anyone else here into lasers? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ixfd64
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2013, 06:37:54 pm
content: So I picked up an interested in lasers several years ago. I have a 200 mW green laser that was sent to me for review, and I also have a 35 mW one that I won in a contest. I'm also a regular poster at Laser Pointer Forums. The novelty of lighting matches and popping balloons may be long gone, but lasers are still really fun to play with. The only downside is that lasers sometimes have a bad reputation due to idiots misusing them.Is anyone else here interested in lasers?

author: dr.diesel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2013, 06:39:07 pm
content: You don't happen to have a Shark as well do you?

author: Cozzmo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2013, 06:45:12 pm
content: I have a purple (405nm) one made from a mini flashlight with a custom heatsink.I still have some 405nm and 635? Red sleds that are good for 300mw or more (cant remember now) around here somewhere.Also made a little power meter which I have no idea how accurate it was. This was years ago now though. A more economical thermopile? Unit might be available now.Had to remove the bookmark from my browser for LPF because it was feeding an addiction I couldn't afford. Haha.

author: IonizedGears
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2013, 10:23:16 pm
content: Quote from: dr.diesel on November 12, 2013, 06:39:07 pmYou beat me to it.

author: Kryoclasm
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2013, 05:05:00 am
content: When I was in high school, I really wanted a 5 watt ruby laser so I could get into holography.that was in 1986.It was just too expensive.Now at days, I guess I could afford the gear to get into to it, but I have lived in an apartment buildings for years where ever I have moved... not suitable as a STABLE platform.I think a202 watt green laser and the gear needed might cost less than $500... The optics and mirrors have gotten more expensive.Someday... bucket list.

author: madshaman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2013, 06:11:58 am
content: W or mW?

author: Kryoclasm
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2013, 07:49:15 am
content: Whoops, 2 Watt.

author: madshaman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2013, 08:15:42 am
content: Wouldn't a lower power single mode frequency stabilised laser give better result for holography?

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2013, 08:40:00 am
content: I would not mind a 5KW laser cutter in the workshop, but cannot afford or justify such expenditure.

author: Kryoclasm
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2013, 08:40:35 am
content: Well, the faster you can expose, the less blur you will have in the final image.The longer you have to expose the plate the more time for vibrations to screw everything up.

author: Dago
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2013, 08:42:07 am
content: Quote from: madshaman on November 13, 2013, 08:15:42 amYes, something like a single mode argon laser would be the best. I actually have two ALC 60X single mode argon lasers somewhere...Might be interested in selling them if someone is interested since I haven't done anything with them.

author: firehopper
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2013, 07:55:00 pm
content: where could I get a high powered laser for burning small things at home.. Not pointing at airplanes.. dont need more than 1 watt. most places I've seen seem to be overseas, and customs may seize them. so is there a place in the usa where I could purchase them, but not have to pay an arm or leg?

author: microbug
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2013, 10:40:30 pm
content: By what I can see, customs rarely seize lasers (they're usually marked as flashlights and are pretty hard to tell apart to the average official) and if they do, nothing much will happen - I think you just get a nasty warning letter. I live in the UK but as far as I'm aware this applies to the US as well. I just bought an SFCR (nominal 200mw) for $40 + $10 shipping from sflasers.us - the guy is based in Israel but has a very good reputation. He also does more powerful (and expensive) models in different wavelengths. If you are going to get ANY laser above 5mw, you MUST acquire appropriate eye protection (goggles). I have some from dragonlasers.com which according to LPF is reputable. I also have a crap Chinese pair and the difference between them (when I'm not using lasers - I'd never use the cheap ones with a laser on) is very noticeable. Make sure to get goggles that block the wavelength of light that your laser emits. Remember, you can't put a price on your eyesight

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2013, 10:58:20 pm
content: Quote from: microbug on November 13, 2013, 10:40:30 pmlaser != laser pointer. They can only sieze things which do not conform to regs - correct power markings (most cheap ones are way over, green ones have tons of IR), no interlock & emission indicator on higher powers etc.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2013, 11:00:52 pm
content: Quote from: Dago on November 13, 2013, 08:42:07 amI have one exactly like that (may be the longer tube version), and...smaller 488nm argon20W medical CO2A bunch of HeNes (including a green one)A coherent 100mW compass DPSSA 0.5W fibre coupled green DPSS awaiting teardown/repairDon't think I've turned any of them on for a few years though..... If anyone in the UK wants a couple of argon lasers to tinker with let me know - I could do with the space.

author: Terabyte2007
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2013, 11:47:48 pm
content: Quote from: ixfd64 on November 12, 2013, 06:37:54 pmI have quite a collection of lasers. It's been a hobby of mine for some time now. I have about 12 different lasers ranging from infrared to ultraviolet. I can list them all if your interested.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2013, 12:59:10 am
content: Just made a quick video of my 488nm argon laser.Also got a 2 each of 300mW DVD red, 300mW bluray purple and 200mW green.I planned to mix them with some PBS cubes and other optics to get a white beam. Just for funBut the green beam is just to thin for that.

author: ixfd64
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2014, 05:39:13 am
content: Quote from: firehopper on November 13, 2013, 07:55:00 pmIt's generally a little harder to find sellers in the U.S. because the FDA has some fairly strict regulations on high-powered lasers, especially the portable ones. Several LPF users who sold lasers online have gotten warnings from the FDA.That having been said, the vast majority of lasers that are produced overseas will make it past customs. The inspectors certainly can't inspect every single package that enters the U.S. The third option, of course, is to build your own laser.

author: Tinkerer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2014, 05:47:45 am
content: Always thought it would be interesting to build a carbon dioxide laser.A few years ago when my father worked at one of the navy shipyards, he got a chance to see a really high powered laser. He said they were demonstrating it and basically he saw it vaporize part of a block of wood or something. Said it went buzzzzzsssshhhh and moved back and forth over the target quickly vaporizing part of it in a time span measured in seconds. He said the power was something like 1000W or something extremely high powered.(no he wasnt sure of the actual power, but being able to vaporize something like that really fast it must have been up there in terms of power)