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."

Comments

Black Metal ... Like Nargaroth? Burzum?

[hattig]

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.

Re:Black Metal ... Like Nargaroth? Burzum?

[TempeTerra]

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." ;)

Tabletop sharks?

[iHasaFlavour]

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

Re:Deer Hunting?

[AdmiralAudio]

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

Table Top USB Lasers Slice, Dice, and ...

[narooze]

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

Oh, to be twelve again with a desktop laser....

[jollyreaper]

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!"

Medical lasers

[the_kanzure]

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.

who cares about black metal

[bl8n8r]

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

Obligatory off-topic Real Genius quotes

[avitzur]

"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

Re:How do I build one?

[flyingfsck]

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