Thread: build your own laser set up

I wonder if one of the pen sized ones in a mount would work?

http://www.amazon.com/pointer-laser-...F8&node=229183

Or disassembled and the emitter and lens mounted separately from the power supply.

At the price of the cheaper ones, not much lost if it doesn't work.

Yeah, it's on my long 'to-do' list. It usually moves up the list as I'm getting to the bottom of my next hollow form, but then slips back down the list as I move on to other things...

Next time!

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Or disassembled and the emitter and lens mounted separately from the power supply.
At the price of the cheaper ones, not much lost if it doesn't work.

Paul,
I looked at that but they just don't have the power to produce a good spot. Ok if you turn in the dark tho' . Over your way they are even cheaper than here in Oz.
We have some tight restrictions governing size and importation. Due to some thoughtless morons shining more powerful ones at commercial aircraft. Blinding flight crew and nearly causing a major disaster. dopey ......s
So now if you buy a 5mw+ laser your name and address will retained should law and enforcement authorities require it in the event of disaster etc. Importation of similar lasers are by registered importers etc etc.

good find Hughie

Originally Posted by hughie

I looked at that but they just don't have the power to produce a good spot.

What power do you reckon is needed, Hughie?

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What power do you reckon is needed, Hughie?

not really sure but found this, a laser forum

A Guide To Buying Your First Green Laser - Laser Pointer Forums - Discuss Lasers & Laser Pointers

Thanks for the forum link Hughie. Had a brief read. My initial conclusion is that it is only the dot, not the beam, that needs to be seen in daylight, and we are only talking about a projection distance of a few inches, not metres. So a lower wattage might do it. Might just try a few pointer options out in the torch shop in town to see how well the different options work before I take the plunge.

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Already had a go at a few pointers with little success. Also had a look over Erns set up when I was there. He suffered a similar problem the dot intensity was lacking especially when in a well light situation. I believe the green is better than the red, some to do with the colour etc.

Anyway will have a go at the 5mw ones when they arrive and post my findings

Thanks for the links, Hughie. I built my own hollowing rig, and just bought a laser pointer pen from Radio Shack to use for the dot. It's red, and a little bit larger than I'd like, but it works okay for me. I didn't have the guts to try to build my own light system, due to my inability to understand the schematics I've seen.
I've also seen some ideas on how to reduce the size of the dot, but so far it hasn't been that important to me. I have no idea what the power is, in the pen I have.

Originally Posted by hughie

Already had a go at a few pointers with little success. Also had a look over Erns set up when I was there. He suffered a similar problem the dot intensity was lacking especially when in a well light situation. I believe the green is better than the red, some to do with the colour etc.

Anyway will have a go at the 5mw ones when they arrive and post my findings

OK, you've saved me a trip to town...

Yes, read green is superior to red.

Think I'll wait your report.

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Thanks for the links, Hughie. I built my own hollowing rig, and just bought a laser pointer pen from Radio Shack to use for the dot. It's red, and a little bit larger than I'd like, but it works okay for me. I didn't have the guts to try to build my own light system, due to my inability to understand the schematics I've seen.
I've also seen some ideas on how to reduce the size of the dot, but so far it hasn't been that important to me. I have no idea what the power is, in the pen I have.

Hi Allen,

Good to see on the forum again. I suspect your pen pointers have more power than ours. We have had some restrictions put on laser pointers due some morons pointing them at planes. I think our max is 1mw for all pointers and they are to be red as well.

Yes Hughie, you are right. What do you want to achieve, exactly? Eg a light source visible through X mm of wood of density Y? Self standing or attacheable to the hollowing tool? In my ignorance, I would have thought that the light source does not necessarily have to be a laser, given that the focus is so close, if the size is practical.

F&E I intend to build something along the lines of this:

http://www.woodturningonline.com/Tur...h%20Finder.pdf

Basically use the laser to determine the thickness of any hollow vessel I am turning as I go along.

Just jumping on here to see if the green laser works any better than the little red one I put on my hollowing rig - which I don't have any problems with (other than the grand-kids trying to snavel it all the time ).