Idiots And Lasers
r4m3n_n00dles
Join Date: 2003-01-16 Member: 12332Members
Join Date: 2003-01-16 Member: 12332Members
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">"I want a 20W lazer pistol!"</div> From another forum:
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I have been tinkering around with the idea of making a laser pistol of some sort and I have designed some plans that should work, if my calculations are correct, but I am having trouble finding a part -- the most important part. I cannot seem to find any laser diodes for any kind of price I can afford. <b>I am hoping for one about 3-6 watts, but the only thing I can find so far is the mW version which just won't do.</b> The others I have found in the right watt category are horrifically expensive -- like $1000-$10000!
...
My plans call for <b>4 AA batteries</b>. This does not seem like much, but my calculations suggest it shoulb be enough to <b>power a 10W laser</b>, if I can find one. The <b>problem is not my design</b>, but rather the price.
I am looking for an inexpensive outlet for these diodes. As I said, I saw some on ebay that would work for a low power version of what I am building, but I would like one in the 3-6W range. <b>The one I REALLY want is 20W</b>, but that is so far out of budget, its not even worth looking for.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
For those that don't know much about lasers, those with a power output more than 500mW are Class IV lasers (f***ing dangerous), laser pointers are Class IIIa at 5mW. 3W laser can light things on fire, a 10W laser can cut things, and a 20W laser, well focused, can cut steel. A 10W laser (the one he wants to power with 4 AA's) would probably take at least 120W of input. That means drawing 120W / 6V = 20A from them. AA's have capacities of about 1.5Ah, so drawing 20A means they would last 4 minutes with no internal resistance. Realistically, an AA has about 1 ohm of internal resistance, and thus can only deliver 1.5V / 1 Ohm = 1.5A. Putting them in parallel still would only give 1.5V / .25 Ohm = 6A
Math aside, the thought of someone this inept running around with a 20W laser pistol is scary.
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I have been tinkering around with the idea of making a laser pistol of some sort and I have designed some plans that should work, if my calculations are correct, but I am having trouble finding a part -- the most important part. I cannot seem to find any laser diodes for any kind of price I can afford. <b>I am hoping for one about 3-6 watts, but the only thing I can find so far is the mW version which just won't do.</b> The others I have found in the right watt category are horrifically expensive -- like $1000-$10000!
...
My plans call for <b>4 AA batteries</b>. This does not seem like much, but my calculations suggest it shoulb be enough to <b>power a 10W laser</b>, if I can find one. The <b>problem is not my design</b>, but rather the price.
I am looking for an inexpensive outlet for these diodes. As I said, I saw some on ebay that would work for a low power version of what I am building, but I would like one in the 3-6W range. <b>The one I REALLY want is 20W</b>, but that is so far out of budget, its not even worth looking for.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
For those that don't know much about lasers, those with a power output more than 500mW are Class IV lasers (f***ing dangerous), laser pointers are Class IIIa at 5mW. 3W laser can light things on fire, a 10W laser can cut things, and a 20W laser, well focused, can cut steel. A 10W laser (the one he wants to power with 4 AA's) would probably take at least 120W of input. That means drawing 120W / 6V = 20A from them. AA's have capacities of about 1.5Ah, so drawing 20A means they would last 4 minutes with no internal resistance. Realistically, an AA has about 1 ohm of internal resistance, and thus can only deliver 1.5V / 1 Ohm = 1.5A. Putting them in parallel still would only give 1.5V / .25 Ohm = 6A
Math aside, the thought of someone this inept running around with a 20W laser pistol is scary.
Comments
(note: Gwahir has degrees in Computer Engineering and Computer Science)
"No Mr. Fam, I expect you to die!"
:D ?
Anyways.. um.. too much maths..
so uh... he wants a lightsaber?
What kind of power source would supply enough power? Maybe several car batteries?
What kind of power source would supply enough power? Maybe several car batteries? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Would some of the new Lithum battery packs work too? Math isn't my strong point, so I'm not even going to try.
But as Mantrid said, even if it only lasts a minute or so, it would REALLY be fun <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
I'm sorry, perhaps my memory is a little vague, but you don't 'feed' devices 120W of power. If a device is classed as using 10W at a particular voltage (DC), then it will not require any more current than 10W divided by the voltage?
So lets say the device runs from 12VDC, consumes 10W of power, then logically it cannot draw more than 0.8333 amps?
Like I said, my memory is a bit vague so feel free to correct me.
(How i loathe star trek)
<img src='http://www.cinefex.com/backissues/number40.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
Hmm.
Hmm. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Great idea, a nuclear reactor on your back ought to do it...
I'm sorry, perhaps my memory is a little vague, but you don't 'feed' devices 120W of power. If a device is classed as using 10W at a particular voltage (DC), then it will not require any more current than 10W divided by the voltage?
So lets say the device runs from 12VDC, consumes 10W of power, then logically it cannot draw more than 0.8333 amps?
Like I said, my memory is a bit vague so feel free to correct me. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Lasers are rated by power output, not power input.
I am going to quote this. But I am not going to comment. Or perhaps, by quoting this... I AM commenting?
I am going to quote this. But I am not going to comment. Or perhaps, by quoting this... I AM commenting? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It might be sophisticated irony, if you're lucky.
On a more relevant note, Ghostbusters FTW. Except without ghostbusting power. And with more "burning children/cut through walls" power.
Sigged.
I'm sorry, perhaps my memory is a little vague, but you don't 'feed' devices 120W of power. If a device is classed as using 10W at a particular voltage (DC), then it will not require any more current than 10W divided by the voltage?
So lets say the device runs from 12VDC, consumes 10W of power, then logically it cannot draw more than 0.8333 amps?
Like I said, my memory is a bit vague so feel free to correct me. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Lasers are rated by power output, not power input. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm not sure what you mean by this. Either the laser consumes a total of 10W of power for a given input voltage, or it consumes more than this, and the 10W refers to the amount of laser energy it outputs (the rest being heat output)?
And what exactly do you mean by 'power input'?
I'm going to guess its the amount of power thats put in (or, "input", if you will).
We've got rules against spam and obnoxious use of caps, headers, and fonts. Heed them.</span>
I'm going to guess its the amount of power thats put in (or, "input", if you will). <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Laffo.
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<!--QuoteBegin-silent_shadow900+Sep 27 2004, 10:15 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (silent_shadow900 @ Sep 27 2004, 10:15 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->blah<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Oh no. You really need to stop. For your own sake.
BTW How much time would a single car battery allow that laser to operate?
speaking of electric sword its now possible to make a nano sized blade that is so small it can cut through pretty much anything b/c it can basicaly split atoms.
The only issue is the HUGE/complex process it takes plus the face that you need to cut perfect flat sides perfectly or the TINY TINY TINY blade will shatter.