What to do with 30 lasers? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: cthree
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2013, 04:36:57 pm
content: In a moment of impulsive weakness I purchased 30x 6mm 5mW red laser diodes on eBay for $8 last night and now I'm trying to come up with some ideas for what to do with them LOL. I'd love to hear any ideas anyone has for fun projects I could build. Cat toy? Disco lights? Hmmm...

author: fcb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2013, 04:49:39 pm
content: DIY :https://lasers.llnl.gov/

author: cthree
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2013, 04:58:58 pm
content: Quote from: fcb on July 08, 2013, 04:49:39 pmLike that but on a larger scale O0

author: Jebnor
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2013, 05:07:50 pm
content: The same thing we do every night Pinky... Try and take over the world!

author: KTP
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2013, 05:18:47 pm
content: Scale model NIF?edit: heh heh I see after clicking links that was everyone else's idea as well.

author: kfitch42
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2013, 06:36:09 pm
content: 30 Sharks?

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2013, 07:01:47 pm
content: I work with a woman whose first name is Pinky............ She is pretty bright, and nobody's idiot.

author: Jebnor
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2013, 08:44:32 pm
content: Quote from: SeanB on July 08, 2013, 07:01:47 pmI was only referring to laboratory Mice. Your coworker is safe from any intimation of being daft.

author: westfw
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2013, 05:48:09 am
content: http://hackaday.com/2011/11/11/youll-shoot-your-eye-out-with-this-laser-filled-tennis-ball/

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2013, 06:54:32 am
content: lol, you think you have a problem finding a use for 30 lasersTry finding a use for 700!Side note: If anyone is in Auckland NZ and wants a tray of free lasers, let me know.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2013, 06:15:59 pm
content: I had a similar problem years ago with 12V 2VA encapsulated transformers. Down to one box now though.

author: ddavidebor
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2013, 07:36:33 pm
content: Quote from: Psi on July 09, 2013, 06:54:32 amSell them on ebay.

author: cthree
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2013, 03:07:35 am
content: I'm thinking about some sort of alignment tool? Like a borescope but I don't own a gun so that's sort of pointless.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2013, 04:05:03 am
content: Quote from: Psi on July 09, 2013, 06:54:32 amDrive the lasers from a FPGA (high frequency PWM for each channel, cheap lasers that only have a resistor as the driver are better for this), bounce them off a spinning mirror, and you have a laser TV!

author: ddavidebor
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2013, 09:22:15 am
content: You're a fucking genius!With all respect i mean.

author: jpb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2013, 09:29:43 am
content: Setup one of those Mission Impossible security system (though with visible lasers it would be rather less effective).Or perhaps setup as an array you could do 3D photos/scanning and attach to a 3D printer.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2013, 12:12:12 pm
content: http://vimeo.com/marshmallowlaserfeast/forest

author: cthree
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2013, 05:03:49 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on July 11, 2013, 12:12:12 pmNow that's more like it! Cool project.

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 12, 2013, 03:34:56 am
content: http://sunnnyali.tumblr.com/post/54524127381/protesters-in-egypt-pointing-lasers-at-militaryProtesters in Egypt pointing lasers at military helicopters.The more people attending protests with lasers, and the more powerful the lasers, the better.I've always wondered how things would go, if 100,000 people all pointed 100mW lasers at one spot.Nevermind the National Ignition Facility. Many nations these days need their own Nitwit Ignition Facility.

author: nukie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 12, 2013, 04:03:27 am
content: Any story behind these?Quote from: Psi on July 09, 2013, 06:54:32 am

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 12, 2013, 04:21:20 am
content: Quote from: Psi on July 09, 2013, 06:54:32 amGood heavens! What's the story behind ending up with 700 lasers you don't want?What colour & power are they, and do they work? Divergence? What's the voltage drive requirement? Can they be modulated?What would you want for them? An art project immediately springs to mind.Though it might be a problem getting them through customs into Australia. Not sure if they banned importation of 'lasers' in general for private use, or just finished laser pointers.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 12, 2013, 09:11:04 am
content: They're all red. I don't know the power exactly, but they're likely 1-5mW.The ones with wires have a little switchmode boost converter onboard so they're able to run from a single 1.5V cell. The others need 2V+They were in a box of bulk electronics on a local auction site for NZ$100 and it looked like a good dealHere's what was in the box

author: Corporate666
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 12, 2013, 10:08:44 am
content: Step 1: build thisStep 2: world dominationStep 3: adoration of the women

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 12, 2013, 10:32:47 am
content: It bugged me that the Death Star 'weapon dish' and firing SFX were so stupidly ill-matched. Come on guys, I expected to see the fabric of space-time being torn to bits. Instead we got some dumb and probably very cheaply done green lines. And so what was the dish for then?