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Thread: Build or Buy???

  1. #1
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    Default Build or Buy???

    Hi,

    I haven't been on here in quite some time and haven't messed with lasers for a while either.

    In the past I have built a couple of laser projectors, they were a 300mw 532nm green with 40kpps scanners from eBay, I think they were laserworld branded. I also built a 500mw 532nm green with the same scanners. I ran these with Medialas Mamba Black 1.90. I've since sold these lasers and software, the guy I sold the software to is a friend so he lets me borrow it back now and again :-)

    I've acquired, really cheaply an Equinox Vixen RGB laser, which for a cheap laser is ok, but at a guess I'd say the scanners are at best 20kpps??? anyone know exactly what they are?. The convergance of the RGB lasers is off and on taking the thing apart it's no wonder because the engineering for the mountings etc.... is shocking! It's obviously a very cheaply made Chinese effort. As a project I think I'm going to make new more robust mountings etc.... I trained as a mechanical engineer originally so have the skills to mill new parts. I may put faster galvos in this too.

    I would really like to have a good RGB projector (maybe 1-2W) with reasonably fast scanners and preferably analog modulation so I have a larger range of colours available to me.

    Like I say, I've been out of this for a bit so I'm not well up on what's available these days.

    So a few questions for those of you in the know.

    1. Do I Build my own or buy a prebuilt Laserworld or other....?
    2. I notice that Laserworld quote their scan speeds at say 40kpps, but this is at 4 degrees...... is that going to be good enough for graphics? are the 40kpps Galvos on ebay faster than these?
    3. If I did build my own where are the best places to buy components? Laser modules, Galvo's, optics etc.....
    4. What show software would you recommend? I still quite like Mamba Black 1.90, but I'm guessing things have moved on since then?
    5. What proportions (powerwise) of Red, Green and Blue lasers should I use?

    Hope some of you can give me a few tips with all this.

    Thanks in advance

  2. #2
    Bradfo69's Avatar
    Bradfo69 is offline Pending BST Forum Purchases: $47,127,283.53
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    Hi,
    .
    Wow. Lot's of questions requiring long answers. Welcome back! I'll give you the short answers now and come back to edit since I have to get ready for work.
    .
    1 is a matter of personal choice. As this is a hobbyist forum, naturally there are going to be a lot that will eagerly say build your own... and be sure to post lots of pictures since you don't see a lot of people building their own anymore. The main reason for that is similar to computers, the technology and mass production has advanced to the point where it's cheaper and easier to just buy one. There are a number of Chinese companies who have advanced to where they are making some really nice stuff and not everything coming from Asia is cheap crap. Even European manufacturers, often regarded as making some of the finest in the world are within the budget of many people. If you want to be up and running quickly do not hesitate to investigate and buy. Companies such as Lightspace, Goldenstar, Able, Kvant, Laserworld and X-Laser here in the US all make very affordable, decent things within most peoples budget. If however, you really enjoy the journey and satisfaction of design, metalwork, electronics, optics, then by all means make it a project. You may very well spend a little more in the long run but, have a much more appreciative sense of accomplishment.
    .
    2. Laserworld has worked to turn around their reputation but, you don't really hear much talk about people wanting to buy their scanners. They're thought of more for their complete projectors. There are many other, perhaps better, affordable choices. Pheonix Technology, Dragon Tiger, Pangolin, Eye Magic and Cambridge are all they key names in the scanner world. Value for the dollar makes Phoenix Technology hard to beat. Pangolin began getting into scanners a few years back and their darling right now is the Compact 506's. They're being integrated into an awful lot of manufacturers new builds. Cheap, top performance and tiny size and other factors make them worth a look. The key issue is you can't buy an off the shelf solution since they have seriously lagged behind in providing amps for them and so in most cases everyone has needed a bastardized solution. They'll work with a wide range of amps and in the beginning, people mailed their amps to Pangolin who sat often in the middle of the night, testing and tuning their scanners to work with every conceivable brand of amps.
    .
    3. When building your own, for parts since you are in the UK, there is no better than Rob Stanley - Stanwax here on the forum. But the other great options include Goldenstar in China, Lasershowparts in Australia, for diodes DTR here in the US, BBE in Russia for some things. There are a number of guys right in your neck of the woods doing a lot of custom milling of parts on a hobbyist level for mounts and things.
    .
    4. There are still a lot of alternatives for software, including Medialas. I think their most recent package is called M3 but, the worlds most popular and most frequently used comes from Pangolin. Quickshow is very hard to beat and the amount of available content for you to play is second to none. Same with support. But, Laserworld, Showtacle, Phoenix, LSX and many others are out there and there are long threads here discussing those.
    .
    5. Again very subjective. There was an awful lot more 1:1:1 recently but, it still boils down to personal preference. The wavelengths you are using have a bearing on that decision. Green is still the easiest to see so, you still need the least about of it. The curve of what our eyes perceive as bright still hasn't changed. And blue is so cheap now that everyone is probably a bit blue heavy. Red is still the most expensive and the elite probably start with as much red as you can afford and figure out the other colors from there.
    .
    The journey is still a joy and will suck your wallet dry. Some incredible people here on the forum and by all means... GO TO A UKLEM!!! Do not waiver, do not think about it. Just know that you absolutely must go to one if you want to get back in the game.
    .
    By the way... couldn't keep it short and I'm late for work! Lol
    PM Sent...

  3. #3
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    Hi,

    Thanks so much for your comprehensive answers I'll certainly check those companies out. I do like building things, so there's a fair chance I will go down that route, maybe I'll start by re-engineering the Equinox RGB I have for starters.

    Sorry I made you late for work :-(

  4. #4
    Bradfo69's Avatar
    Bradfo69 is offline Pending BST Forum Purchases: $47,127,283.53
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    Haha.... I made it on time. No worries. I have diarrhea of the keyboard sometimes.
    PM Sent...

  5. #5
    swamidog's Avatar
    swamidog is online now Jr. Woodchuckington Janitor III, Esq.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bradfo69 View Post
    Haha.... I made it on time. No worries. I have diarrhea of the keyboard sometimes.
    remind me to not use your computer
    suppose you're thinkin' about a plate o' shrimp. Suddenly someone'll say, like, plate, or shrimp, or plate o' shrimp out of the blue, no explanation. No point in lookin' for one, either. It's all part of a cosmic unconciousness.

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