Sumfinclever
Member
- Joined
- Nov 23, 2018
- Messages
- 69
- Points
- 18
First off, thank you all for the invaluable collective knowledge and experience you have all shared here. I've been a member for a long time, but have never once posted. Admittedly I joined so that I could see photos and other content you have all shared. However, as I find myself delving further into all things laser, it's probably time to cease lurking and join in the fun.
I remember the first time I saw a laser pointer at 8 years old. My family and I were sitting in church and I saw a small red dot appearing everywhere the minister pointed.
My tendency is for amusement to give way to fascination, which often times gives way to obsession. I had no clue how the minister was casting a red light from his hand. I suspected it might be some sort of divine power granted to clergy for the purpose of leading sermons (don't judge me lol). I absolutely had to find out, so I asked and was handed an old radio shack pen pointer. Despite warnings not to shine it in my eye, I immediately did exactly what most kids do, and tried to look down the end to figure out what sorcery was contained inside. Needless to say it was taken away from me, and thus my lust for the forbidden fruit began
22 years later, I'm 30 and my garage, home office, and even work office are littered with countless DIY projects, and a majority of them are related to music, woodworking, or lasers. Luckily my better half is content to question my sanity, but allows me to explore my obsession freely as long as it's contained to my various disaster areas.
My current project, which prompted me to introduce myself, is modifying a 4 barrel nerf gun to house 4x 1+ W diodes in 4 different wavelength (405, 445, 520, 635). I would like them all to be TTL controlled via an arduino or similar, so I can create a variety of patterns/modes that fire 1 or more diodes simultaneously, or cycle through them upon pulling the trigger. I've spent countless hours researching, and have started ordering a few bits and pieces. I'm sure I'll have many questions along the way.
I remember the first time I saw a laser pointer at 8 years old. My family and I were sitting in church and I saw a small red dot appearing everywhere the minister pointed.
My tendency is for amusement to give way to fascination, which often times gives way to obsession. I had no clue how the minister was casting a red light from his hand. I suspected it might be some sort of divine power granted to clergy for the purpose of leading sermons (don't judge me lol). I absolutely had to find out, so I asked and was handed an old radio shack pen pointer. Despite warnings not to shine it in my eye, I immediately did exactly what most kids do, and tried to look down the end to figure out what sorcery was contained inside. Needless to say it was taken away from me, and thus my lust for the forbidden fruit began
22 years later, I'm 30 and my garage, home office, and even work office are littered with countless DIY projects, and a majority of them are related to music, woodworking, or lasers. Luckily my better half is content to question my sanity, but allows me to explore my obsession freely as long as it's contained to my various disaster areas.
My current project, which prompted me to introduce myself, is modifying a 4 barrel nerf gun to house 4x 1+ W diodes in 4 different wavelength (405, 445, 520, 635). I would like them all to be TTL controlled via an arduino or similar, so I can create a variety of patterns/modes that fire 1 or more diodes simultaneously, or cycle through them upon pulling the trigger. I've spent countless hours researching, and have started ordering a few bits and pieces. I'm sure I'll have many questions along the way.
Last edited: