Search results

This isn't actually that unusual. Even a slight difference between the batteries can leave one substantially more-drained than the other. That's part of the reason why every package of batteries says not to mix different battery types, manufacturers, or new and old batteries.

All other things being equal, a shorter-wavelength laser can be focussed to a smaller spot. This translates to a higher energy density, and better burning ability. Other factors (beam size and shape) matter also, but wavelength has a major effect on minimum spot size. If you start with 405nm...

Another way to look at this is that each of the laser's axes has a different (virtual) focal point back a distance from the aperture. A collimating lens will produce a parallel beam when the focal point of the collimator is at the same point as the virtual focus of the laser. Since the two...

I haven't bought calipers in a good while, but Mitutoyo was the brand we used/recommended in the shop I worked in. The digital calipers are easier to read/use, but the dial calipers are more likely to be working when you pull them out of a toolbox after sitting for a year :-)

This is originally from the web comic XKCD: xkcd: Circuit Diagram Well worth taking a look - it's supremely geeky.

Some dye lasers use a laminar flow jet as a lasing medium...

Popping a balloon and simultaneously being eye-safe will be very difficult to accomplish. Other than expanding a beam to a huge size, then focusing it to a point at a short distance, I don't know how you'd get the energy density high enough to pop a balloon, but weak enough in the near distance...

This is where the difference between average and peak power comes into play. Because the pulses are so short, the peak power is likely in the gigawatt or terawattt range. The X-rays are probably just the result of heating the copper to extreme temperatures. Heat something to 2000 degrees, and...

It's probably safe to assume that the solder is lead solder, but you wouldn't normally come into extended contact with that. It's somewhat less likely that the mechanical components, including the case and optics mounts, contain a significant amount of lead or other toxic metals. I know some...

They make something called a polygon mirror just for these sorts of applications...

I'm not involved in this in any way, but it'd be pretty easy for them to run the diode at an output of a few 100s of mW, then use a basic spatial filter to reduce the output power and increase the beam quality all in one step.

That's probably it. Of course, nobody I know would ever insert an ammeter into a circuit like that. Actually, I can't even remember the last time I had a meter with a working mA setting. The fuse usually gets blown about the second time I ever use it in that mode, and I never get around to...

Just shooting a laser through an SLR lens doesn't do much of anything. All those elements are in there to improve chromatic and spherical aberrations, which aren't much of an issue with a monochromatic light source, located at (virtual) infinity. If you have two camera lenses, you can mount...

Yes, there's some air in the radiometer, but not full atmospheric pressure. Most likely you're actually burning the paint.