Hello, hello. I Googled around and this seems like the primary forums on the internet for laser-related projects, so I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction.
I've had an idea for a Christmas gift, since last December, but hadn't the time to make it happen (was deployed in Iraq this past Christmas).
I've only got about two weeks left in my enlistment with the Marine Corps, so this year I'll be home. I've decided I'd really like to try my hand at this gift for a friend of mine. Here's the plan:
Friend is a big fan of Harry Potter. The idea was to purchase one of the fairly inexpensive replica wands, and place a mild-powered green laser in it for flashy effect.
Before anyone may decide to scream safety, yes, I realize that lasers can damage eyesight. We used them in Iraq, both for anti-personnel (to signal/warn civilian drivers of approaching military convoys), and for targeting our weapons systems. My friend is 23 years old, so no, I would not be giving this "toy" to a child.
That being said, this is the first of two replica wands that the Noble Collection makes. It's the basic one, just for a prop, really.
noblecollection.com/catalog/product.cfm?id=NN7005&catid=21
This is the second one they make, with some modifications. It's got a motion sensing contraption of some sort housed inside, along with what I think is an LED light attached to 2AAA batteries in the handle. I think it is the same size and dimensions as the above model, though I am not 100% certain on that. If there is any difference in size, I assume this model is slightly wider than the above one.
noblecollection.com/catalog/product.cfm?id=NN1910&catid=21
The end result that I'm looking for would be to replace the innards in the handle with some type of green laser pointer. I'm not really looking for anything overly ridiculous, mostly just a visual effect. I'd need the beam to be visible at night, though preferably in lighter conditions too (if someone would tell me the power requirements/safety hazards of that combination, I'd be most grateful). It doesn't need to be able to burn anything, or pop balloons, as I'm guessing that amount of output makes it a lot more of a safety hazard than a novelty.
So now I would need to know what materials I'd need to purchase to make this happen. Ideas:
A very thin, semi-powerful (15-35MW?) green laser pointer, hollow out the handle and situate it inside the hollow part. I'll probably have to buy the wand before I can figure out the exact dimensions I'd be working with.
Another idea would be to use the already-existing battery compartment (2xAAA) in the model with the LED and hook that into a more DIY/home made pointer as I've seen some mention of when I briefly scanned these forums. That of course, seems like something I'd need to brush up on a LOT more information to do. Examples of things I have no idea about: would I be able to make the end laser pointer's guts thinner than if I bought the smallest pointer available (at the necessary output)? Would I likely be able to easily use the existing battery compartment, or should I just probably scrap all the existing guts for the laser pointer specific ones?
So for starters, if anyone's willing to offer me some advice, can you suggest any laser pointers of the required power that would fit easily in the handle, or point me in the direction of the components I would need to assemble the guts myself?
As I said, I have 2 weeks before I get home to Florida, so that leaves enough time for me to research this further as needed.
I've had an idea for a Christmas gift, since last December, but hadn't the time to make it happen (was deployed in Iraq this past Christmas).
I've only got about two weeks left in my enlistment with the Marine Corps, so this year I'll be home. I've decided I'd really like to try my hand at this gift for a friend of mine. Here's the plan:
Friend is a big fan of Harry Potter. The idea was to purchase one of the fairly inexpensive replica wands, and place a mild-powered green laser in it for flashy effect.
Before anyone may decide to scream safety, yes, I realize that lasers can damage eyesight. We used them in Iraq, both for anti-personnel (to signal/warn civilian drivers of approaching military convoys), and for targeting our weapons systems. My friend is 23 years old, so no, I would not be giving this "toy" to a child.
That being said, this is the first of two replica wands that the Noble Collection makes. It's the basic one, just for a prop, really.
noblecollection.com/catalog/product.cfm?id=NN7005&catid=21
This is the second one they make, with some modifications. It's got a motion sensing contraption of some sort housed inside, along with what I think is an LED light attached to 2AAA batteries in the handle. I think it is the same size and dimensions as the above model, though I am not 100% certain on that. If there is any difference in size, I assume this model is slightly wider than the above one.
noblecollection.com/catalog/product.cfm?id=NN1910&catid=21
The end result that I'm looking for would be to replace the innards in the handle with some type of green laser pointer. I'm not really looking for anything overly ridiculous, mostly just a visual effect. I'd need the beam to be visible at night, though preferably in lighter conditions too (if someone would tell me the power requirements/safety hazards of that combination, I'd be most grateful). It doesn't need to be able to burn anything, or pop balloons, as I'm guessing that amount of output makes it a lot more of a safety hazard than a novelty.
So now I would need to know what materials I'd need to purchase to make this happen. Ideas:
A very thin, semi-powerful (15-35MW?) green laser pointer, hollow out the handle and situate it inside the hollow part. I'll probably have to buy the wand before I can figure out the exact dimensions I'd be working with.
Another idea would be to use the already-existing battery compartment (2xAAA) in the model with the LED and hook that into a more DIY/home made pointer as I've seen some mention of when I briefly scanned these forums. That of course, seems like something I'd need to brush up on a LOT more information to do. Examples of things I have no idea about: would I be able to make the end laser pointer's guts thinner than if I bought the smallest pointer available (at the necessary output)? Would I likely be able to easily use the existing battery compartment, or should I just probably scrap all the existing guts for the laser pointer specific ones?
So for starters, if anyone's willing to offer me some advice, can you suggest any laser pointers of the required power that would fit easily in the handle, or point me in the direction of the components I would need to assemble the guts myself?
As I said, I have 2 weeks before I get home to Florida, so that leaves enough time for me to research this further as needed.
