DIY Laser Show: Number 1

[justindustries]

Can this be shot into an audience ? Or is it bad for the eyes. If so how can I make one that aint

[Starcross42]

@justindustries I have shot these over the heads of a crowd and, depending on the power of your laser, the individual beam strenght is below the 1mW regulations for beams into a crowd. The important thing to remember is that the strongest beams will be near the center, so make sure that is over thier heads. Good luck.

[justindustries]

@Starcross42 Thanks ! Ok and besides the regulations if I'd shoot a class 2 laser into a crowd diffracted can that possibly harm anyone. Do you have any tips on websites to buy all the diffraction gradings and stuff.. I'm a total noob with lasers but it looks fun to make one, and it would safe ma allot of money :)..

[Starcross42]

@justindustries If you go to altmanscience (dot) com you can order diffraction gratings from me.

You can also order an ebook showing you how to build all these effects.

[black555z1]

lego:D

[theben00233]

What is the max output on your laser?

[Starcross42]

@theben00233 20mW

[b2o0n0e2s]

What kind of smoke is this guy blowing into the laser. I love my legos, lol.

[worldbmx]

0:52 Red laser, down in the right corner :D

[Haloowner234]

Shit man. Now I feel like going out and buying a couple strobe lights and a 6 pack of red bull

[hekaesri]

hello would like to know where I can get buy those discs that used to make these effects through

[Starcross42]

@hekaesri Read the comments. A location is listed there... somewhere.

[2315MARCO]

just wondering how you made that dual motor? so i can build one myself to make this.

[Starcross42]

@2315MARCO Slow moving motors are kind of expensive. Try American Science and Surplus . I've seen nice one there for less than $20 each. The ones that I'm using here were over $50... but they were so sweet!

[2315MARCO]

@Starcross42 thanks!!



[2315MARCO]

@Starcross42 thanks for the info. I found a spinning dual motor from my old ps2 controll (its the vibrating part of the analog stick, which spins after running it with wires to a battery). Thanks for the ideas and your videos are awesome!! :]

[FaithBane]

@Starcross42 Would servos work? if so, they are extremely cheap on ebay.

[Starcross42]

@FaithBane I get my motors from American Science and Surplus. Give them a try.

[ClubMRC]

Where did you buy that motors?

How much money were?

Thanks D. Altman.

[leosedf]

AAhhhh this is nice. Reminds me old days i used to build laser projectors.

Check out laserfreak . net to see additional projects.

[bigconejo1]

Dr. Altman,

Your explanations of your techniques are great. Thank you. Do you make full length video's or books or can you recommend a book on the basic techniques of laser shows?

[bengtig77]

Awesome stuff!

[RipvanBongBowl420]

Nice job man where did you pick up that green laser at? Im really interested in light shows and would like to get the stuff to preform my own for a friends band

[yetiboarder]

How much area does the laser cover? Could it work for a small bar concert or something?

[musicinroger]

where do you buy the one plane diffraction gratings.

[musicinroger]

Can you please tell me where i can get the one plane diffraction gratings

[Saiytek]

he smoking marihuana :D

[KmaEoN]

the diffraction grating are CD ? where i find a homemade diffraction grating

[Starcross42]

Edmund Scientific or Rainbow Symphany

[wookieblaster]

@KmaEoN Google for Dragonlasers

They sell it also.

[thisone248]

Were you smoking?

Cause i have the same things but i dont know how to make the smoke.

I've turned off the light but the effect doesn't appear.

[edgard409]

You need to have smoke for you to see the beam of a laser unless you have a very strong laser that costs hundreds of dollars.

[thisone248]

Yes but what kind of smoke, artifical smoke?

[edgard409]

Yea basically, you can use smoke from a fog machine like he has there. You could even use baby powder if u want but it would make a big mess, and it hard to spread around so your best bet would be smoke from a smoke machine.

[thisone248]

ok man thanks, i will look for it at HomeDepot

[Starcross42]

I use a cigar.

Spencer Gifts usually has a smoke machine for less than $40.

[2315MARCO]

@thisone248 go to kipkay youtube channel and he shows you how to make a home made fog machine..........it's cool to have if you'll be doing this laser show.

[lemonhead110296]

how did u make the motors

[DrPepper001234]

u buy them

[leonbucurescu]

that is so cool how many rpm are the moters

[Starcross42]

Less than 60 rpm I believe. On my full laser show I have speed control so that I can change it with the music. Some of my other videos show how to control speed. Slower is better for the most part.

[OmarFernandoChavez]

thank you!

[JDCoolMan21]

That is bad ass :-D

[DrPepper001234]

what rpm are the motors

[Intosia]

Where the get those sheets?

[Starcross42]

There is a company called... Rainbow Symphony. Check out their website. rainbowsymphony . com

[Intosia]

Thx :)

[Hunpet]

I checked their website but I did not find any sheets like yours.

please let me know how can I get some.

[scummymcdouchebagg]

hey, do you have a instructional manual, shopping list to find all the materials and step-by-step process how to make these awesome lights?

[Metalist321]

It will be nice to use it on party's

[gizmogadgetuk]

Hi, i'm loving all your laser videos! Just wondering how powerful the laser pen you use here is? I'm looking to experiment a bit, do you have any experience with the cheaper ebay type laser pointers, think we can only get them up to a maximum of 1mw here in the UK and also need to keep my expenditures low.

Thanks for all the help and keep them coming :)

[Starcross42]

If you have a dark room then all these effects will work with any laser. I use a 5mW pen for many of these, but I do have more power for brighter effects. Sorry about the laws in the UK. People are very afraid of lasers. I blame James Bond...

[overunitydotcom]

Looks very nice ! Wel done !

Great laser show !

[adrianvb1232]

and btw how to do that smoke?

[adrianvb1232]

does it works with a 5mW red laser ? and from where can i buy the driffraction grating?

btw great project ... keep it up :)

[motocrossmad919]

where did you buy your driffraction grating

[Starcross42]

See above.

[Drist9900]

pretty cool!

[hugeSLIPKNOTfan1]

does it work with a red laser?

[Starcross42]

Started with red lasers. The big HeNe lasers of old. Now the pointers are just so much easier to use, but yes, the red works fine. It's really about how easy is it to see. A red laser is not as bright as green.

[hugeSLIPKNOTfan1]

cool thanks i might try this

[zenetom]

It's CD or DVD.

[WWExFANx619]

I NEVER THINKED ABOUT THAT

[steddy2]

hi mate where do i buy the diffraction things ?? or where can i get them from/out of.

Thx in adv.

[Starcross42]

There is a company called... Rainbow Symphony. Check out their website. rainbowsymphony . com

[robybirdy]

you just built this with lego xD

[raillroad]

beam fetish?...i just love watching the beam...lol

[Starcross42]

No fetish, but a basic amazement with light.

[Paraglider92]

Very nice :-)

Could you tell me the exact link to the page where you've bought the diffraction gratings ? Rainbowsymphonie has a lot of stuff...

Regards Jan

[Rockhopperfan90]

That was very nice!

[Sonicalm12]

really cool

[marcoslnobrega]

Hi Dr. Autman, I play some Pink Floyd and would like to add some laser to my concerts, what equipment in your opinion I should start with, thanks.

[Starcross42]

I did lasers for two years with a Pink Floyd cover band. I started with "Build a Laser Effects Show 3", the crystal ball. Easy to build, easy to see, and a great effect. Change the speed to fit the music. Good luck.

Tom

[marcoslnobrega]

That's nice, I didn't know I could use those examples in a concert, seemed small, I'll do it. What kind of laser pen? HOw powerful? One I could buy at the web would be easier, thanks.

[Starcross42]

Checked out your music. Nice!. I started with 5mW lasers and those are easier to find. The more power the easier it is to see, but they cost more and there is always the concern about bright light in the eyes. Also you will need a smoke machine. Easy to find right before halloween.

[longjohnsilver4i]

I just purchased theEdmund Scientific grating sheet 25,400 lines per inch and i feel like the beams spread out farther than yours do in the video. What sheet would i need to make the beams closer together?

[Starcross42]

Less lines? I can't find a source for these anymore. Sorry.

[magic101magic]

how many mW is your laser

[breakinggracefire]

that awsome , i'll try to make it. where did u get the defraction grading

[aiz234]

k only one more question oo how much coast the laser and where you got it from

[aiz234]

and the lasers? 45$ only for the Motors oo

[Starcross42]

I just went to American Science and Surplus and clicked on their "Motors, Blowers & Pumps" category. The second item listed was a great little 'Gear Motor' for about $13USD that would work nice for this effect. A little more voltage than mine, but it will work.

Shop around.

[aiz234]

how much you pay?

[Starcross42]

these motors cost 45USD but I wanted small motors. Probably less but larger.

[rebelpride238]

still cant find any motors any suggestions

[Starcross42]

American Science and Surplus

[ablesail]

what was the laser u used?

[Starcross42]

5mW green pointer. Any of the pointers on the market will work.

[iCanMakeAmovieDude]

Same pointer as mine =D

[chemicalBR0]

where do you get the diffraction gratings?

[DamoHonda5]

hey, what did you use to make the smoke??

[Starcross42]

At school I have a very inexpensive smoke machine that I got around Halloween.

At home the smoke comes from a cigar. La Gloria Cubana Series R. #5

[MusicLoverDk]

it pretty nice but... its made with lego...

[Starcross42]

I have Newport optics table that cost $7000 about 25 years ago. The LEGOs have the same level of alignment precision... Yea, LEGOs!

[chemicalBR0]

very nice..... i so have to try this

do you think it would work with stepper motors?

[Starcross42]

Yea, steppers work well and produce their own unique effect.

[halomaster1177]

i so have to try this

[levirobben]

yes but if i have an red one, and an blue colorfilter i have an purple laser?

[Starcross42]

Sorry. Red and blue light will combine to produce purple light. You only have red light. Give it a try and find out for yourself. The beauty of having the laser is that you can experiment yourself.

[levirobben]

very nice !

I'll try this @ home! :D

But so you can make it also with an colorfilter so you can make some other colors. :D

[Starcross42]

No color filter. The color comes from the laser and most lasers are only one color. I do have an argon laser and that puts out 5 different shades, but it is an expensive laser. A red or green laser will only give you that color. Sorry.

[kenjisakano]

Hey great video 5/5. great help to me.

[Sebris]

what kind of diffraction gratings are those?

[belgvr]

wanna see something cool? try to aim on a disco ball :D

[Starcross42]

In fact, the disco ball does not work well.  Only a very short reflection angle. Try the crystal ball.

[annoyingzhang]

THEY'RE ALL LEGO PARTS!!! Ah hahaha

[alankik]

how to get the diffraction plates???

plz help

[MrKwantos]

go to the lego store close to you, lol

[x75tiger75x]

It also makes a excellent anti-bugulary laser alarm

[christianglows]

what are the supplies used so i can buy them?

[Starcross42]

Motors can be found at American Science and Surplus and the diffraction gratings are found at Edmund Scientific.

Good Luck.

[mistral938]

very cool!

[Poisonest]

Hi,i have a question.

Where did you get diffraction plates?

Are there some more things that could diffract light and get laser effect show.

[Starcross42]

Edmund Scientific's has 2 sheets of driffraction grating for $8.95. They are 12 by 6 inches, with 25,400 grooves per inch. Would this be similar to what you use in the video?

Yea. I don't know if they are one plane or two... But either one produces cool effects.

[Starcross42]

however, send me your mailing address. I still have some left and will send you enough for this effect. send it to starcross42 at hotmail dot com.

[alexmao32]

Ow LEGOOO!!!!

[KevinSchroeder662]

you should combine all your laser effects into one show and putt that on youtube

[Starcross42]

They have a 10 minute limit. But thanks for the encouragement.

[killerbob757]

yeah what he said!

where do you buy the difraction grating disc?!?!?!?

[killerbob625]

wher can i get a efraction disk thing

[immortalassassin117]

is some 1 smoking??

[Starcross42]

There must be a source of smoke. La Gloria Cubana is a very good source of smoke.

[CYBERMOUSE101]

have you built it on a tape recorder?

[Starcross42]

tape recorder?  What are those?

Not a bad idea... a bit of overkill just for two motors.

[CYBERMOUSE101]

i meant a cassette player.

it has already installed the 2 motors and you can try different speeds.all you have to do is to remove the cover.

[Starcross42]

You want more control. Change directions of one or both motors, and change speed. But for a simple effect it is a good idea.

[dalyswe]

About the diffraction gratigns, is it two "Double Axis" sheets your are using?

[Starcross42]

No. Two single axis. "One Plane" is how I refer to it in the video. I was just cleaning out some workspace and found a few small (4.5cm x 9.1cm) sheets of this stuff. Send me an email with your mailing address and I'll put one in an envelope and mail it to you. (the first five people who email me).

[Starcross42]

starcross42 at hot mail dot com

All one word and you know what to do with the 'at' and 'dot'.

This comment site will not allow email addresses.

[croatianthug]

look good!

[mrdjjames]

Great work. Do you have a link to the motors?

[Starcross42]

I got them from:

American Science and Surplus

I just went to their site and under 'motors' they had (37739 12VDC GEAR MOTOR) for about $15 each. But, as with surplus, you take what you get.

I have been purchasing stuff from these guys for 20 odd years and they always have useful stuff. Good luck.

[Starcross42]

Diffraction grating at:

store.rainbowsymphonystore 'dot' com/difgratfilsh 'dot' html

[basspig]

Even cheaper is to use a broken piece of "crackleture" pattern clear plastic lens from an overhead fluoresent troffer light. I did this in 1987 using a large disc I cut out from a piece of this plastic, which I heated and melted to a more clear state for sharper images. Ran that on a haydn timer motor at 1/2 rpm. Set to your favorite music and voila--instant light show. Back in 87 it was hard to get green, so I used chroma phase shift on the camera.

[digitalbroadcaster]

The simplest way to get diffraction grating material is to obtain a broken/cracked laptop or LCD screen (from the dump etc). Take out the glass panel and you will find a couple of sheets of the stuff behind this panel. Very fine. I've already done this.

[digitalbroadcaster]

Addendum: You must remove the glass panel out of its frame. Its laminated so won't fall apart on you and chop off your fingers. You will find the grating material plus a 'greasproof paper effect sheet that can be used to disperse strong lights behind it. Waste not want not huh? :o)

[blntlevi]

what kind of diffraction lens is this? what power or how should i ask..

[DVCampus]

Awsome video!

It has been hand picked

DVCampus dot com

You can add all your educational videos without re-uploading...simply add the url to your videos.

[SireSpamelot]

kool idea but just a note to anyone thats gonna try it: make sure your willing to pay lots of money to replace your laser pointer, since it will be probly kept on all night the diode will be lost very quikly thus you will have to replace it every day depending on if you want the laser to be kept strong enough to keep it looking good

[Starcross42]

This is true of some pointers, but not of modules and other pointers. One of the ways that some pointers are cheap and others are expensive is how well they are heat sinked. I have run my green lasers for hours at a time and they continue to work fine... well, with new batteries. But I convert to AC and solve that problem too.

[screaminscott]

Edmund Scientific's has 2 sheets of driffraction grating for $8.95. They are 12 by 6 inches, with 25,400 grooves per inch. Would this be similar to what you use in the video?

[Starcross42]

Yea. I don't know if they are one plane or two... But either one produces cool effects.

[phazonxl]

cool!

put a fast RPM motor!

[lamborgini8]

Hey again mate! Where can i get one of those diffraction gratings?

[Starcross42]

Rainbowsympony dot com

[lamborgini8]

:O

They force you to buy 50 of them?! I only want 1

[Starcross42]

ah, yes. Sorry about that.

Maybe I will become a clearing house for such bits of a laser show. I typically buy 50 at a time and pass them out to my students. But I could turn this into a buisness. Think of how much I could make just on shipping and handling... Perhaps, dare I say it, I could rule the world.

[lamborgini8]

Haha go for it mate! I would buy, as long as you accept direct paypal.

[Starcross42]

The thing to do would be to sell it on ebay, where I have an account.

So... how much this stuff worth to you? Hu? Willing to BID for it against all the other people in the world that want to be super cool at their next party where smoking is allowed??? Hu???

Seriously. I'm starting a sabbatical where I will be traveling the country (US) so will not be around. But I could send you something. Let's work this out. starcross42 at hotmail dot com

[flynflashyJ69]

5 bucks for your lil contraption...you pay the fed ex bill and stuff...

[Starcross42]

Tempting offer... Think of all the things I could buy with 5 bucks (less the fed ex bill).

[Avtomat]

Where do you get those diffraction disks?

[Starcross42]

I cut them myself from sheets purchased from a company that no longer exists. The best place now is rainbowsymphonystore dot com and they make two axis gratings. Good Luck.

[TheIceLava]

i got a 100 mW green laser pen, i'm a dj can i use a 100 mW it is real 100 mW with IR filter, but will it be dangerous to the people dancing?

[Starcross42]

Ah, well, yes. With that kind of power you need to make sure that the beam is well above the crowd, even when you spread the beam out. A 100mW greenie will BURN things... eyes are things. But there are lots of effects that are dramatic above the crown, and as pattern effects on the wall. Check out "Building A laser Effects Show 7". This would be GREAT for your laser.

[Woocash]

What is the power of the green laser you are using in your shows? Is it 50mW or higher?

[Starcross42]

Oh no. Actually, they are rated at 5mW. Now, the guy at the company sets some aside for me that are more powerful... but none are over 20mW.

[Woocash]

Ok, thx. I am buying a 20mW green laser and I was wondering if it would be enough to get such great effects.

[Starcross42]

Enjoy.

[AusStorm]

hahahaha papercut ^-^ TFF!

awesome stuff, thanks for showing us how to set up our own light show.... now all i have to do is get my grubby hands on a lazer.. still not sure if we can get them (and how legal they are) in Australia yet

[Starcross42]

Oh, very inexpensive lasers will work fine... And I'm sure they are down under. However there are a lot of web sites that will sell you lasers. Actually thinking about a visit to Australia... If I do I'll bring you one.

[lingping007]

my eyes kill after watching this vid

[Starcross42]

Ah... thanks?

[iamtherking12345]

ur a geek with a lot of time on ur hands

[Starcross42]

Actually, I teach this stuff and have made a lot of money with my hobby. Between professional laser shows and my book and video on the subject, I have had a lot of fun.

[rainysquirel]

you're just jelous of him because you can't even spell a simple word like you're and he makes laser liht shows

[Starcross42]

Thanks for the support, but people who don't love this stuff don't understand the attraction.

[Starcross42]

The diffraction gratings can be purchased from Rainbow Sympony. They sell 'fireworks glasses' but if you search for 'diffraction sheets' you can get some of larger size and then cut circles.

arent those like dangerous?