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3D MAX To Laser Light
Laserfuzz writes: "Remember LaserMAME?
Well this isn't new but Pangolin has a plug-in
for 3D
Studio MAX to convert 3D objects and scenes into laser outlines. Opens laser
show programing to a larger group of people." I s'pose not everyone has that kind of hardware sitting around, but you sure could light up a party.
Make that with a capital "E"!
Cheap galvs are going set you back at least $100.00 per channel (last time I checked) - and those aren't high speed, either (lotsa bucks for those). Pro laser show equipment is pricey - but it doesn't have to be this way for your next party.
In an old back issue of Scientific American (in the late 70's-early 80's, I believe) there was an Amatuer Scientist article on building your own laser show cheaply - where the "galvs" were right angle/ortho mounted speakers with mirrors glued to the cone - the trick is using two mirror/speaker combos, each acting on the X or Y axis. The laser bounces between them, and the speakers control the deflection in the X and Y axis - tone generators control the speakers.
The article also showed how to use two motors, each with a mirror glued to the shaft at an angle - using this arrangement, bouncing the laser between the mirrors, you can create lissajous patterns (fun to watch - I actually put an entry into the AOL CD contest that did this, but used the CDs as the mirrors). Add a motor spinning a "shutter" wheel (prior to the laser hitting the first mirror) for other effects. All the motors are controlled with rheostats.
Other possibilities:
Cut away the speaker cone to reduce its mass to get higher speed. It might also be possible to extend the shaft of a regular analogue voltmeter and superglue a small mirror onto it (might have to beef up the spring a bit). Use a solenoid to activate a shutter "digitally" (pro rigs use some kind of electro-optical shutter that works similarly to an LCD). I have given thought to using headphone style speakers, or gluing the mirror to a piezo speaker for higher speeds - haven't followed through on it yet, though.
Use a PC (and accompaning sound card) to control the speaker "galvs" - the parallel port could control a solenoid shutter. Multiple shutters could be controlled serially. Mirrors could be mounted on servos for simple "sweep" effects.
Buy the small mirrors at a craft store - they make them pretty small and lightweight. Another possibility for even lighterweight mirrors is to use a small piece of highly polished blank semiconductor wafer.
Pen lasers (ie, LED lasers) can be used for small informal gatherings, but if you want to do a better, larger show, get an HeNe tube laser - output and brightness tends to be higher. Unfortunately you won't be able to get other colors without spending a lot of bucks (I think there is a blue or green laser pen out there, but it is expensive - other colored lasers are of the gas variety, and tend to be expensive). But other light effects could be used instead (maybe focused high-brightness LEDs?)...
Have phun!
Worldcom - Generation Duh!
Reason is the Path to God - Anon
And for a good reason...
"Up there! It's a bird!"
"It's a plane!"
"IT'S A TEAPOT!!!!"
Tell me what makes you so afraid
Of all those people you say you hate
you can get a scanner for between $300 & $500. Note that this does NOT include the laser or the chassis, which can run you MUCH MUCH more depending on the laser power. IF you already have a cheep laser, you can rig up one of these on a homemade chassis and use it with software like the one in this story.
http://www.camtech.com/
www.gsilumonics.com
other sources and info from this page.
air and light and time and space
I have a friend who made a laser light show for a 4th of July festival. He had a heck of a time getting the colors to come out right. Apparently, there are some severe restrictions in the US with regard to laser intensity at various colors. He had to get a special permit to display his show in a public forum. You can find out about the standards here.
Now, this is some very cool stuff. I've actually seen him make holograms using his laser projector. But if you want to do anything out in public, you'll need to be sure you have the right papers.
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