am new to this hobby and need some suggestions.
I am looking to put together a 2W 445nm laser. My driver requires at least 6v and 1.8A draw or less. I was thinking 2x18650 batteries meets this requirement the best.
My question is: What is a good bang for the buck "Cool" looking host that makes people go wow? If you were to build a blue laser and could have any host for under $40 what would you get?
Thanks, Sparkles
A tabletop lab housing so you could do proper experiments or laser shows with it and orient its polarization correctly, and then combine a second one with a polarizing cube.
Then a proper 12 volt, 5 amp switching power supply running off 110 or 220 as needed, 18650 are not likely to last the length of a typical use session for me.
I'd need a ILDA connector, too.
You might get the PSU for 20$, the housing is going to cost more.
Steve
host??? cool??? 18650 batteries???
i suspect you are building a pointer...
first... you will never get 2w (at least not for a very long period of time, before you fry everything)
second... you are trying to build something extremely dangerous, i am not very sure that you will find much help if you don't state in more detail what exactly it is you are building
a cool host for a lab style laser under 40$ is any dead dpss module, that you can rip the internals and use the housing. (maybe a bonus tec and fan, or even better, a bonus psu, too)
Oh, wow! I didn't think about labbies. This is for a hand-held build running at 1.8 amps with copper heat sinking.Quote:
Originally Posted by LaNeK779
I will change the title. *retardo
so, hand-held means single diode. so you can forget the 2w mark already. firstly because it will not handle the heat for more than a few seconds and secondly because 1.8 amps will not give you 2w
and i don't even want to get started with the apparent safety hazards. with a 2w beam, even a wall can reflect the beam back at you.
just don't do it, make a labbie instead. and then spend another 80-100usd to get a cheap pair of galvos (lda-dmx) with some effects stored in the onboard chip
Its safe! All you need is a *warn sticker and everything is just fine! :rolleyes:
But we digress, back to the topic at hand! What is the Coolest looking host for under $40?
I have surfed the entire internet and although this one is not my favorite the price is right and is right up the alley of discussion.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_KxT3bZCpsq...52520Dildo.jpg
You know, that might actually be a potential market. I wonder if porn valley might use this as a prop when it lases. hehehehe>:)Quote:
Originally Posted by Laserman532
Nah, that one's been done before. It's been used by ProDJAllen's Laserscope.Quote:
Originally Posted by Laserman532
(Might explain the 'milky white' colouring in his dye water filter...)
*retardo
I smell something here in this thread...... Smells like feet.
Attachment 23321
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a chainsaw.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sparkles
I say head over to laser pointer forums for that kind of build
We only build projectors here
Of course thats the answer to everything.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sparkles
A warning sticker that stops retinal burns. Great if it existed.
Unfortunately with every great laser warning sticker comes the person or idiot operating the laser its attached to.
As LaNeK said, even a glancing back reflection can damage your sight from 2 Watts and I just hate to think who you might damage by directly pointing it at, whether intentionally or accidentally.
I think this would make a great host. It already takes batteries, has a speed control build in AND it could get your missus interested in lasers!
Attachment 23325
Quote:
Originally Posted by White-Light
it exists!
any common warning sticker can absolutely and in any case prevent retinal burns, IF and only IF it is placed directly on the laser beam apperture (thus completely masking it)
The downside is that it'll only work for a split second. >:)Quote:
Originally Posted by LaNeK779
Terrawatt sez perhaps Spec = Sparkles ????? This " Alter-Ego " has manifest due an unplanned stopover in a VERY large outcrop of PEYOTE.....just West of El Paso, Texas ???
Sparkles,are you related to any "Allens" by chance?
Your lack of regard for the safety issue suggests this. A 1-2 watt pointer sounds cool,but will get someone hurt and/or arrested,for sure.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stoney3K
still it is an effective way to stop a laser. time duration was not specified :) :) :) :)
Could be trolling, could be serious... I honestly can't tell.
In case you are serious about building this laser (despite several warnings above explaining what a bad idea it is), then your best bet is to look on laserpointerfourms.com for answers. There are many people there who are well-versed in the construction of hand-held lasers.
While some members here on PhotonLexicon also build their own hand-held lasers, we do try to keep safety in sharp focus. And with safety in mind, your idea of building a 2 watt hand-held sounds, well, rather reckless - to be perfectly blunt about it. And that's not something that most people here want to be involved in.
Adam
He's just naive and in the wrong forum. I'll pop him a PM.
Peace,
dave
yep show him lpf he will cream his pants over there at host options>:)Quote:
Originally Posted by daguin
Thanks again daguin! I have been shown the error of my ignorant ways. I shall decease and desist my naive trolling of this forum. ;)
Safety:
1. freedom from the occurrence or risk of injury, danger, or loss.
2. the quality of averting or not causing injury, danger, or loss.
I have every desire to learn all I can about the risks involved in this hobby and minimize or eliminate them through diligent implementation of safety practices.
I am still learning, and I will keep learning.
To those of you with the non-flame posts: :highfive:
Good to hear you've got safety in mind!Quote:
Originally Posted by Sparkles
Having said that -
What use would you possibly have for a hand-held 2-watt laser? :confused:
That amount of laser power belongs in a projector with proper safety features, galvos, and a decent computer interface!
That would definitely keep the "wow" factor lasting a lot longer, and a LOT safer!! :)
Yep building a projector is much safer and the entertainment lasts much longer than a couple of weeks of balloon popping or tape burning.
If you must build a pointer stick to lower powers and even then be aware that even a small laser pointer can do damage:
http://www.laserist.org/2009-07_Belgian-incident.htm
Eye damage to 2 people by others in the crowd with pointers estimated at only 200mw+, or 1/10th the power you're proposing.
From the article;Quote:
he irradiance of a 200 mW laser pointer at 3 meter distance would be 1020 mW/cm2, or 20 to 100 times more powerful than the laser light show laser. The
Well, in fairness, you can't be naive and a troll at the same time. :o In order to troll effectively, you really need to understand the subject at hand. So if you really are naive, then no harm, no foul. Everyone has to start somewhere...Quote:
Originally Posted by Sparkles
It's just that, from the tone of your initial posts, it did sound as if you were disregarding the safety advice of others, which is why I initially wondered if you might be trolling us. It seems my suspicions were incorrect, however. Thus, I'd like to retract my statement that suggested you might be a troll.
Good! That's a great start. There is a lot of information available here on PL, and there are many people who can give you good advice on how to proceed.Quote:
I have every desire to learn all I can about the risks involved in this hobby and minimize or eliminate them through diligent implementation of safety practices.
The problem is that your project is by itself inherently risky. A 2 watt hand-held laser is a very dangerous item. To build such an item safely, you'd first need a healthy understanding of the risks associated with laser light, plus a set of laser safety goggles rated at a minimum of O.D. 4 to protect your eyes.
You'd also need some very good machining skills, since you'll either have to knife-edge two beams together, or combine them using a polarizing beam-splitting cube. Either solution is going to be very difficult to fit into a hand-held housing of any sort, requiring custom mounts and some really fine detail work to get everything aligned correctly.
Then too, even if you are successful in constructing a 2 watt hand-held, the *use* of such a laser is fraught with danger. At that power level, the direct beam is capable of causing instant, permanent damage to the retina, even at great distances. Furthermore, the reflection of that beam off shiny surfaces will be equally destructive at considerable distances. Finally, even the specular reflection off a light-colored wall can be enough to injure your retina at distances usually experienced indoors.
Then too, there is the burning risk. 2 watts of power can start fires fairly quickly, even at long distances from the aperture. This is especially true with dark-colored materials. 2 watts will also cause serious burns to exposed skin. By the time you feel pain, you've already got a burn.
For all of these reasons, building a 2 watt hand-held laser is considered by most people to be an advanced project at best, and a reckless project at worst. For certain it's not something a beginner should attempt. (This is why some of the replies to your posts above seem a bit stern; they're trying to steer you away from what is a very risky and dangerous project.)
Adam
Safety aside... I want one in a 4 D cell Maglite. as I said before somewhere; just in case someone uninvited gets inside my house and past my dog... while I am home. O_o I got no problem blinding and beating an intruder.
Buffo has given you some excellant advice-- take it to heart.
A.45 cal 1911 auto loaded with +P hollow points would be cheaper and more reliable...and most models these days can be fitted with a laser >:)Quote:
Originally Posted by allthatwhichis
And probably rip my lil arm off, or break a wrist when I fire it, although I will admit the results would be a lil more satisfying but probably messier. Depends on the restraint of the maglite swinger. If I got a gun I would want to get a permit to take it with me places; I don't need a weapon when I drive... really. :o I have thought about a shotgun for the home protection route but a maglite that I am imagining can't cost much more than $100 or so to build. I know that 1911 costs more than that; the shotgun probably does too... but I get yer point. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuka
Stukas post a while back on this thread
Good to hear you've got safety in mind!
Having said that -
What use would you possibly have for a hand-held 2-watt laser?
That amount of laser power belongs in a projector with proper safety features, galvos, and a decent computer interface!
That would definitely keep the "wow" factor lasting a lot longer, and a LOT safer!
Amen Stuka
And now for a little bedtime horror story
Once upon a time there lived a flourishing but small entertainment industry known for really cool looking outdoor laser beam displays the beam displays were all over Las Vegas and other places in the US and they were admired by all. The people that created them were very careful to follow safety rules with the FAA and the money from creating these displays was flowing all over the land. Then one night a Father and his idiot Son decided it would be cool to duplicate these beam effects in there back yard with a very bright green laser pointer. That night they decide to see if they could hit a commercial airliner thinking this would be really cool! as dumb luck would have it not only did they hit the aircraft but they hit the windshield of the aircraft and this caused the pilot of the aircraft to be temporarily blinded putting all of the passengers at risk. This made the FAA very angry they figured out where the laser beam came from and pressed charges against the father and his idiot son then they decided to make the rules much harder for the people that were following them (The Laser light show industry) and this caused many of them to have to close up shop
The laser show industry did not live happily ever after.
Sparkles, this bedtime story is true so please think about what you intend to do with this thing and know that you can and will burn someones retina with the thing just by having it reflect off a shiny surface learn about laser safety before making it please!!!!! and under no circumstance shine it in the night sky or any sky for that matter!!! The Forum you have been trolling are all laser light show people in case you did not notice. And now I think you have better understanding of why we are really not too keen on portable devices like this! Thanks