New Projector Project

[planters]

I have been working on a couple of satellite projectors and they incorporate some interesting innovations;some good and some less so. One note; in the included video I claim that when viewing the pre-filtered beam that the large spot of light above the main beam was due to a multi-mode stripe. Just after the video I rechecked this and in fact the spot DID REPRESENT a miss aligned diode and the diode was easily realigned. Nevertheless, the power of the spatial filter to eliminate ANY aberrant rays was well demonstrated.

Hope you enjoy.

youtu.be/naO7CXbixk4

[swamidog]

your work, and your workspace is quite inspiring. thank you for setting the bar high and sharing your results.

I have been working on a couple of satellite projectors and they incorporate some interesting innovations;some good and some less so. One note; in the included video I claim that when viewing the pre-filtered beam that the large spot of light above the main beam was due to a multi-mode stripe. Just after the video I rechecked this and in fact the spot DID REPRESENT a miss aligned diode and the diode was easily realigned. Nevertheless, the power of the spatial filter to eliminate ANY aberrant rays was well demonstrated.

Hope you enjoy.

youtu.be/naO7CXbixk4

[danielbriggs]

Excellent Sir.
Just a question: If you were to use a 1/2 wave plate on the 2x2 red array (I could not see one) to maintain the geometry of each pair of beam profiles yet allow polarisation combination; would this reduce the complexity of the spatial filter to only need adjustment in one axis?
Dan

[MIIKKKLLLL]

Whow,

Nice work !

Can you say me the overall divergence you obtain, because with the noise of the fans, I can't hear the value (English is not my mother tong). Thanks!

Do you have a smoke machine?? Why not a little "show time"? Could be interesting to see the beams of these 2 RGB laser

[planters]

Just a question: If you were to use a 1/2 wave plate on the 2x2 red array (I could not see one) to maintain the geometry of each pair of beam profiles yet allow polarisation combination; would this reduce the complexity of the spatial filter to only need adjustment in one axis?

There is a 1/2 plate. It is the small black disc in front of one of the diode pairs. The spatial filter is working on the image orientation which is the same for both diode pairs and is not effected by the axis of the electric field. Significantly more of the benefit of the filter is in one axis only (here the vertical) and so if you were to forgo the two additional horizontal blocking blades you would not loose much performance.

Can you say me the overall divergence you obtain, because with the noise of the fans, I can't hear the value (English is not my mother tong). Thanks!

I'll give you the raw numbers rather than the calculated divergence. The three co aligned beams leave the scanner at 4x4mm and at 8M are very close to equal and overlap within a 8x8mm square.

Do you have a smoke machine?? Why not a little "show time"? Could be interesting to see the beams of these 2 RGB laser

Sure. I have a smoke machine. The appearance of the graphics and the beams is very hard for the camera to capture. I might actually video the projection screen with all 1,600W of MH lighting on. The camera may bloom less. The beams are really as good as the numbers suggest and although I don't dwell on it, it is pretty amazing in person.

[chad]

Very nice! What would you estimate the size of the aperture of the spatial filter after adjustment? Have you tried a correctly sized hole?

chad

[Picasso]

Always love the videos from planters! Do you monitor condensation? track dew point?

I want to know more about the wood shed this is all in. Love the curved walls.

[planters]

Have you tried a correctly sized hole?

Very hard to estimate. Certainly can't measure at a good working fraction of the max power. Best guess is with a 100mm lens vs. a spot measured at 10M ( approx 10mm) that focus is 100um. I don't like that approach because to really close down on the spot you might have to run through a few before you got it right and then there is the phenomenon that the best plane is just inside the focus. I know that because in a dark room you can actually see the knife blades ( looks a lot like a comparator to those familiar with machining) in very clear relief on the projection screen and as you move slightly inside focus this image is at its sharpest.

Do you monitor condensation? track dew point?

The plastic enclosures have a clear top so that you can see the status of the module ( such as a blown diode). They have an "O" ring gasket on the bottom if you look carefully. There is no condensation.

I want to know more about the wood shed this is all in. Love the curved walls.

The "shed" is a 4,500 sq.ft timber frame out building on our property. We constructed it from primarily trees cleared for the build.

[dkumpula]

The "shed" is a 4,500 sq.ft timber frame out building on our property. We constructed it from primarily trees cleared for the build.

A personal laser space with square footage greater than most family homes is nothing short of AWESOME!

Many thanks for the detailed walk through of your new prototype!

-David

[Steve Milani]

Very good movie!
Thanks to share your "know-how" with us!