DIY Laser Show: Number 3

The Crystal Ball. Oh yea!

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Laser
• Show
• altman

[JVJR2]

Question, when you say off axis are you talking about pitching the crystal let's 45 Degrees to one side or the other and have the motor mout still in the center or are you talking about mouting the motor attachment off to the side of the crystal slightly off so you get more of an elliptical rotation? I am presently building this and i wanted to double check with you. by the wy GREAT tutorials!!

[Starcross42]

@JVJR2 Great question. I mount it centered on the motor axle, but off it's rotational axis but only about 10-15 degrees. I've never thought to mount it so that it's orbit was eliptical around the axis of the motor... Hummmm...

[LinearNavigator]

For this to be safe on peoples eyes in the vicinity, what mW laser should be used? Thanks

[Starcross42]

@LinearNavigator When the 'law' was established they used the lowest level measurable of 1mW/square cm. When I was doing shows with beams going out into the crowd I used a meter to make sure each individual beam fell to this level. The laser itself was 10-20mW depending on the effect, but the illumination at crowd level was within those limits. My more powerful effects went over the heads of everyone. If you notice shows the really bright stuff is above crowd level. Be safe.

[Starcross42]

@LinearNavigator However, there has never been a record of direct eye damage with lasers less than 5mW.  And that includes people who FOOLISHLY stare into a laser pointer.

[GreatNorthWeb]

@Skedooch12 I have been using the motors out of old walkman type cassette players. from the thrift store. I usually get them for $1. I put pots on those and had decent results, but not as slow as a geared motor.

[JVJR2]

@Starcross42 Gotcha that is what I thought. Very cool thank you :) I have created a ton of laser projectors based on your videos for use with my band to where i am not building Galvanometer based units that are rockin. Thank you soo much for putting up the videos you have. I use what I build live in shows and they work awesome!

[Starcross42]

@Skedooch12 Sorry. No.  The motor cannot spin this slowly with a simple potentiometer...

[hawhawdecarabaw]

1:53 is that a poke ball? :o

[DJelectfire]

I like your way of using the magnets to add/switch mirrors etc and pnone plugs to connect the mottors to power/controllers - this makes it all pretty modular - great idea!