What exactly do you use <300mW laser pointers for?

In other words, what's the point? (Yes, pun intended). I'm trying to understand this "laser collection" addiction and laser uses a little better here....

I've seen people's signatures with many lasers listed. Different mW, different wavelengths, different hosts, etc.... And I have to ask:

WHY?

Did you start out w/ a little 5mW laser, then just want to move up in power? Did you start out w/ a red laser, then want different colors, too? And pretty soon you have a dozen various lasers in a collection? Was the collecting on purpose, or did it just happen?

And what do you use all of them for? I mean, I'm sure it would be cool to light a match from across the room, or pop a balloon, but wouldn't that get boring really fast? What else can you (or do you) use these pointers for?

I know holography is one use of a laser, because I've made a few holograms in my past (using a HeNe laser), and that was cool. Plus, I gave my cat some exercise with chasing a little red dot up the wall....

I've read something about star pointing? Can you actually see a colored dot on a star? Or is that associated with stargazing w/ a telescope?

And laser shows? Do you buy special optics for this?

And there are special end caps that make patterns on the wall. Is this fun beyond 5 minutes?

I know there is probably some valuable learning experience in building or researching lasers. I know I've learned a lot just by reading some posts here, and from my thread about green lasers in a firearms sight.

Please know, that I'm not "busting" or challenging any of you here. I'm just trying to understand the fascination of "collecting" these units, and what practical uses there are.

So, how'd your "collection" get started, and what do you use your collection for?

If you have to ask all these question, then you have not read enough on the forum.

Why? Because we think they are cool, and can use them for a boatload of cool projects. If you want to know more, all you have to do is keep reading.

With a green laser..you can see the beam go up to the stars....I will find a picture

people all around you will be able to see it. It's very easy to point out stars.

We find them awesome, but if you don't then I wouldn't buy one because they are expensive. Start small, if you like, go big

I like the pretty colors, and the amazing science behind them. I play with my multiple colors in low power all the time. They're unique, so they stand out in a crowd.

I play with the higher-powers once every other month or so, max. Like you say, popping a balloon and lighting a match only goes so far.

But other than that, they're cool.

LMAO Thats the most simplest, brief answer I even seen you give PBD.

Coherent light gives me a boner!


Seriously though, for me lasers embody a good deal of advanced physical principles that I find very fascinating. I have a general interest in Physics, but I really enjoy lasers because of the very cool things you can do with them. On top of a host of scientific and educational uses, lasers projectors for entertainmnent are some of the most awesome devices I know of!

Lasers aren't for everyone, though, so I don't expect everyone to get it lile I do.

they inspire creative thinking

Tech_Junkie said:

LMAO Thats the most simplest, brief answer I even seen you give PBD.

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:yabbem:

Yeah, I ramble on the internet, I'm sorry.

You might find this hard to believe, but I'm actually one of the more succinct technical writers in all my classes. In my undergrad classes, I would routinely get higher grades while writing half as much as all my classmates.

Quality not quantity..

I completely agree. I dont think you ramble. You always have clear, informative advice, and explanations.

Tech_Junkie said:

If you have to ask all these question, then you have not read enough on the forum.

Why? Because we think they are cool, and can use them for a boatload of cool projects. If you want to know more, all you have to do is keep reading.

Click to expand...

I only ask because I wanted to get some answers without looking through this entire forum for days first. I thought it would be a fun thread. I was looking for an individual's expansion on the "boatload of cool projects" idea.

iskor12 said:

With a green laser..you can see the beam go up to the stars....I will find a picture

people all around you will be able to see it. It's very easy to point out stars.

Click to expand...

Couldn't you accidentally point it toward a plane that you can't see at first? I guess it depends on the max beam distance.

Murudai said:

We find them awesome, but if you don't then I wouldn't buy one because they are expensive. Start small, if you like, go big

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I never said I don't find them intriguing or awesome. In my hobby/lifestyle, I find them VERY important.

pullbangdead said:

I like the pretty colors, and the amazing science behind them. They're unique, so they stand out in a crowd.

Like you say, popping a balloon and lighting a match only goes so far.

But other than that, they're cool.

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That's one of the points of the thread. I've read that some people kind of got bored w/ the balloon/match thing after a while, so I was wondering what else there is.

ElektroFreak said:

Seriously though, for me lasers embody a good deal of advanced physical principles that I find very fascinating. I have a general interest in Physics, but I really enjoy lasers because of the very cool things you can do with them. On top of a host of scientific and educational uses, lasers projectors for entertainmnent are some of the most awesome devices I know of!

Lasers aren't for everyone, though, so I don't expect everyone to get it lile I do.

Click to expand...

I'm trying to "get" it by asking these questions. Can you elaborate on "scientific and educational uses," like something you've done? A laser projector sounds interesting. I'll have to Google images of it.

boosted_4cyl said:

they inspire creative thinking

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Sounds good.


Thanks for the answers everyone. I look forward to hearing from more members here.

My own "scientific and educational" experiences with lasers have mostly involved putting together homemade DPSS lasers, but I haven't been building them as much lately due to a lack of time.

Interferometry, fluorescence excitation, microprocessor design and fabrication, surgical tools, and DNA sequencing are but a few examples of scientific usage of lasers. They are used educationally to demonstrate and experiment with a wide variety of physical, chemical, and biological principles.

Of course I'm speaking of lasers in general, here, not pointers specifically. Pointers are a fine example of lasers being used for entertainment and for simple educational demonstrations (astronomy, fluorescence excitation, etc.)

I like the visual effects and a rare picture!

I don't think lasers have even begun to reach their peak of importance in our world. They are already used for many different medical procedures from removing hair, dental work, closing surgical incisions and many other things.
I've no clue what, but i think lasers are going to play a very huge role in our future.... and then........i can run around saying "i liked lasers before you did!"

For me, I've always loved the science behind light amplification. The possibilities of harnessing lasers are numerous.

What originally attracted me to lasers was their beautiful and vibrant colors, like boosted said they inspire creativity.

And yes, popping balloons and burning things does get boring, that's why I decided to learn the science behind the burning and popping and start building my own.

Lastly I'm a big tech guy, I love anything and everything technology oriented and laser's are just one facet of technology. I seek to expand my knowledge of electronics by not only using them but dissecting them and putting them back together. Plus laser's have finally given me the excuse to learn how to solder, something I've been wanting to learn for some time now.