Simple laser spirograph

Make your own simple laser light show with a couple of hobby motors, mirrors and a laser pointer. The image is much crisper in person - the camera fuzzed it up a bit.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• laser
• spirograph

[RustyNex]

wow thats actually awesome, i was expecting it to be kinda crap but it worked out really well

are the mirrors at slight angles on the gears or are they flat?

[buzbee1]

Yes, the mirrors are at slight angles - I forgot to mention that in the video. I didn't have to do anything special to accomplish that. I attached the mirrors using double-sided tape mounting squares (about 1/16 in thick), and it was irregular enough to give me all the angle I needed. One other easy enhancement would be to use a 3rd mirror attached to a speaker cone. Play some music and watch it go.

[jnaproductions]

Thanks for that!

I just have one question, as I am doing this for an electricity project at school. When both the mirrors spin, it still makes a circle. Have I done something wrong or do the mirrors need to be at different speeds?

I will highly appreciate it if you can reply buzbee1!

Thanks - Jna

[buzbee1]

An important thing I didn't mention in the video is that the mirrors must be slightly off-perpendicular to the motor shafts. I used double-sided foam tape to attach them, and the natural variation in the tape was enough. If you're gluing the mirrors, just make a shim out of folded over paper and jam it under one edge of the mirror to give it a slight angle.

[Pewpewsplat]

Can you cause any real damage to your eye if you get a beam from a 50mW green laser in your eye? Did you use protective eyewear when doing this?

[buzbee1]

The laser pointer I'm using here is < 5mW, not 50 mW. Even so, I wouldn't stare directly into the beam. When dealing with lasers - even relatively weak ones - remember the warning poster: "Don't look directly into the beam with remaining eye".

[HowToHacks90]

"This will look like the Adobe logo."

That made me laugh. It's very cool. You have my subscription.

[RustyNex]

ah cool thanks for that! I am going to give this a try as i have some blue green and red laser pens to play with, as well as some lens adaptors that make lines etc, could be interesting.

i love the idea of the speaker mirror too, i have to give that a go!

keep up the great work

[FelipeZucchetti]

nice

[JSprayaEntertainment]

im trying to make a 360 spirograph can you make a video please ?

[alec11116]

try cutting up a cd and using that for a mirror

its awesome

[Archididascalian]

@thepoetryplot Gives it a 3D effect. And unlimited patterns. Very cool.

[julianna891]

cant yu make a lazer show with speakerss and a mirror???

[marzatomika]

what do u use to reverse the motor?