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- Jun 27, 2010
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Overview:
I started this project about two weeks ago. Got VERY interested in lasers after attending an awesome rave and so here is the first prototype of my horizontal audio controlled scanner. The case is currently very low-tech, it's made out of cardboard and cut toilet paper rolls, stitched together with electrical tape. Accordingly, the total production cost of this scanner was less than 30 dollars (including the green laser module), which is quite acceptable when compared to the endgame.
The laser module used in the video and the first picture is a 3V, 30mW 532nm green laser module from dealextreme, driven by two AA batteries. I'm in the process of buying a 100mW one and fitting it with a heatsink.
Details of the project:
What makes this sucker tick? It's basically an old subwoofer amp connected onto a voice coil of an old HDD reading head. Superglued into the reading head is a piece of mirror. The laser is shined at the mirror.
The amp:
About ~10-15W RMS, 4 ohms nominal drive, stripped from an old creative inspire set.
It has a 3,5 mm jack in and a "bass level" controller which proved to be very handy while adjusting the scanning pattern.
The HDD:
The top cover has been removed and one of the metal bars that used to be one of the HDD's legs is now being used as a mount for the laser module. The whole thing is superglued on top of a CD case for easy maintenance.
Close-up of the amp to voice coil connection:
Not very pretty, but it works. You can see the final product in action here:
--> YouTube - DIY Horizontal Laser Scanner (30mW 532nm)<---
There is still lots of stuff to do here:
- new project case: I need to relocate the whole thing into a (preferably) metal box and add an external switch and heatsink for the green laser module.
- cut the foremost part of the HDD off to conserve space
I can adjust the width of the scanning beam by adjusting the source volume. Also running a software synthesizer and playing some bass notes results in awesome effects. I'll post some more photos as soon as I get a replacement laser module (the one used in the first picture died as a result of drunken soldering).
This thing looks really awesome in a dark room with smoke!
I really appreciate any comments and suggestions :thanks:
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