Most of us have seen these little mini projectors: (this mod has probably been shown, but I finally got around to fixing mine up)


They are amazingly good for the price! About $15 bucks...
http://scientificsonline.com/product...cd2=1220671609

The only thing is, they only have about a 5mW red laser in there. So, although the controls are very good. The show is dim.

The good thing is, they are pretty easy to modify:


You can put a more powerful red in there, or how about a blu-ray!

These little two motor spirographs, are actually pretty cool! Because it has an option for manual control, which gives you control of both motors... fast, slow, and reverse too!

It also has an auto option, which goes through a series of pre-programmed (or random) designs.



A 100mW blu-ray, makes this little thing well worth the investment!

Replaced the plastic aperture window with a glass one too... (much better)




Click here to see my list of projects and tutorials!

awesome ;D

looking good! i like it!

Nice mod!
I have to get one of those!

I bought this thing a while ago (before I followed the mini projector project from rog8811) and it just sat, because it seemed kind of weak with the 5mW red...

Glad I dusted it off! As you can see from the pictures, it is easy to put a FlexDrive in there with an AixiZ module! It's pretty nice now! 8-)

What a deal for an initial investment of like $20 bucks...
Jay

Very nice! Let's see a video!

I just received one in the mail today. For the price it is way cool and pretty impressive with the <5mW red laser in there. I can't wait to mod it with a Blu-Ray Was the connection from the PCB to the flexdrive easy to identify?

Holy blues, I did not know a blu-ray spirograph would look that great.

I've seen a mod with this thing and a red before on this forum, so it's nothing new per se. Still, I made my own so I don't need a gadget to mod, and it's even got smaller mirrors and motors so it's probably faster. Going to modify it to blu-red or something in the future. Hmm, maybe with my magenta laser ;D

your magenta laser? is that just a 650 and 405 mixed?

Do the(e?)se spirographs have FS mirrors?

The unit's power supply is 3 X AAA batteries, so I just used my DMM to find a solder point on the little board at the right side that gave me 4.5ish volts when switched on. (manual or auto)

Then just solder your positive lead from that point, to your FlexDrive input. (find negative too of course) Then you can set the current on your FlexDrive!

I just used an AixiZ module as you can see in the pictures. 8-)
Jay

Thanks Jay...I'm waiting on some green modules from Susie. Once they arrive I'm gonna try and see if I can fit one of them in.

Wow Blu-Ray makes for a good Spiro !!

Link to the spirograph, please?

Here's a link to one...
http://scientificsonline.com/product...cd2=1220671609
Jay

And here's one that's going for 12.50 shipped.

No, not for $15. The designers didn't care about loosing 10% of a 3mW laser.

Spirographs are okay, but you know what's better? Spirograph Tunnels! see the space in the middle? Sit there, add some smoke, and have a hayday! *

Has anyone seen the "Red Hot Laser Light Show" also on that site?

scientificsonline.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_3085020 *

Any "better" than the "Mighty Mini Laser" in any way?

I am planning on getting one of them do what jayrob has done... (ok, ok, maybe just a more powerful red for now and the 405nm) *

LaserNut

*New here an unable to post links... for now *

Hey JayRob,
Did it seem like there would be enough room in there for two modules with some light modification? I was considering attempting to get both a violet diode and a more powerful red into it, provided it won't be overcrowded. Though the heat dissipation might be an issue in that case.
And also, would the same Dr. Lava flash drive work for a 650mW diode as the 405mW? I know I would need separate drives for each diode due to the differences in current. I am also thinking I would need to increase the battery bank for the expanded output; but that won't be a problem since I have several small battery holders lying around from various dead electronics.

There would probably be room, but I would think that more of a concern would powering two drivers as well as the motors and stuff...

It may work, but I have not tried it...

Just seen this JaY very cool you have done it again kudos for a very cool project and the pic's and presentation.
Have a fine day !
Pyro...

At the moment that is a consideration; however, I may end up just buying a second mini projector to upgrade. The entire reason I'm doing this is because a convention I go to has an unofficial laser show on the ceiling while everyone is waiting for the costume contest. If I'd known how weak the show was prior to the convention I'd have upgraded the laser last year; however, the plan is to put the violet diode in it this year to kick the show up a few gears.

Although this is an old thread...

Have you seem my new build? (make sure you click the video link)
Tutorial: 12X Star Trek Phaser Mod!

cool project, i keep meaning to add a bluray to mine so its pink. ive got some 405 diodes lying around just havnt got round to it yet.

Laser Man - Modded Pocket Laser Show

If you had a switch to control the two mirrors seperately (as in one mirror on and one mirror off) would putting just the second mirror (the final mirror) on produce a time tunnel effect whereas having both on produces a spiro effect?

It has separate controls for each mirror motor. You can reverse or turn off either mirror...