Novalasers Alpha Owners...

I have been thinking about the Deadmans Switch or "Dongle" that comes on this laser for quite some time.

Now, I don't own an Alpha (Yet.. ;D) and need some good close up photos of that area inside and outside.

From what I understand, the Dongle is simply a 2.5MM Phono jack...but I have some other design ideas that might be a more elegant solution.

I don't want to get into too many details....but one of them would entail replacing the Jack with a Prox Switch or a Leaf switch.
The user would need to wear a special magnetic Ring on their finger to activate the switch!

Someone takes the laser from your hand it shuts off...
You place the laser down for a moment, and someone picks it up..it won't turn on!

I need some photos of the unit in your hand, as if you were using the pointer.
Outside lying next to a Ruler, inside looking towards the dongle hole area..

Measurements
OAL length
OD. (as accurately as possible maybe use Calipers)
ID (As accurately as possible maybe use Calipers)

distance from the end to the dongle hole....
If possible, an angular realation of the ON button to the Dongle Hole.


For now, I'm going to make a "Mock Up" of the laser out of Tubing

If there any obstructions inside..please note.
When the batteries are installed, how much room is there around the dongle hole..

Lastly, I need to know how many volts and amps are flowing through that Dongle in order to spec the proper switches!

Anything else you might think as important!


I have lots of ideas floating in my head.....

Thanks!!!!

Larry

or a better idea is puting a switch on the dongle so you can tape down the button and just swich the laser on and off. its what i am going to do with my laser show also you could hook up a battrie pack to the dongle and just run dummy cells inside the laser. i will see if i can get the tube measeurements real quick

Larry - How about I send you my Alpha-85 to mess with ? Mag switches are not all that difficult to incorporate into hand held devices, The ideas you have are pretty interesting to say the least ! Now, I would not be able to get it out to you until after my brief "vacation" coming up, but I have no issues sending it off to you to peek at and experiment with some !

OD = .900 in
ID = .790
wall thickness .055
now i do not have a way to measre the threads but they are .237 deep and the copper top that tuches the button is .220 in deep and a dimater of .155
total length 1.160 in
from bottom to top of plug hole is .77 and from top to bottom of hole is .59 and the hole is .194 OD and thats what i was measuring to was OD

I can give you a auto cad file in a few min of it if you want : )

THanks F22...

If you can whip up an Acad file..I can solid model it in Inventor!!

Pictures to go along with your descriptions and measurements would help a LOT!!!


And Greg....tell you what...I may take you up on that...IF I don't have my own Alpha by the time you're back on your feet!

Man I hope I can squeeze something interesting in there to replace that dongle wthout loosing the functionality it provides.

2d or 3d..... would perfer 2d becaus its so much easre and i will give you the standard ENGLISH 3 view drawling

std 2d 3 view will be perfectly fine...
as much info as you can put into the DWG will make it that much easier to solid model...

Especially the Inside detail

No hurry.....whenever you have some spare time!

I will also need the voltage current readings through that dongle while operating as well.

Larry

I would like to see how much curent is flowing also.... 2 bad my meter only goes up to 200mah
will get right on it.... what format you want i can save in evey thing from 08-93 i believe except 2000 :| some how it had forgetn how to save in 2000 when i regestured it :|

ok well i got you coverd 2007 verson - 1997 versons : )

hope you like it and it should be accurate all except i dont have the threds in their that measrue ments is as if they dont have the metal removed for the threads yet

Thanks!!!!

As far as measuring the current....
Use the Voltage setting on your meter...

Place a 1 OHM resistor in the circuit path of the Dongle

------wire out of dongle------X---1 OHM resistor----X------Wire in to dongle.

Place your meter's leads where the "x"'s are.

Measure the voltage..and that will be the current as well...

a .300 volt reading will equal 300mA.....

THat method is called using a Sence resistor..and is actually MUCH more accurate than placing your meter in series with the circuit!!

Larry

lol my meter is an old analog meter so it wont measer that percise and the scale goes 0-5v and even that starts at .2v for some reason i think its been hookd up to my 43v battrie to many times on the 0-25 scale