Laser Space Cannon

[RedCowboy]

Something interesting, I wonder what lasers they are using and how well collimated they are ?
500w cannon could be 100 x 5w laser diodes.

Phantom Dynamics Laser Space Cannon Skybeam Searchlight

SIX TIMES more visible than the brightest ordinary searchlight – the LASER Space Cannon Searchlight can be seen from tremendous distances!

phantomdynamics.com

 

[FireMyLaser]

500w cannon could be 100 x 5w

The math checks out, but it is an 18x18 diode array, 324 diodes total, and average for all R, G, and B would be a little over 1.5W per diode.

 

[gazer101]

That would make one hell of a bug zapper

 

[Ushan]

I’m sorry, but what happened to not shining lasers in the sky for fear of blinding a pilot? This thing could take a plane down.

 

[CurtisOliver]

The difference here is that this would be for organised events only. Air traffic would be aware and the beams are static. It would be similar to large organised fireworks display. You wouldn't be able to just get one and use it how you liked.

 

[Ushan]

The difference here is that this would be for organised events only. Air traffic would be aware and the beams are static. It would be similar to large organised fireworks display. You wouldn't be able to just get one and use it how you liked.

Ah, tbh I didn’t know it was stationary. I saw “searchlight“ and thought of the normal ones that swing around so thought it did the same.

 

[CurtisOliver]

Yes, I believe they are static. I could be wrong though. From a safety and planning point of view. A static beam would present far less problems and lessen paperwork.

 

[Ears and Eggs]

I’m sorry, but what happened to not shining lasers in the sky for fear of blinding a pilot? This thing could take a plane down.

Forget about a plane, that thing could trigger a retaliatory strike from The Greater Betelgeusian Star Empire.

 

[Light superglue]

I am not sure how they can keep the divergence such low. Are all beams not directly from LDs but expanded and steared by mirrors?

I am in the process of manufacturing a "DMD" now to steer 16 expanded beams from 2 blocks of NUBM08. This would be a small vesion of this "cannon". But maybe PBS-combining of 2 NUBM31 would be another option???

 

[CurtisOliver]

Forget about a plane, that thing could trigger a retaliatory strike from The Greater Betelgeusian Star Empire.

Thank goodness it isn't emitting a coded signal.

 

[Arctos]

They are what is used on the Miami hard rock cafe. 8x400W per beam, literally beam quality of a bunch of pointers stuck together without wavelength beam combining, so the power density is pretty low. Looks about ~1mrad region maybe more if you check beam width at termination versus emission point. The (very) external alignment would be interesting, there is another product from another manufacturer that is similar to this as well.

I'm just amazed they can sit it on the ground like that, surely safety authorities in USA would have a panic attack? Or perhaps simply the park was closed? Either way certainly an interesting angle to see a laser from outside.


Problem is power density and beam quality is low for large scale outdoor use, so you're basically running a laser searchlight with very limited functionality. But still a very cool effect if you're after that look!

 

[Ushan]

I am not sure how they can keep the divergence such low. Are all beams not directly from LDs but expanded and steared by mirrors?

I am in the process of manufacturing a "DMD" now to stear 16 expanded beams from 2 blocks of NUBM08. This would be a small vesion of this "cannon". But maybe PBS-combining of 2 NUBM31 would be another option???

Wtf are you building, styropyro’s laser bazooka? but seriously though, any pics? That sounds amazing

 

[Light superglue]

No, styropyro's bazoka beams were neither expanded, nor steered. I want to make a proper laser, not a laser torch.

Here is the thread, the process of manufacturing is still ongoing.

Pack of 16 corrected parallel beams with total power equal to NUBM31T (~90W)

Recently I have stated a new project to try a different technical solution for the Pack of beams divergence problem. Here I have tried to find the best use of cylindricals received some months ago from last GB organised by CDBeam. I have that device made of 2xNUBM08 blocks from techhood which...

laserpointerforums.com

Here is the "DMD" prototype - a kind of kinematic multimirror positioner, 16 top Al pates are to be replaced by mirrors, each bottom plate is sustained by M3 nylon screw and can be balanced by four M2 screws on the edges. Still not sure if washers are needed to keep right positions rigid...

 

[CurtisOliver]

That is a serious project for sure. Aligning that block won't be easy, but sure will be great when achieved. Spring washers may come in handy here.

 

[Light superglue]

The spring M2 washers I would need here must have external diameter <4mm. No idea where to find them.

 

[RedCowboy]

Very nice project, I have thought about this many times but have not built anything with power articulated mirrors yet.

Will these work > https://hobbyking.com/en_us/spring-washer-4mm-100pc.html