Beam table ***Any Ideas***

[blrock]

Hi fellow friends,

Ok, so I still have six 445nm laser diodes. My idea is to build an optical table with each laser pointed to a ball and socket mirror.

I know traditional tables use a single laser with several actuactors to steer the beam onto a mirror. These actuactors are about $25 each. I'd prefer to use one laser for each effect.

The only problem I have is how do I control each laser? I'm not so keen to have six manual switches that I have to turn on and off rapidly. Is there software or a hardware console to do such automatic control? Each laser will have it's own Flexmod driver.

I think the effect will be great. I'm currently doing a entire rebuild of my laser system to include a blue so with the green and red I should achieve +-3W white I'd like to add this beam table to get even a better visual effect.

Thanks!!!

B

 

[Bionic-Badger]

Why would you use multiple lasers for each effect? The real pain and expense in setting up and controlling the lasers comes from getting the lasers precisely aligned. With six it'll take even more time, and more equipment to set up, and don't expect to be able to have much control by aligning the lasers, instead of mirrors and other optics. If you're thinking of making white, there's even less point in working with multiple lasers if you can avoid it. Considering you'll be paying $36 / flexmod + $40 / 445nm diode, you're not saving anything by avoiding the "actuators." Plus with 445nm laser diodes able to put out over a watt without problems, you can really get away with just one.

For controlling the output power of your lasers you can modulate the output on Flexmods through the modulation input. Just hook it up to a microcontroller and use PWM control to change the intensity, and blanking to control whether it is on or off.

 

[blrock]

Thanks for the reply. I'll try explain it another way.

The white laser will have nothing to do with the beam table. It'll go straight to the galvos. The beam table will be on top of the laser system as an extra.

I have the lasers and drivers so there is no costs involved. Alignment shouldn't be an issue as I just point each module directly to a mirror on a ball and socket mount.

It's just the controlling of each laser I don't know how to do. If there were 6 actuactors, you'd need to be able to send 12v randomly or controlled to each unit. I just want to send the voltage to each driver.....hope this makes sense

 

[LSRFAQ]

One would use DMX protocol for the controller,

Northlight Systems DMX512 interface products, use DMX512 to drive LED's, control relays and RC servo's or output analog 0-10 VDC.

Laser Light Show Hardware brackets for the course adjustment.

Mount the laser on the baseplate and aim it up into the mount with a fold mirror, or mount the collimators on KM2 sized mounts from say Thorlabs using brackets from OSLS

You would be really, really, disappointed with just a ball joint, you need course and fine adjust. Ball joints do not have good repeatability. They are a pain in the neck to adjust, and most of them do not lock down well enough for a beam table. Unless your throws are really, really short, you would not be able to use them with bounce mirrors. With a watt of power coming out of each position, you do not want crude positioning, you need to be safe.

speaking of safe, if you use this in public place a al foil or blackwrap mask in front of the projector, the eyes you save may be your own)

Go here, and Thorlabs, Inc. - Your Source for Fiber Optics, Laser Diodes, Optical Instrumentation and Polarization Measurement & Control put in KM2 as the part number.

Steve

 

[blrock]

Thanks for the great info.. I will look into it...

I don't know anything about DMX stuff..Something new to learn.