Questions on purchasing Blu Ray pointer!

Hey everyone, new to the forums and have several questions about purchasing a Blu Ray pointer. Sorry if some of my questions are noobtastic, don't beat me up. :gun:

I'm a professional detailer by trade and I'm looking to purchase a Blu Ray pointer to perform a task exactly like the pointer in this picture:



Detailers use laser pointers mounted on tripods to mark areas of paint previously measured by a paint depth gauge. I'm looking for the following:

1. A Blu Ray pointer that does not burn the car's surface (clients would not be too happy)

2. A pointer that shows the beam's trail (is that possible without using smoke?)

3. A click-on/click-off button

4. During black stainless steel body

5. $150 and below price point if at all possible

6. Where can I purchase a tripod that would hold the pointer? I purchased the tripod in the link below but I have doubts it'll fit the pointer you guys recommend to me: http://www.arborsci.com/detail.aspx?ID=378

Can someone point me in the direction of where I can purchase something close to the above criteria? Any help is greatly appreciated.

I think... since you want to "demonstrate" something to a customer..
that the best color of laser would be 532nm (Grn) and not 405nm (vio)...


BTW... to the Forum..../
There is a lot of Laser related Info here... but you will need to Read....
Read... and Read some more...


Jerry

The reason I want violet is because my company logo has a violet theme to it, so a violet pointer would be preferred.

Read the stickys and use the search.

Basically, you have 3 options.

1) Buy from an online shop (I would NOT recommend it. Low power/high price)
2) Buy a kit from a member here and get the parts from online shops (also owned by members here). Put it together yourself.
3) Buy one from a member here fully pre-assembled.


If you do decide to build one, few tips:

1) DO NOT CONNECT DIODE TO BATTERY DIRECTLY
This is a big one. Many newbies fry their laser diodes doing this. You need a driver (current limiting mini electronic circuit) in between batteries/laser diode.

2) Heatsink it properly. I would recommend buying a kit from a member here. Most come with heatsinks.

Also, you can't make a bluray laser where the beam iis visible in daylight (or even when light bulbs are on) without using smoke.


For DIY kits, ask IgorT/Jayrob

For pre-made lasers, ask IgorT

For laser build services (you send them the parts), ask IgorT / Darkarmyofone

(Sorry if I missed anyone on the list!!!)

Thank you for the response Tabish. You said Blu Ray beams can't show in the daytime without smoke. Can any beams (red or green) show during the daytime?

I'm afraid not. Or not yet at least

Although, multi-watt lab lasers can probably be visible daytime.

Not in direct sunlight though.


For visibility, green is your best bet.


Look at this. Shows how well our eyes see different colors.

Green is 532nm. Violet(bluray) is 405. Red is 650ish

Very strong greens can. If it's a little foggy though many pointers will show.

I believe dealextreme has a laser tripod but I can't find a link to it now. you could probably use a camera tripod with modifictaions, maybe a ring mount?

Xcellere said:

Thank you for the response Tabish. You said Blu Ray beams can't show in the daytime without smoke. Can any beams (red or green) show during the daytime?

Click to expand...

Enough watts of green will be visible in daylight. Unfortunately, this is more than enough power to light fires or blind people instantly if something goes wrong with the beam aim or if something reflective gets into the beam path. Don't even think about trying it without professional help.

ProjMan said:

Enough watts of green will be visible in daylight. Unfortunately, this is more than enough power to light fires or blind people instantly if something goes wrong with the beam aim or if something reflective gets into the beam path. Don't even think about trying it without professional help.

Click to expand...

Ya umm not a good idea. A multi-watt like 10-20w green can probably be visible under the sun (doubtful). However I'm sure it will damage the car paint if the laser is left pointed at one spot.
And like projman said, a watt of green WILL INSTANT BLIND ANYONE from a considerably distance.


I would do this:

Check my signature. See where it says, Jayrobs DIY kits. Check them out and get one.

Buy a 200mw green laser Module from o-like. Build it yourself. 200mW green should be plenty for you.

Or contact IgorT to build it for you.

Be carefull though. 200mW of green IS FAIRLY DANGEROUS.

Buy a 200mW O-like MODULE, not a diode. The Olike modules already have the driver attached. Olike doesn't sell just green diodes. If you buy a 200mW green module, you don't need to buy a flexdrive, all you need is the module, some batteries and a charger(which can be bought cheaply from dealextreme) and jayrob's awesome DIY Green Kit.

ZRTMWA said:

Buy a 200mW O-like MODULE, not a diode. The Olike modules already have the driver attached. Olike doesn't sell just green diodes. If you buy a 200mW green module, you don't need to buy a flexdrive, all you need is the module, some batteries and a charger(which can be bought cheaply from dealextreme) and jayrob's awesome DIY Green Kit.

Click to expand...

Ahh yes, meant to say module. 532nm diodes don't exist at the moment (i think). The module has the ir pump diode / crystals pre-assembled in it)

Didn't know the driver was already on it. Hmm, now I'm tempted to try out the 200mw lol

Even with 200mw you're going to have safety and liability issues. Anything over 5mw is potentially hazardous and should not be used in a commercial environment without adequate input from qualified persons with experience in laser safety. You're asking for no end of trouble with liability, your business insurance, and OSHA if you homebrew something that turns out to be hazardous.

Tabish said:

Didn't know the driver was already on it.

Click to expand...

You don't know a lot....

Xcellere if you want a visible beam outdoors in daylight its not going to happen without risk of injury no matter what color you choose. If you can be happy with just a point of light on an object, then pick any color you want as long as its not above 5mW.

Tech_Junkie said:

You don't know a lot....

Xcellere if you want a visible beam outdoors in daylight its not going to happen without risk of injury no matter what color you choose. If you can be happy with just a point of light on an object, then pick any color you want as long as its not above 5mW.

Click to expand...

I never said I knew everythin....

Now wheres my anti-troll spray ?...


Xcellere, If the red works fine for you but you want more visibility, you don't need a very high power.

I would recommend this module. http://www.o-like.com/b2b_cpinfo.asp?id=1013

Its' the cheapest module o-like has. It's 30mW for only $18. Fairly safe if you are careful.

Again, put it inside Jayrobs awesome host/heatsink made specifically for these modules.

Here is the link: http://laserpointerforums.com/f39/fs-diy-green-kit-host-heatsink-easy-assembly-22520.html

Make sure to use an IR filter with greens. Most cheap modules/pointers are not filtered. A much higher mW IR pump diode is used to create the green color, and can blind you. You wont even know it till its too late because the IR is invisible to the naked eye. That's why its safer to go with a very low mW green. 30mW can have up to 500mW IR pump IIRC.

Jayrob has a few micro kits also, but I don't think they will work with greens.