... at least one of a few that I ask/respond in.
I have resisted joining this forum as long as I can. I'm just a tech-weenie although I did have training with an industrial CO2 laser (long long ago and far far away) that my employer had bought. I went to the manufacturer's location in SW Wisconsin for the training and got a real education including excimer :tinfoil:The CO2 had 3 20' folded tubes. We used it for cutting slots in metal plates for connector prototypes. The slots could be made as narrow as 0.007" and maybe narrower depending on material & thickness.
But, laser diodes were just starting development. I have been out of touch since, until recently when I may have finally found an application or 2. AKA excuses for new toys.
I will do my searches and have done a little already as I know this is not a new topic here (why I am here). First up is a laser for zapping nefarious critters in my marine aquarium. Things like aiptasias and flat worms are inevitable and are my prime focus. I done the chemical thing; I have done the electric zapping thing. They work when you can get to the critter. Aiptasias are a anemome & like to get into crevices in rock ... always facing away from a side of the tank. I am thinking about using a dentist's mirror to bounce a laser beam off to get into those places so I don't have to disassemble the carefully structured piles of rock.
Currently I have a 90g & 50g tanks so having to shoot a beam thru a few feet of water won't happen, but that dentist's mirror will add some loss.
Second are the flat worms. These guys should be a snap. So far there are few and they are often on the glass.
I wonder if I should be thinking about 2 different lasers at different power levels?
I am glad to see that you all have a good mature forum. I am in many and some for several years; physics, auto, aquariums, guns, computer (collects the most ... uh ... idiots, but also great ideas).
I have resisted joining this forum as long as I can. I'm just a tech-weenie although I did have training with an industrial CO2 laser (long long ago and far far away) that my employer had bought. I went to the manufacturer's location in SW Wisconsin for the training and got a real education including excimer :tinfoil:The CO2 had 3 20' folded tubes. We used it for cutting slots in metal plates for connector prototypes. The slots could be made as narrow as 0.007" and maybe narrower depending on material & thickness.
But, laser diodes were just starting development. I have been out of touch since, until recently when I may have finally found an application or 2. AKA excuses for new toys.
I will do my searches and have done a little already as I know this is not a new topic here (why I am here). First up is a laser for zapping nefarious critters in my marine aquarium. Things like aiptasias and flat worms are inevitable and are my prime focus. I done the chemical thing; I have done the electric zapping thing. They work when you can get to the critter. Aiptasias are a anemome & like to get into crevices in rock ... always facing away from a side of the tank. I am thinking about using a dentist's mirror to bounce a laser beam off to get into those places so I don't have to disassemble the carefully structured piles of rock.
Currently I have a 90g & 50g tanks so having to shoot a beam thru a few feet of water won't happen, but that dentist's mirror will add some loss.Second are the flat worms. These guys should be a snap. So far there are few and they are often on the glass.
I wonder if I should be thinking about 2 different lasers at different power levels?
I am glad to see that you all have a good mature forum. I am in many and some for several years; physics, auto, aquariums, guns, computer (collects the most ... uh ... idiots, but also great ideas).
