Cheap DIY laser accessories...

[jm007]

... just the way I like my women: quick, easy and cheap.

I'm probably not the first to think of this stuff, just thought I'd try to add something useful back to the forum.

- spring resistance clamps; about 4.5 in. tall; everything except the spring is plastic so it won't mar most anything; set them splayed out like a sawhorse for better stability; surprisingly flexible in the range of diameters it will work with; 3 per pack at the dollar store

- rubbery material around the head to absorb any light jarring and prevent scuffs; use at both ends for gentle set downs; o-rings or rubber bands would work; mine in the pic was custom made by my little guy using rubber bands woven together (real popular around here with the kids)... it matches both the beam and handle much better than the pic shows and will also prevent rolling

- and the idea that inspired this post: lens protection using the super soft ear plugs (some can get these free from work or cheaply nonetheless); determine a good depth that works for you; for me, .25 in. went inside the focus ring opening and doesn't touch the lens but is far enough in to hold reliably; trim to leave about .125 in. exposed; squish it by rolling in your fingertips and after inserting it'll expand to get nice and snug... it's almost like it was made for this ;-)

- key ring and hand-tied lanyard to round it all out

Does anyone have any good ideas along a similar line?

 

[Nprlaser]

Seems like a decent idea though you may want a lens plug that fluoresces so you know if the laser is on. Lol, the last thing you want is the lens getting smoked. That leaves me to the question if shutters are burn resistant.

 

[ru124t]

Hi guy,
you and I think a lot alike ! I too make cheap holders that work! See my thread http://laserpointerforums.com/f44/modding-cheap-tripod-into-laser-holder-87795.html
I work at a hardware store so getting those clamps will be no problem! Thanks

 

[jm007]

Thanks for the replies... didn't think anyone was too impressed with my... uh... thriftiness (I prefer the term 'resourceful').

... you may want a lens plug that fluoresces so you know if the laser is on. Lol, the last thing you want is the lens getting smoked...

Yeah, my idea is pretty much only useful for keeping out dust. On the more powerful lasers, dust covers will just get blown through; one can only hope that whatever is on the receiving end of the beam can safely take it.

I wonder if there's a lens cover that can also absorb the beam w/out smoking or burning. Extra points for cheap and DIY.

Hi guy,
you and I think a lot alike ! I too make cheap holders that work! See my thread http://laserpointerforums.com/f44/modding-cheap-tripod-into-laser-holder-87795.html

I like the use of molding as a cradle... just my style

 

[djQUAN]

I also did that before (using clamps) in the pic in my avatar with various clamps to hold the lasers in place

 

[ru124t]

Like I said, I work in a hardware store and have made my own beam dumps from 3 street 1 1/2 abs 90 degree elbows, and one 1 1/2 abs T with 10 coats of cheap high heat flat bbq paint in spray can. It is super flat and does not reflect light so it works great for very cheap, like 10 or 12 bucks including paint. One must remember to get some really fine sandpaper and rough up all the fittings so the paint has something to hold on to and bond well. It is much better to use the spray as the brush on stuff requires being baked to get a nice flat finish.The spray is flat right from the start!

 

[ru124t]

I am reposting this from another thread I wrote to because the love and humor of this was lost there. I guess we could call this homemade beam expander. LOL

Hmmm, well where I come from we would use the cardboard tube from inside a roll of paper towels. We would either steal several pairs of glasses from people who wear those small coke bottle bottom type style of glasses or go to the dollar store and buy several pairs of low quality , high powered reading glasses. We prefer the first method as those people usually cant see well enough to phone the cops on us as we run away therefore saving several dollars for duct tape and elastic bands that will be needed later on in this project. Ok so now we have the required materials namely six lens , 3 rubber bands , 1 roll of duct tape and a cardboard tube. Now here comes the easy part. cut six slits in the cardboard tube equal distance apart and just big enough for each lens to fit snugly in place. You will have to put a slit directly across so the lens can be permanently duct taped into position. When all six are permanently taped we will proceed to make a universal fir adaptor to the end of the tube. We simply cut three 1 inch long slits in the end of the tube and slide it over test laser and use three elastic bands to firmly hold into place.If you need to focus just pull the tube out or push it in depending on your needs. Voila, we have Newfie corrective optics for less than 10 bucks! If I knew what a prism thingie was I could perhaps incorporate this into the design! One bonus from this design is that any newbie who comes on here from now on asking what is the best burning laser they can get for cheap can simply buy a 10.00 ebay laser ,attach this wicked simple design and can now walk around with a cannon the death star would be proud of! With this baby , if they were stupid enough to point it at airplanes, they would not blind the pilots, they would vaporize the plane. Can you say Malaysia Airlines MH370 ?
Perhaps I shouldn't have left my prototype sitting around. Now on to the next project, some kind of mountain climbing laser I read about on here somewhere. LOL

 

[jm007]

pics, please... or it didn't happen ;-)

 

[Shadowsix]

Thanks ru124t!

Here are 2 beam dumps I built by your design (pic below). One with 1" pvc and the other with 1 1/2" pvc.

They work great!

 

[ru124t]

Good job man and it sure beats burning a hole in the wall!

 

[3Pig]

^I prefer the brick method

 

[ru124t]

True but when someone sees this homemade dump they look at it puzzled and say WTF ? lol

 

[BShanahan14rulz]

True but when someone sees this homemade dump they look at it puzzled and say WTF ? lol

You won't have those awkward questions with the brick if you hold it menacingly enough

Also, beam dump vs. brick, the DIY beam dump probably scatters less light.

 

[Shadowsix]

Thank you ru124t & very true, don't want my 3.2W 445nm to be burning any holes anywhere in the house.

A good non painted flat black brick would be cool but you are right I wonder if it would scatter more light. I'm sure the lab ones made of graphite are good and only scatter a little right?

Next when I can I'll see about building the DIY beam expander!

In the meantime I can't wait to receive my LPM 3.7W USB version from Laserbee (had to spring for an LPM, no quick DIY on that). Very curious to see what my little collection of lasers I've recently amassed true power values are as oppossed to what they are claimed.

 

[Tmack]

You will be surprised how off their claimed mW are lol. And I don't know if you can call the ophir setup diy, but it's pretty close. And I'm hearing ophir heads are getting hard to find

As far a ghetto rigging. I don't know where to begin. Lol

 

[adambowker]

I love the paracord wrist strap. I make tons of stuff with paracord (well I used to). Bracelets, keychains, pouches, etc... If you wanna see some of my stuff you can. But I may have to make myself some custom wrist straps like that!

Adam