My DIY Blu-Ray

[Catmandoo]

Was this unintentional Steampunk or did you plan that at the start ? CMD

 

[thejunkmonger]

Was this unintentional Steampunk or did you plan that at the start ? CMD

Planned from the start ,well the steam punk look, the laser itself I just started building it and went along with what I could find around the house.

 

[svars1]

theres just something about it that makes it sexy,
maybe the curved penny and the switch?

 

[mr.lazo]

I know this is kinda fixing the barn door after the horse has been sent to the glue factory, but I'm a noob & just stumbled across this AMAZING thread.

Seriously, Junk Monger, that thing is so frickin' amazing, I think I went a little retarded while looking at it.

But, back to late suggestions:
Did you ever solve the focusing problem?
I only ask because this might be a low-tech yet solid solution for your problems...

Taking a cue from Spyderz's comment, the only part of the finished laser that is a tad aesthetically incongruous id the protruding focus ring.

Of course, the question is: "If the ring is inside the housing, then how the (insert expletive) am I supposed to focus it?!"

What do you think of this idea:
(excuse the crudity of the sketch, I did it during lunch today after reading this topic, so it's not to scale or even straight)

As I see it, you could make the focusing ring unobtrusive by housing it in an assebly that's comprised of an exterior sleeve, made to match with the rest of the host, that slides into the host and is anchored by two or more set screws in a groove around its base (this would keep it from falling out while still allowing it to turn). Inside this sleeve, you'd have the interface ring (circular sketches) which would have two tongues on the interior that would fit into two matching grooves you'd cut into the focusing ring (allowing the ring to slide up and down along these 'tracks' while you turn the entire assembly).

Keep in mind that the sketch is bad. Everything looks like it fits loosely, but that's just to clearly show how everything would fit together.

I'm sure there's a simpler way to solve the problem, but I'm fond of reinventing the wheel.

The above quote was to help hide a protrusive focusing ring, but it also would work for your design, allowing the focusing assembly to turn but remain snug against the rest of the host while the lense assembly can still telescope and retract inside.

But, as far as Titan Cat, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Just file the suggestion away for your next Full Metal Pointer.

 

[thejunkmonger]

I know this is kinda fixing the barn door after the horse has been sent to the glue factory, but I'm a noob & just stumbled across this AMAZING thread.

Seriously, Junk Monger, that thing is so frickin' amazing, I think I went a little retarded while looking at it.

But, back to late suggestions:
Did you ever solve the focusing problem?
I only ask because this might be a low-tech yet solid solution for your problems...
[quote author=mr.lazo link=1238345037/32#55 date=1240423431]Taking a cue from Spyderz's comment, the only part of the finished laser that is a tad aesthetically incongruous id the protruding focus ring.

Of course, the question is: "If the ring is inside the housing, then how the (insert expletive) am I supposed to focus it?!"

What do you think of this idea:
(excuse the crudity of the sketch, I did it during lunch today after reading this topic, so it's not to scale or even straight)

As I see it, you could make the focusing ring unobtrusive by housing it in an assebly that's comprised of an exterior sleeve, made to match with the rest of the host, that slides into the host and is anchored by two or more set screws in a groove around its base (this would keep it from falling out while still allowing it to turn). Inside this sleeve, you'd have the interface ring (circular sketches) which would have two tongues on the interior that would fit into two matching grooves you'd cut into the focusing ring (allowing the ring to slide up and down along these 'tracks' while you turn the entire assembly).

Keep in mind that the sketch is bad. Everything looks like it fits loosely, but that's just to clearly show how everything would fit together.

I'm sure there's a simpler way to solve the problem, but I'm fond of reinventing the wheel.

The above quote was to help hide a protrusive focusing ring, but it also would work for your design, allowing the focusing assembly to turn but remain snug against the rest of the host while the lense assembly can still telescope and retract inside.

But, as far as Titan Cat, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Just file the suggestion away for your next Full Metal Pointer.
[/quote]

Thanks Lazo but for the Titan Cat I just set it up so the tightest focus the focusing ring is flush and that is fine with me because that is how I use it 99% of the time but thanks for the suggestion. Maybe one day i'll rebuild it and avoid the small errors I made the first time. For example the battery is a pain in the ass to change because i need to unscrew two screws and considering i made a mistake with alignment each screw needs to go in the right hole or they won't line up well.

 

[mr.lazo]

More like "infinitecimal" mistakes!

That thing is ART, man!!

It's too bad that you're all the way in Italy, otherwise I'd be tempted to contract your assistance on a couple of scratch (or near-scratch) hosts I'm working on.
(though, objectively, I guess it's a good thing for you, so you don't get constant pleas for assistance from noobs like your's truly )

There's just something about your aesthetics (and methods) that I can identify with.

My fiancee is in a constant state of near hysteria with all the crap I accumulate ("But I can USE this, hon." and she says: "For WHAT? WHEN?!" to which I reply, "Yeah...I'm still working on that bit...but I'll get to it.")
Though we're always heroes when something breaks and we just so happen to have just the right part (with a little tweaking) to get it working again.

Edit: Post Scriptum - You gotta post some more pics of the final, completed product.

 

[thejunkmonger]

Edit: Post Scriptum - You gotta post some more pics of the final, completed product.

That's is the problem it's not finished, well it's all together and completely useable but still missing the finishing touches. One day when I have some time I'll see how I can finish it up, right now i'm just enjoying playing with it, I think next time i'll make a clicky button instead of momentary though the endcap button is kinda a pain. The penny isn't actually a penny it's smaller and is actually a button from a womans shirt or something I found on the ground one day. We are in the same boat with wife/girlfriend and all the junk I collect.