Slashdot Mirror
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."
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.
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
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!!
It will cook your venison on the spot. "It's comin' right for us!"
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.
Was I the only one who read Table Top USB Lasers Slice, Dice, and So Much More? Man that would've been cool. :)
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
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
"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.
- RonPacific Tech
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
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.
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.
l #3dprint
http://www.bathsheba.com/sculpt/process/index.htm
Uh, "if it looks roughly mouse-shaped according to my infra-red sensitive pit, eat it"? --Chris Burke 09-08-10
"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.