Hi everyone.
New to the forum, and new to lasers.
I've been lurking the forum, and reading a lot in the last couple days.
I was introduced to a guy, via a mutual friend, and he had a really really cool Star Trek phaser with a bluray laser in it.
It got me interested, and I came searching for info.
A little backstory. I grew up with an optometrist for a father. He knew/knows the risks of lasers, and I was never allowed to have one. Not even the cheap $1 ones they hang up in the checkout lines.
I've always been fascinated by lasers. I remember in 7th grade... about 17 years ago for me... we had a "Technology" class we could take as an elective.
I chose that over Home Economics... They had all sorts of neat stuff. We learned about engineering, computers, and lasers (Among other things).
They had this huge laser "emitter" and a few prisms and mirrors you could make a laser maze with. It was a lot of fun.
I started reading this forum and immediately went to the "worst case scenario" section. I want to be safe as possible. I read some horror stories for sure.
I want something that is good for beginners. Something that isn't TOO powerful for a rookie, but not so weak that I'll get bored of it quickly...
I'm thinking about putting something together in a Star Wars blaster toy... I have an old broken PS3, and I could probably salvage the BluRay out of that...
I'd great appreciate some links to guides, and good places for rookies to start!
I've already found a ton of safety stuff, and that is my primary concern. I'm for sure going to get some "goggles".
Thanks in advance for any info! I plan on continuing to lurk for a week or two or until I feel like I've gathered enough info to feel confident in starting my first project.
New to the forum, and new to lasers.
I've been lurking the forum, and reading a lot in the last couple days.
I was introduced to a guy, via a mutual friend, and he had a really really cool Star Trek phaser with a bluray laser in it.
It got me interested, and I came searching for info.
A little backstory. I grew up with an optometrist for a father. He knew/knows the risks of lasers, and I was never allowed to have one. Not even the cheap $1 ones they hang up in the checkout lines.
I've always been fascinated by lasers. I remember in 7th grade... about 17 years ago for me... we had a "Technology" class we could take as an elective.
I chose that over Home Economics... They had all sorts of neat stuff. We learned about engineering, computers, and lasers (Among other things).
They had this huge laser "emitter" and a few prisms and mirrors you could make a laser maze with. It was a lot of fun.
I started reading this forum and immediately went to the "worst case scenario" section. I want to be safe as possible. I read some horror stories for sure.
I want something that is good for beginners. Something that isn't TOO powerful for a rookie, but not so weak that I'll get bored of it quickly...
I'm thinking about putting something together in a Star Wars blaster toy... I have an old broken PS3, and I could probably salvage the BluRay out of that...
I'd great appreciate some links to guides, and good places for rookies to start!
I've already found a ton of safety stuff, and that is my primary concern. I'm for sure going to get some "goggles".
Thanks in advance for any info! I plan on continuing to lurk for a week or two or until I feel like I've gathered enough info to feel confident in starting my first project.
