New Real Life Laser-Rifle Cuts Through Metal Like a Blowtorch

dryriver writes "We've seen real laser guns before pulling off tricks like starting small fires, or popping black balloons. That's cool, sure, but it's got nothing—on this handheld laser rifle. Developed by TWI this laser-cutter was initially designed for use by robots, but a few recent tweaks including a pistol-grip and a trigger made it into a human-sized rifle. It is designed specifically with nuclear decommission in mind, specifically chopping up huge pieces of metal infrastructure into bite-sized bits that are easily disposed of. And while it's definitely suited for that, it has some short-comings compared typical rifles. That range is pretty low, for instance, and it's not exactly mobile."

Comments

of course it isn't mobile

[peragrin]

WE don't have high energy portable power sources.

We really need to figure out an iron many style reactor to power the next generation of cool toys that we can dream but not really use.

Re:of course it isn't mobile

[TeknoHog]

WE don't have high energy portable power sources.

We really need to figure out an iron many style reactor to power the next generation of cool toys that we can dream but not really use.

Also, it should be able to operate in frickin' saltwater. In fact, the frickin' buoyancy might even help with the frickin' portability.

Re: of course it isn't mobile

[pollarda]

This isn't very impressive. If it isn't mobile, then it is like any other cutting solution. Of course, if you want to see something really impressive for cutting metals, Petrogen is the way to go. It is an oxy-gasoline cutting torch and can cut up to 14 inches of steel at once. Be sure to check out their videos. Super impressive.

Re:of course it isn't mobile

[Beardo the Bearded]

Jarvis and the reactor were the two most under-rated bits of tech Tony put together.

The reactor would have ended war.

But Jarvis... a real AI? That's far beyond anything else we've ever built.

Re:of course it isn't mobile

[Subm]

"You're going to need a bigger shark."

Re: of course it isn't mobile

[KiloByte]

This isn't very impressive.

What I find more impressive is that they somehow made a laser rifle. I wonder what does it do: shoot a helical beam like those in some games?

Re: of course it isn't mobile

[EdZ]

With the scattering from the air blast, I propose "laser boomstick".

Re: of course it isn't mobile

[fustakrakich]

I didn't see any light...

I would advise not to look at it with the other eye then.

Re:of course it isn't mobile

[godrik]

Actually, how much power does it need to operate? There must be some energy cost per time unit. But I could not figure it out.

Pulse Rifle

[Dexter Herbivore]

"Phased-plasma pulse rifle in 40-watt range".

If only...

Safety at Work

[CaptainOfSpray]

"designed specifically with nuclear decommission in mind, specifically chopping up huge pieces of metal infrastructure into bite-sized bits", which it vaporizes and then throws all over the operator (photo in TFA).

Note to self: do not apply for that kind of work, no matter what the rate.

Re:Safety at Work

[fuzzyfuzzyfungus]

I'm a trifle surprised that they'd be using some fancy laser apparatus in this situation:

There are aspects of nuclear decommissioning (if memory serves, some lucky sucker got to deal with the 'eh, we don't know what this is, so we'll just weld it into barrels and leave it for the future' supply stored at Hanford, much of which was virulently radioactive, some, which one is always a surprise, also chemically unpleasant and/or explosive) where you can't get away with the heat, open flames, and vaporized-bits-getting everywhere that you see with lasers, various cutting torches, or high powered saws. For that sort of thing, you have somewhat exotic toys like liquid nitrogen cutting jets. If you are allowed to expose the sample to ridiculous temperatures and open flames, though, why expensive lasers rather than boring (and mature and relatively cheap) cutting torches or thermic lances?

Re:Safety at Work

[flimflammer]

The robotic version was made for nuclear decommission. There is no operator in the vicinity in that situation. The video here is just demonstrating the same laser beam technology with a mounted pistol grip for manual use.

more torch then rifle

[Anonymous Coward]

I find it hard to call this a "laser rifle." Aside fromt he fact that rifles are rifles because of the rifling in the barrel (grooves which cause the bullet to spin), Rifles have a medium to long range. This appears to have only a slightly greater effective range then my Oxy-Fuel torch (which is to say, less then a foot).

Re:handheld rifle

[binarylarry]

Yep, this article should have been titled "New Real Life Laser-Cutter Cuts Through Metal Like a Laser-Cutter"

And what is the advantage over a plasma cutter?

[Ellis D. Tripp]

The only one I can see is that it works from a couple inches away, and doesn't need an electrical ground return connection to the workpiece.

Other than that, a plasma cutter is cheaper, less hazardous, and can cut thicker materials.

Re:And what is the advantage over a plasma cutter?

[ColdWetDog]

Sharks don't use plasma cutters.

Just say'in.

"End war"?

[sjbe]

The reactor would have ended war.

Nonsense. People simply aren't that evolved. If we aren't fighting about energy we'll fight about something even more absurd like skin color or which imaginary invisible man in the sky we should all believe in.

Re:"End war"?

[fustakrakich]

Wanna start a real fight? Tell her that dress makes her butt look big. That will surely start WWIII.

Re:"End war"?

[Kilo Kilo]

I think you meant to say "I like big butts and I cannot lie."

That's an interesting definition of "rifle".

[mpoulton]

Apparently I already have a plasma rifle in my garage! It shoots plasma and cuts metal with it - and just like this laser rifle, it requires compressed air and a remote power supply connected by an umbilical. I also have a MOLTEN METAL WELDING RIFLE! Similarly, it requires a power supply and umbilical assembly. Strangely, none of my actual rifles need cables or power supplies attached to them in order to operate.