Who wants a variable power laser?

clansley · Jan 30, 2015

17 people want one now, another 7 want one later...

Surely there's enough money here to make a builder's investment worthwhile.

Anybody got an idea how we move forward? Are there any trusted well respected builders out there willing to bring something exciting to the market? I personally would want a non-PWM based driver.

crazyspaz · Jan 30, 2015

clansley said:
17 people want one now, another 7 want one later...

Surely there's enough money here to make a builder's investment worthwhile.

Anybody got an idea how we move forward? Are there any trusted well respected builders out there willing to bring something exciting to the market? I personally would want a non-PWM based driver.

Why not PWM? You are saying its not as safe- just because its lower power? If anyone stares into a laser /period/, if if its because they "think its lower power" (which it would be) they are stupid. Still seems like the best way to go, but then again I am no electrical expert- if one said expert would chime in that'd be great

clansley · Jan 30, 2015

crazyspaz said:
Why not PWM? You are saying its not as safe- just because its lower power? If anyone stares into a laser /period/, if if its because they "think its lower power" (which it would be) they are stupid. Still seems like the best way to go, but then again I am no electrical expert- if one said expert would chime in that'd be great

AFAIK, An extreme example: I would have to be insane to use a 3W laser indoors, if such a laser was dimmable to 100mW then it seems less insane, but if it was dimmed using PWM then it is actually at 100% power but for short periods, so as dangerous as 3W to our eyes even if it appears like 100mW.

But I agree I would rather have an expert say this rather than me repeating things I've seen.

Pman · Jan 30, 2015

I use all my lasers indoors and RARELY outside and I've lots of high powered units

I can't argue that I may be insane though:banghead:

Atomicrox · Jan 31, 2015

I agree that it can't be PWM based due to safety concerns.

I often use my 462nm with a single batt for 30-80mW (just above threshold) and I consider it safe enough to shine around the house, while I wouldn't do that with 1.5W.

TBH if I wanted to do this the PWM way I'd just use a small Arduino. Could probably pull it off in an afternoon even with my little knowledge of analog electronics.

AMooMooCow · Jan 31, 2015

Atomicrox said:
I suppose it would require a buck driver with two pots - one on board for setting the maximum current and solder pads for an external pot to vary the current between 0-100%.

Would also require a custom or modified host with a hole for the pot.

I would very much like this, but I would also need a locking mechanism so the pot couldn't be turned to full if I put the laser in my coat pocket. Perhaps full digital driver with Arduino controlling sets of resistors from a button on the side of the host which doesn't send input if a safety dongle is removed

Atomicrox · Jan 31, 2015

Actually what I had in mind was a tailcap switch to turn on and off and the pot to change power. That way it wouldn't turn on by itself.

Edit: if someone knows how to make a proper buck driver (analog) using PWM input for an Arduino I'd be willing to do the programming/digital portion.

FireMyLaser · Jan 31, 2015

Why not use the pot found on most existing drivers? Just add it in series with the existing one, to set the maximum current, and use the other for variable power. For some reason everyone thinks an Arduino is needed for everything... KISS

clansley · Feb 5, 2015

I was wondering about the control of such a variable power laser.

Initially an analog knob or slider comes to mind as it easily allows the power to be changed up or down and by small or large amounts.

What about a digital interface, with one button you would have to cycle around the powers. With two you could go up or down. But what about the step size? Linear step sizes doesn't work as they need to be smaller at lower powers and larger at higher powers.

If we had a variable power laser that ranged from 50mW to 1W what steps would make sense? How about doubling the power at each step?

50mW
100mW
200mW
400mW
800mW
1000mW [1600 capped to 1W]

or maybe linear works with 100mW increases - although it would be a lot of button presses:
50mW
150mW
250mW
350mW
450mW
550mW
650mW
750mW
850mW
950mW
1000mW

I imagine such a laser wouldn't acutally be controlling the power directly and in stead controlling the current which in turn would control the power (but it is unlikely to be linear like I've made it out to be above).

tttonyyy · Feb 5, 2015

I think a logarithmic scale makes more sense than linear. Our visual response isn't linear after all.

clansley · Feb 14, 2015

Pssst... our dreams will soon be fulfilled; a major player is developing our dream

AMooMooCow · Feb 14, 2015

clansley · Mar 1, 2015

We're up to 34 saying they want one and only 1 doesn't - this is clearly a feature people want!

My previous post was too optimistic - things are looking colder now

[but at least not completely dead yet]

I've decided I only want to invest in variable power lasers so I can't spend a penny until one exists - except for 589nm which is only available in low powers! So Crazily I may end up with a 589nm before having quality lasers of the common wavelengths!

sellersmd · Mar 5, 2015

clansley said:
Pssst... our dreams will soon be fulfilled; a major player is developing our dream

By major player do you mean a major laser retailer or a major forum member?

clansley · Mar 5, 2015

Both but things have gone quiet so that might not happen, we may need to look for another source.

There seems to be good money to be made here if somebody added this feature.

millirad · Mar 5, 2015

It could happen, if a member here can put the time in to prototype and bankroll. Good luck to your dream.

Who wants a variable power laser?

Who wants a variable power laser?

Yes - I've always wanted one

Yes - I want one

Yes/Later - I want one but aren't looking ATM

Err - Why would you limit your power!?

No - I have other more pressing needs

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