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Table Top USP Lasers Slice, Dice, and So Much More

UltravioletLED writes "A company in Petaluma, California has developed highly programmable desktop lasers. The same devices used in hospitals could also be used to turn any metal surface black by simply changing the software. From the article: 'The technology once filled a large room at DARPA until Raydiance scientists made it into a compact, tabletop unit. Schuler (The CEO) said he hopes it will replace just about any cutting device you can think of, from a big metal saw to a precise surgical blade ... Now that it's a little bigger than a breadbox, researchers want to use them to kill tumors, identify friend or foe during combat, and even remove tattoos.' Femtosecond lasers for eye surgery have been around for years now, but these new lasers are far smaller and promise to have much greater versatility."

79 comments

  1. Finally! by mboverload · · Score: 1

    Now I can play SkyTag!

  2. Black Metal ... Like Nargaroth? Burzum? by hattig · · Score: 5, Funny

    presenting your spouse with a jet-black engagement ring

    Dude, that's not the correct order to do things in, or you're being highly presumptuous.

    1. Re:Black Metal ... Like Nargaroth? Burzum? by PayPaI · · Score: 1

      Maybe they mean Dark Iron?

    2. Re:Black Metal ... Like Nargaroth? Burzum? by TempeTerra · · Score: 3, Funny

      Nothing wrong with that - if it's a token of your intention to divorce. "Here honey, I got this for you. It matches the inky blackness of your heart." ;)

      --
      .evom ton seod gis eht
  3. I'm not buying by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Until I see some freaking sharks with freaking lasers on their heads!

  4. I've got a baaad feeling about this... by ross.w · · Score: 0

    so how long before it can be reduced to the size of a TV remote with a range of a metre or so?

    And will I have to make my own?

    If I use it in anger does it become a red one?

    Did Han shoot first or not?

    --
    If my call is important, why am I talking to a recording?
    1. Re:I've got a baaad feeling about this... by Shadow+Wrought · · Score: 0
      I've got a baaad feeling about this...

      Yep. Sounds like a trap.

      --
      If brevity is the soul of wit, then how does one explain Twitter?
  5. Re:Gigantic horsecock by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Shouldn't that be 'giant laser' in you butt?

  6. One question by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Do they come with sharks? ...

  7. Flabbergaster 2000 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "A company in Petaluma, California has developed highly programmable desktop lasers... Now that it's a little bigger than a breadbox, [people] want to use them to kill tumors, identify friend or foe during combat, and even remove tattoos."

    All from the comforts of home!

  8. Tabletop sharks? by iHasaFlavour · · Score: 5, Funny

    Until they manage to create suitable tabletop sharks upon which to mount these frickin lasers, I ain't impressed....

    --
    Reality is that which, when we cease to believe in it, still exists. - Philip K Dick
    1. Re:Tabletop sharks? by loganrapp · · Score: 1
      Evidently my cycloptic colleague informs my that that can't be done.


      Could you remind me what I pay you people for? Honestly, throw me a bone, here.

  9. turn any metal surface black by Threni · · Score: 1

    Yeah, I turned a whole bunch of stuff black when I last played with lasers. It pays to stay out of the way of the little red beam, it transpires.

    1. Re:turn any metal surface black by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Blacker than the blackest black... Times infinity!"
                                                        -- Nathan Explosion, Dethklok

    2. Re:turn any metal surface black by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How much more black could this be? and the answer is none. None more black.

  10. Yes by El+Lobo · · Score: 5, Informative
    We are using programable lasers at our hospital too (well, kind of experimental). The programmable laser radiation doser may be successfully employed in rheumatology (arthritis, arthrosis), neurology (radiculitis, osteochondrosis), gynaecology (inflammation of adnexa), urology, in cases of pancreatonecrosis, pulmonary pathology, hepatitis, gastritis, trophic ulcer, dermatitis, eczema and other diseases.

    The dosing device goes together with laser therapy apparatus comprising only low-energy semiconductor and gas lasers. Its control mode is set with regard to the functional condition of the patient's body, the disease dynamics and stage.

    --
    It's time to realise that Abble's products are the biggest abomination these days. Just say NO to the dumb iAbble way!!
    1. Re:Yes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      ... urology ....

      You stay the hell away from my dick with that shit.

    2. Re:Yes by A+nonymous+Coward · · Score: 1

      You stay the hell away from my dick with that shit.
      You stay the hell away from my shit with that dick.

    3. Re:Yes by AaronLawrence · · Score: 1

      That was quoted from
      http://www.nikiet.ru/eng/structure/hightemp/dos_la ser_radiation.html

      your own comments would be a lot more interesting. Or is that your team?

      --
      For every expert, there is an equal and opposite expert. - Arthur C. Clarke
    4. Re:Yes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The programmable laser radiation doser may be successfully employed in rheumatology (arthritis, arthrosis), neurology (radiculitis, osteochondrosis), gynaecology (inflammation of adnexa), urology, in cases of pancreatonecrosis, pulmonary pathology, hepatitis, gastritis, trophic ulcer, dermatitis, eczema and other diseases.
      The dosing device goes together with laser therapy apparatus comprising only low-energy semiconductor and gas lasers. Its control mode is set with regard to the functional condition of the patient's body, the disease dynamics and stage.


      This sounds a lot like laser accupuncture and not much at all like programmable laser scalpels, which is what the article is about.

      I had laser accupuncture for gouty arthritis. It helped immensely with the pain. He had this wand, once he showed me the different settings on it, and explained that these mystery numbers could be used to tune the laser to the resonant frequencies of the bodies natural tissue.

      I never bought his explanation for how the whole thing worked. But I didn't need to; I was just glad I could walk for a day or two without pain after a treatment...

      But regardless, that thing was a dull toothpick compared to the kind of lasers this article is about...

  11. Deer Hunting? by jessiej · · Score: 0, Troll

    I wonder what this'll do to the "right to bear arms" debates.

    1. Re:Deer Hunting? by AdmiralAudio · · Score: 2, Funny

      It will cook your venison on the spot. "It's comin' right for us!"

    2. Re:Deer Hunting? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dunno. All I know is, no matter how much damage you can do with a gun, a laser, or a box of TNT, I can do just as much with a gallon can of Chevron Super Unleaded. The whole "right to bear arms" debate is a sucker's game.

    3. Re:Deer Hunting? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Can you hit someone in the head from 500 yards with your gallon of gas? The "right to bear arms" debate is a suckers game because it is always framed in a "personal safety" view, instead of a "most extreme of the checks and balances" view.

    4. Re:Deer Hunting? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The "right to bear arms" debate is a suckers game because it is always framed in a "personal safety" view, instead of a "most extreme of the checks and balances" view.

      From the point of view of a politician or a professional alarmist such as a journalist, it's convenient for you to think that. Meanwhile, the worst mass murder in recent memory, with 87 dead, was committed with nothing more than a can of gasoline and a bad attitude.

      So yeah, I'm really afraid of someone shooting me from 500 yards away. That just, you know, happens all the time.

  12. How do I build one? by the_kanzure · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Does anyone know where I can go to learn to build my own desktop lasers? I have found Sam's laser FAQ before, but surely there are other sources out there.

    1. Re:How do I build one? by flyingfsck · · Score: 3, Funny

      Depends on how much power you want. Diode lasers are easy...

      --
      Excuse me, but please get off my Pennisetum Clandestinum, eh!
    2. Re:How do I build one? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      http://www.hackaday.com/category/laser-hacks/

      Then follow links, so very many links...

    3. Re:How do I build one? by owlstead · · Score: 1

      "Depends on how much power you want. Diode lasers are easy..."

      World domination?

  13. Table Top USB Lasers Slice, Dice, and ... by narooze · · Score: 2, Funny

    Was I the only one who read Table Top USB Lasers Slice, Dice, and So Much More? Man that would've been cool. :)

    1. Re: Table Top USB Lasers Slice, Dice, and ... by redcaboodle · · Score: 1

      Nope, same here. Wishful thinking again.

      --
      -- Put crudely, the world is an extremely large problem instance. (Russel/Norvig Artificial Intelligence)
    2. Re: Table Top USB Lasers Slice, Dice, and ... by Daychilde · · Score: 1

      Yeah, but does it *blend*?

      --
      A cheerful little bird is sitting here singing.
    3. Re: Table Top USB Lasers Slice, Dice, and ... by Foggerty · · Score: 1

      Yes, and I was imagining geeks setting up PC controlled table top lasers with motion sensors for the ultimate in stupid home defense systems :-)

    4. Re: Table Top USB Lasers Slice, Dice, and ... by smparadox · · Score: 1

      "Was I the only one who read Table Top USB Lasers Slice, Dice, and So Much More? Man that would've been cool. :)"

      No, you're not the only one, and yes, that would have been frickin' awesome!
      --
      "I am become Gerund, Destroyer of Verbs"
    5. Re: Table Top USB Lasers Slice, Dice, and ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, my first thought when I saw USP was thinking "If I wanted the USP, I'd roll a CT". Apparently I played Counter Strike for too long ;)

  14. Oh, to be twelve again with a desktop laser.... by jollyreaper · · Score: 3, Funny

    Barbie with monocle and stuffed, white persian cat, Ken strapped to table with the desktop laser humming. "So, do you expect me to talk?" "No, Mr. Ken, I expect you to melt!" "Moooooooooooom!"

    --
    Kwisatz Haderach
    Sell the spice to CHOAM
    This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne
    1. Re:Oh, to be twelve again with a desktop laser.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So you're admitting on /. that you played with barbie dolls?

    2. Re:Oh, to be twelve again with a desktop laser.... by jollyreaper · · Score: 1

      No, I think the joke conveyed the idea that this was about teasing the little sister by vandalizing her Barbies. In real life, I was limited to staging suicide scenes in her closet, Barbie hanging from a noose with a tiny suicide note pinned to her dress. Imagine how much cooler this would have been with a laser. The whole "mooooooom!" line at the end shows that the sibling unit is summoning the parental overunit due to my provocation.

      --
      Kwisatz Haderach
      Sell the spice to CHOAM
      This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne
  15. USB Device by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This would make for an awesome USB device, though I suspect it might need a teeny tiny bit of external power.

  16. Medical lasers by the_kanzure · · Score: 4, Funny

    We are using programable lasers at our hospital too (well, kind of experimental). The programmable laser radiation doser may be successfully employed in rheumatology (arthritis, arthrosis), neurology (radiculitis, osteochondrosis), gynaecology (inflammation of adnexa), urology, in cases of pancreatonecrosis, pulmonary pathology, hepatitis, gastritis, trophic ulcer, dermatitis, eczema and other diseases.
    Hey, quick question: does your hospital keep around anybody that knows lasers inside-and-out, or are they all closed source machines? Just wondering what sort of detailed information floats around hospitals, I suppose. Sometimes, I hear of labs that do not make their own machinery and consequently are "in the dark" when doing unknown procedures or updates to hardware.
    1. Re:Medical lasers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      I Am Not A Doctor, but my dad is a chief lab technician (or some such) at an NHS hospital in Britain. He doesn't work with anything like as sophisticated as this, but from what I hear of the culture there, there's very little emphasis on "open source". Apparently the centrifuges, spectrographs and the like employed there are all very proprietary, expensive, and locked to the manufacturer in the way of supplies. They're rather like inkjets. The initial equipment is very cheap, but the cartridges that shit comes in - I don't know what exactly, lubricant or reagents, things like that - are closed and complicated and overpriced. A big waste of taxpayer money, really. I imagine a similar approach is taken to the maintenance of them.

      Of course, I'm essentially talking out of my ass here. If anyone has more accurate information I defer completely to them. And it's possible that experimental equipment like this is handled entirely differently, or that private American hospitals are different. But that's what I know.

    2. Re:Medical lasers by Kangburra · · Score: 1

      Of course, I'm essentially talking out of my ass here. If anyone has more accurate information I defer completely to them. And it's possible that experimental equipment like this is handled entirely differently, or that private American hospitals are different. But that's what I know.


      This should be every Slashdotters' signature! LOL
      --
      Common sense is not so common
    3. Re:Medical lasers by the_kanzure · · Score: 1

      ... but from what I hear of the culture there, there's very little emphasis on "open source".
      Yeah, this reminds me of some post here or article somewhere else that pointed out that when medical technology goes more open source, there are going to be many gurus that pop up that have intense medical expertise, but the problem will be that they are using their own self-made equipment and so some people will be weary (as they should be) of seeking such 'experts'-- but this is good, since it will allow equipment innovation and the diffusion of medicine back into the hands of hackers.

      Greg Bear made an appearance on Jon Stewart's the Daily Show on June 21st 02007; Bear was mentioning that within five years he expects even high school students to be able to get their hands on the equipment required to do their own cell cultures, virus construction, etc. It will be an interesting time of development, though I can imagine why scientific instrument companies are scared senseless. Too bad they are not taking the open source approach: whichever company starts down that path would undoubtedly have an enormous influence in the future of med tech.

      There are many places to obtain schematics, even USENET, though I have recently found (and liked) delabs/schematics.
    4. Re:Medical lasers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      some people will be weary (as they should be)

      "wary".

  17. who cares about black metal by bl8n8r · · Score: 2, Funny

    I wonder how it would work with regards to:

    - cutting velveeta cheese
    - deterring the neighbors cat from pissing in my garden
    - deterring my neighbor from pissing in my garden
    - frying wood tics
    - boiling water
    - removing warts
    - engraving my initials on the water tower, from across town
    - lighting a joint

    --
    boycott slashdot February 10th - 17th check out: altSlashdot.org
    1. Re:who cares about black metal by sqrt(2) · · Score: 1

      A BB gun or a magnifying glass can already do most of those.

      --
      If you build it, nerds will come. Soylentnews.org
    2. Re:who cares about black metal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why would you want to deter your neighbor and his cat from pissing in your garden? it's a good source of nitrogen!

    3. Re:who cares about black metal by HiThere · · Score: 1

      Too concentrated. (Occasionally is all right, but not frequently. Unless it's a large plant, like, say, a tree.)

      --

      I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
    4. Re:who cares about black metal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You forgot:

      - popping corn

    5. Re:who cares about black metal by Yetihehe · · Score: 1

      - cutting velveeta cheese - yes
      - deterring the neighbors cat from pissing in my garden - yes
      - deterring my neighbor from pissing in my garden - yes
      - frying wood tics - yes
      - boiling water - yes
      - removing warts - yes
      - engraving my initials on the water tower, from across town - no, you would need expensive optics for long distance, and there is atmospheric scattering
      - lighting a joint - yes

      --
      Extreme Programming - Redundant Array of Inexpensive Developers
    6. Re:who cares about black metal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'd rather have it cut my lawn.

    7. Re:who cares about black metal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Popping corn? You're a real genius!

    8. Re:who cares about black metal by duguk · · Score: 1

      Thats why I have emo grass

  18. Obligatory off-topic Real Genius quotes by avitzur · · Score: 2, Funny

    "It is possible to synthesize excited bromide in an argon matrix! Yes, it's an excimer, frozen in its excited state ... As soon as we apply a field, we couple to a state that is radiatively coupled to the ground state. I figure we can extract at least 10 to the 21st photons per cubic centimeter which will give one kilojoule per cubic centimeter at 600 nanometers, or, one megajoule per liter."

    "Looks at the facts: Very high power. Portable. Limited firing time. Unlimited range. All you'd need is a big spinning mirror and you could vaporize a human target from space.

    - Ron
    Pacific Tech
  19. Desktop Fabrication Applications Aplenty by TheLazySci-FiAuthor · · Score: 1

    I was just talking with my friend about desktop fabrication and we came upon the topic of using metals rather than plastics.

    I proposed that it may be possible to have two canisters of particle-ized metals which could perhaps be alloyed together on a very small scale. This could be done using a standard 3D fabrication gantry system and some kind of micro-sized welding nozzle head thingy.

    Seeing a desktop cutting laser made me consider that this might work very well as the welding method - rather than electric arc-welding or gas: how could you even miniaturize those?

    1. Re:Desktop Fabrication Applications Aplenty by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You want to google SLS (selective laser sintering)--works a lot like SLA (stereolithography), but uses powdered metal (or more commonly thermoplastics) to build up each layer.

    2. Re:Desktop Fabrication Applications Aplenty by Ant+P. · · Score: 2, Interesting

      That sounds like a great idea - you could have actual printed circuit boards instead of taking big slabs of metal and sticking them in vats of acid for half an hour. With a bit of tweaking they could omit the board entirely and have the circuit be a self-supporting 3D structure.

    3. Re:Desktop Fabrication Applications Aplenty by turtledawn · · Score: 2, Informative

      This is already in existence (not that it isn't incredibly cool!). Here's a link to a fellow slashdotter's sculpture site; he has an article describing the technology. Oh, and the art is really neat.. I don't know him, nor do I own any of the pieces though I would like to.

      http://www.bathsheba.com/sculpt/process/index.html #3dprint

      --
      Uh, "if it looks roughly mouse-shaped according to my infra-red sensitive pit, eat it"? --Chris Burke 09-08-10
    4. Re:Desktop Fabrication Applications Aplenty by RM6f9 · · Score: 1

      Do you mean, crossing two streams of colloidal metals? I thought you said crossing the streams was *bad*...

      --
      Take the 90-Day Challenge! http://rwmurker.bodybyvi.com/
    5. Re:Desktop Fabrication Applications Aplenty by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You should check out the current issue of Make by O'reilly who are out of Sebastapol not far from Petaluma, they have a diy machine that can print 3d some plastics and possibly some metal, they were talking about printing 3d circuits. Petaluma is also famous for it's "Butter and Eggs Parade"

    6. Re:Desktop Fabrication Applications Aplenty by EricTheO · · Score: 1

      IIRC this new device dosen't produced heat. It explodes the molecules of the target in high energy but very fast/short bursts in a pulsing action.

      --
      -Eric
  20. Hmm... by bccomm · · Score: 1

    Light sabers, anyone?

    1. Re:Hmm... by ScrewMaster · · Score: 1

      Sure, if you can make the beam stop at about one meter.

      --
      The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
  21. Just promise me by Tablizer · · Score: 1

    that none of these end up at Abu Graib or Gitmo.

    1. Re:Just promise me by tyrus568 · · Score: 1

      (offtopic) Why? Lasers would actually show [i]damage[/i]. Things like electric shocks, waterboarding and kidney jabs, well, you can't prove they did it to you, can you? Kinda like the beaten-wife syndrome. Who wants to beat the crap out of your wife and then everybody knows you did it, when you can just jab her in the side every day and she's the only one who knows as she's pissing blood again?

  22. Hey, It's me. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Did Han shoot first or not?

    Of course Han shot first, but after a few years he had everyone convinced that it was self defence, because that's what scoundrels do.

  23. New ? by dbcad7 · · Score: 3, Informative
    Table top, and bigger, lasers used for cutting materials have been around for quite a while.

    I used to do waterjet cutting, and we had looked into laser cutters as well, but many materials are toxic when burned.. so we stuck with water. There are applications, where a laser is better. Wood is not practical with a waterjet because it absorbs water and the wood warps. Metals are problematic, but can be cut with laser, although much easier to add sand to a waterjet stream and cut it with water. I know that there were also cutters being developed using high pressure air. The waterjet machine I ran was made by Flow International, really an awesome machine. I kinda miss that job.

    --
    waiting for ad.doubleclick.net
  24. Table top laser? by Brad1138 · · Score: 1

    Man that would go perfect with this.

    --
    If you could reason with religious people, there would be no religious people
  25. Table-top laser die! by CamD · · Score: 1

    Sweet! Table-top laser dice! Shit, that's awesome!

    er..wait. They are 20-sided, right?

  26. Is that a NIR apo plan lens? by bundaegi · · Score: 1
    Interesting... in the 6th image of the gallery, you can clearly see a Mitotoyo lens. 20x magnification? (sorry can't read)

    Compared to normal lens, apo plan lenses have a long working distance. They are used in inspection microscopy because around the focus distance, you won't crash into the sample you are looking at. If I'm not mistaken, the red colour coding of the lens used here indicates it's a near infrared lens.

    Microscope lenses are often used with lasers to focus light into a tiny spot (say, into a fiber). The lens threading on the apo plan lens is also compatible with Thorlabs SM1 threadings, which make those ideal for... burning things at a distance using off-the-shelf bits and bobs!

    --
    bundaegi is good for you
  27. Nothing can go wrong. It's controlled by software! by Archtech · · Score: 2, Interesting

    "It can cut metal, heal burns and kill cancer tumors -- all without damaging heat.
    "All you need is one of his ultrashort pulse, or USP, lasers, he said. To change the function, just change the software".

    Hmmmm. So this laser can do different things. One moment, it's a deadly weapon. The next, it's a harmless cosmetic aid.

    And which of these things it does will be determined by... software? Written and maintained by whom? With what sort of utterly foolproof user interface?

    Can you say "Therac-25"?

    --
    I am sure that there are many other solipsists out there.
  28. Still Vapor to Me by flyneye · · Score: 1

    From most other posts this appears to be old news.From my standpoint,its sad because I could not afford one.I wish to use it in conjunction with a copy machine to reproduce fine musical instruments and parts.(my own designs,of course,well,maybe some beloved to me too.)
    It's wonderful they have this,but disappointing when its still out of reach.Kinda like all the jetpacks,birdman suits,robots,computer clusters,super displays and other really practical cool shite that never makes it to the common man.
    What's wrong?This shite is cooler than the consumer shite we have!Where is the adage"if you build it ,they will cum" relevant here?
    I guess it's kinda like the bubbletop cars of the 50's and all the other "space age" glitz they waved in the faces of common man then too.Just some hype,an advertisement,empty promises....sigh.
    Well they can keep their crap to themselves and don't bring it out unless they mean it.BAH!

    --
    *Repent!Quit Your Job!Slack Off!The World Ends Tomorrow and You May Die!
  29. Uhh..excuse me..hi.. by Plutonite · · Score: 1

    (The CEO) said he hopes it will replace just about any cutting device you can think of, from a big metal saw to a precise surgical blade ... identify friend or foe during combat... ..I'm a friend, can we skip the "identification" step please? I'd rather be hit by a stray bullet than get "surgically" spliced like sushi. Thanks, I love you.
  30. I knew it! by Kamineko · · Score: 1
    I knew doing all of those fiddly hexagon puzzles would pay off, Angie! Secretary Anderson is depending on us!

    Let's begin the operation!

  31. Re:Finally! Car tires from a distance! by groovemeisterus · · Score: 1

    What about burning a hole on car tires from a safe distance? ;o)

  32. A true stroke of genius! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can it cook Jiffy Pop?

  33. Universal Self-loading Pistol Laser? by StikyPad · · Score: 1

    H&K is finally making laser blasters?

  34. Agreed - new? by kria · · Score: 1

    My husband owns a laser-engraving business (that's his URL that I have listed - my own website is pretty boring). He has just a little 45 watt one, but it cuts fine through wood, acrylic, plastic... even leather, though the smell of scorched flesh is pretty nasty. He can't cut metal, but there are plenty of ways he can mark it. Including one that bonds a black coating onto it.

    And, I might add, these lasers are expensive. Making a smaller version of a higher power laser than he owns means that it's certainly out of the price range of all but the richest households. (Heck, I can't see where it hurts to say it - his 45 watt laser with a 24 by 18 bed weighs in at around fifteen grand. Higher power lasers, like those that can cut metal, are more in the six digit range, IIRC.)