Wide Beam Laser *Help Please!*

I wonder if anyone could help me?

A few years back i met a guy in a club that had made a hand held laser pointer, that had 2 parallel beams, pointing in the same direction. The beams were much thicker than normal, more like the thickness of your middle finger. (roughly 2cm across) Much brighter than the other laser pointers around at that time. It was like one of the club lasers, even though the device was small enough to fit in the guys hand. It was really cool.

My question is, where do i get a green laser that thick as opposed to the usual really thin ones?

I know 'nothing' about lasers, or the terminology that goes with it, so please treat me as a newbie remembering to include all laymans terms!

I've owned a few pointers in years gone past, but they were really lame. I'd like to try and recreate what i saw that night, or maybe buy one ready made if that's possible at that spec?

:thanks:

Two very thick parralel beams..............hmm

Did it appear diy, from what you can recall?

People stride for thin beams here. If you want a thick beam be prepared to pay some $$. You need a beam expander, which is a set of optics set into an adjustable enclosure. Kind of like a telescopic lens for a manual camera, but smaller. Then you need to find the laser to marry the two. It can be done, but like I said its going to cost you $$.

Gryphon said:

Two very thick parralel beams..............hmm

Did it appear diy, from what you can recall?

Click to expand...

Yes, he did say he'd made it himself. This was 9 years ago. Not sure if the tech is the same or not?!

Tech_Junkie said:

People stride for thin beams here. If you want a thick beam be prepared to pay some $$. You need a beam expander, which is a set of optics set into an adjustable enclosure. Kind of like a telescopic lens for a manual camera, but smaller. Then you need to find the laser to marry the two. It can be done, but like I said its going to cost you $$.

Click to expand...

And I could create a hand held device this way? I'd be happy with a single beam, I just want it to be thick.

This sounds much harder than I'm capable of doing myself! Lol!

I'm not sure how reputable this company is ND5 Green Laser for search and rescue, hunting | Laser Genetics I have never heard of anyone dealing with them. It's the closest to a wide beam I could find though. The thumb slider for focusing is interesting as well. Hope I could help. Happy lasing!

Ramsey_innovations said:

I'm not sure how reputable this company is ND5 Green Laser for search and rescue, hunting | Laser Genetics I have never heard of anyone dealing with them. It's the closest to a wide beam I could find though. The thumb slider for focusing is interesting as well. Hope I could help. Happy lasing!

Click to expand...

Thank you for that. $350 is a lot more than I was hoping to pay though.

Tech_Junkie said:

People stride for thin beams here. If you want a thick beam be prepared to pay some $$. You need a beam expander, which is a set of optics set into an adjustable enclosure. Kind of like a telescopic lens for a manual camera, but smaller. Then you need to find the laser to marry the two. It can be done, but like I said its going to cost you $$.

Click to expand...

I've just had a look on YouTube. I understand exactly what you mean now thank you. Is this the only way? Is it possible to buy pointers that are already about 2cm thick?

Also, I understand that mw is the power output right? Is this relevant to the brightness or distance or both? I further understand that some lasers are 'hot'. How is this effected should I have to go down the 'expander' route?

I've noticed some pointers say that the beam is adjustable? Some say length adjustable too? Would you mind clarifying for me exactly what the differences are?

(I'm praying that adjustable length means I will finally have a light sabre!) lol!

:fightin:

http://laserpointerforums.com/f49/diy-beam-expander-42814.html

The rest of the answers are easily found with the search button.