Laser Tool: Homemade handheld engraver/Pen

[AnselmoFanZero]

Small in diameter but a high focus length.

What does tophat beam mean?

 

[Limecat]

Small in diameter but a high focus length.

What does tophat beam mean?

I meant why do you use a cylindrical lens instead of a plano-convex or double convex one? Thats what it appears to be in the video anyway.

Top hat beam is one whose intensity profile is roughly constant over a certain radial distance from the centre. A gaussian beam profile has a gaussian intensity profile (a bell curve) Shanghai Laser & Optics Century Co., Ltd. (SLOC) | Laser | Manufacturer of DPSS Green Laser, Blue Laser, Red Laser, Yellow Laser, Infrared Laser, UV Laser | 635nm and 650nm Laser Modules | Laser Diode | Scanner, Line Lens, Combiner, Beamsplitter, Fil , whereas the top hat beam profile resembles a top hat (or square wave) http://www.thorlabs.com/images/TabImages/50 degree circle.pdf

 

[AnselmoFanZero]

I see. Language barrier ;-)

I used a bi-convex cylindrical lens.
__
(__) like that

 

[Benm]

Engraving metal is not going to happen with 1 watt - the major problem is that the light is hardly absorbed in the first place.

The engraving idea is nice though, as it does work very well on plastic, wood and such. I mark my belongings by melting initials inside the battery compartment, but its hard to get right.

It would be nice to have a doube-action button like the ones on photo shutters: half-push to turn a low power beam for aiming, and then full power when you press down further.

 

[AnselmoFanZero]

Already thought about adding another laser....dim red spot. But it would increase size.
I tried some drafts with it, and its only a matter of getting used to it.
Maybe I will up another video to show what I mean. Not good enough yet ;-) I am not Picasso.

 

[Limecat]

I think he means that with the double action trigger, the half trigger squeeze would just be a dim blue spot and then the full trigger squeeze would be full power. Trouble is benm, any spot that is dim through goggles might carry enough energy to do engraving anyway, but not as rapidly.

 

[AnselmoFanZero]

Well I hope he didnt ;-) mentioned several times, that you HAVE to wear glasses. You wouldnt see any BLUE spot....thats why you would need a red laser!

 

[RaptorGTA]

wow man, awesome!

 

[TTerbo]

lame. I do like the design, but its not an engraver, its a paper burner. I have 3 paper burners already.

I thought you made something that could engrave metal, or simular hard surface.

give him a break he did a great job!

 

[AnselmoFanZero]

Thanks guys.

 

[Benm]

I think he means that with the double action trigger, the half trigger squeeze would just be a dim blue spot and then the full trigger squeeze would be full power. Trouble is benm, any spot that is dim through goggles might carry enough energy to do engraving anyway, but not as rapidly.

Thats what i meant indeed. I'm not sure how it would work in practice - its difficult enough to get a reliable low power beam from these diodes... i'd imagine a 50/1000 mW switch, but as you said, even the 50 mW will probably start melting plastics... one way to find out

 

[AnselmoFanZero]

Wont work....like I said: You cant work without glasses on, and the glasses will filter any blue wavelength. Know what I mean?