Wow! How is this done??

[mixedgas]

With minute variations in scan speed he could go from abstract to remarkable kaleidoscope symmetry ... but the wonder didn't stop there. What was most amazing about his system is that there was an organic mixing of color unachievable by any other method. I remember standing in his studio with my jaw on the floor and asking him where the hell he was getting those huge areas of a peach color I had never before seen coming out of a laser. He said, "It just happens."[/QUOTE]

Yeah, RGB as a source for just does not cut it compared to Gas.

Steve

[mixedgas]

That video is composed of a huge amount of work. Not easily cloned.

Quote: How about a resource for good lumia optics? Endquote.

Lumia gets made, not bought. Oh I wish you could see Zoomia... But that effect is copyrighted.

Google "Laserworld Diffraction gratings, get a polysector 1o or polysector 20...

Then get some of his stock to spin.

Better yet be the US distributer, so I can get some.

Steve

[Earthnik]

Hey Steve ... those "large, special bearings" ... got photos?

[planters]

Steve,
Yes I looked at those, but unless the images don't do them justice, they don't seem all that varied. Maybe... with rotation, tip, tilt and followed by lumia etc.

If they need to be made then are there some really neat techniques for fabrication/modification? Any super-secrete, unspeakable rite you would like to share with a few thousand friends? Hmmmmmm?

[mixedgas]

Hey Steve ... those "large, special bearings" ... got photos?

Check this thread in the morning.

Steve

[swamidog]

i'm intrigued... tell me more.

Perhaps I said too much, but the mention of Barney made it worth it.
Motor speed is very critical. So you can either use a synchronous motor and vary the software, or phase lock the motor speed to the frame rate.
The large, special bearings are the fun part. I have a few I can sell you cheap.

You will not see our "friends" overseas make this effect into the "Super EggRoll Galaxy" box anytime soon. Takes good experimental effort or a good lathe to do correctly.

You just want AR coated at the most, no Aluminum. Al Coated Doves do something different then rotation.

Cough Anchor Optics Cough....


Steve


Steve

[Displaser]

Brad,

Try Surplus Shed if you're looking for larger (affordable) dove prisms - they had a few choices last time I checked.
I'm planning to use a pillow block with motor drive, at least to get started with. On the road now, but will post
a photo or drawing posted next.

Frank,

Barney was a good guy - fond memories. There's some video floating around on one of my old tapes with some of his
kaleidoscopic effects. I'll see if I can find it.

[mixedgas]

i'm intrigued... tell me more.

Swami.

Go take a look at those stepper driven bearing blocks I sent to Karl for the special "project", you'll find what your looking for.
Take a snap-ring tool with you if you have one. These blocks are designed to rotate a 1/2" cube beamsplitter as a attenuator, so they are already "optical grade". The cube is for IR, and you can press it out, its just held with optical grade RTV.

I have a low count rate but consistant source for the proper bearings. I have to drive sixty miles each way to pick them up, so I would not call it cheap, considering I own a small SUV.

Jem,
Grating effects just do not do themselves justice if you have just RGB, but you will find Peter has some scan through stuff that is just magical, and Machido is a Machido Grating improvement. You have to try them in person, his stuff done with electron beam masters has very high contrast ratios compared to the ruled plastic stuff.

Old school really calls for RRYYGGGGBBVV which is what some of us still have. However there is a whole new world out there if you mix 445 with 405 with 670 with 630 with 532 with 514. Its not as wow as the ion lines, but it can be done.

Steve

[swamidog]

will do..

you have my undivided attention. i have access to a 10 polywheel.

Swami.

Go take a look at those stepper driven bearing blocks I sent to Karl for the special "project", you'll find what your looking for.
Take a snap-ring tool with you if you have one.

I have a low count rate but consistant source for the proper bearings.

Jem,
Grating effects just do not do themselves justice if you have just RGB, but you will find Peter has some scan through stuff that is just magical, and Machido is a Machido Grating improvement.

Old school really calls for RRYYGGGGBBVV which is what some of us still have. However there is a whole new world out there if you mix 445 with 405 with 670 with 630 with 532 with 514. Its not as wow as the ion lines, but it can be done.

Steve

[Earthnik]

I want to echo what Steve said. I know all that Barney went through to prove his concept. The actual rotation of the prism took some daunting engineering. He finally resorted to having a custom, PLL motor engineered by a PHD engineering professor on the East Coast. This is one reason I'm interested in seeing "the bearings." I know Barney tried all sorts of drive arrangements and ultimately the only thing that worked was the hollow rotor method driving the prism directly. I suppose some modern commercial motor like the one pictured could be used.



Unfortunately, from my research, it seems this technology got scrapped in the liquidation of his laser estate. That isn't to say it can't be reproduced.

And as stated, it's not a simple matter of lining things up and lighting things up ... synchronization is VERY critical ... and the system has to be extremely robust given the speeds, and torque required. The apparatus can end up being quite bulky.

Beyond the mechanics of the rotation of the prism, I want to emphasize again that the other key component to the system was the variable diffusion. This could be done quite well today if we actually had a digital beam brush on the market. I know Bill was working on one in 2009 ... what ever happened to that?

As you may have figured out by now, I am a purest. I wouldn't undertake making this "Music Visualizer" again strictly as a cool effect. This was a deep intellectual endeavor for Barney in his life-long passion to visualize music. If I were in the position to, I would pick up his baton and finish his race for him.