Hi everybody.
I am new to this forum.
A little bit about me.
I am 72 years old and enjoy spending my retirement playing with lasers.
Back in the 1990's I used to own a Entertainment company supplying Lighting and sound to various events.
Back then I owned 2 laser systems along with 4 world war 7kw searchlights, 2x 4kw skytrackers and other equipment for filming etc.
The Lasers back then I owned were a 2 watt air cooled Argon and a 6 Watt watercooled Argon.
Computer control back then was limited using a simple software running windows 3.11.
As I have now retired I sold the company and all the equipment went off to Germany.
Back then there was no internet and computers were limited which meant lasers cost a fortune. Now you can buy a laser for £50
I decided to buy a low cost laser system recently to play with and after some research I found one on ebay which was nice and cheep and could be operated by a pc.
i came across a Laser Know How System which had low powered red and green lasers running 10k Galvanometers. I paid £100 for it.
When I received it I am amazed how things have changed and become so much smaller to what I have been used to.
As always when you buy a cheap laser the red is not lined up with he green so that was the first task.
After playing with it I decided to buy some cheep software from the same company.
I brought the ishow software and ilda adapter for £90.
The Software is amazing for £100.
I paid £10'000 for Laser Graphics software in 1992. and this is so much more user frendly.
As always there is no manuals with the software so it has taken me a couple of months to get through it.
I have read that none of you like ishow on this forum.
Cant understand why. Its so much more advanced to what I used in the 90's
Is that because you dont want to write your own shows frame by frame?
Writing your own show is like writing a book.
Lots of swearing and piles of paper in a bucket.
My method is drawing up on paper first. (Every Frame) then use a graphics tablet to transfer to the pc.
No cheating and tonnes of patients.
FACT! (Stephen King still uses a old metal manual typewriter today. No computers or word processors)
I have written up a few nice shows with it but as you probally know drawing up every frame takes time.
By drawing up every frame you can make great shows. but allow about 1 month for a good 10 min show.
This is how it used to be done in the 90's and you need alot of patience
I have enjoyed playing with it and I am now addicted again and i am thinking about a upgrade.
only problem is that I am retired and have a limited budget so I wont have £40'000 to spend which i did back in the 90's.
as you probally know buying Laser systems is like ice skating uphill. It does not matter how much you spend there is always something better somewhere.
I have seen the laserworld gear on ebay but is skeptical if there any good for the prices that the sell for.
Especially the power outputs. Until I buy one and use my Laser Power Meter I wont Know
Can you use Laserworld Equipment with my Ishow software and ilda adapter usb box.?
I would like a good green system around 500mw and a bigger coloured system.
I dont think I can stretch to 7 colours with a good power but maybe 3.
I have a budget of £1000.
Any Ideas.