Spiro thought...

[lamborgini8]

Just had a quick thought out of the boredom here, two mirrors on a spirograph gives all the effects, three mirrors does the same but warps the effects of two mirrors slightly, four mirrors I have never heard of anyone trying...

I wonder what something like 10 rotating mirrors would do, if you think about it, its impossible to try and work out what it will do.

Would try myself but I only have 2 motors.

 

[keeperx]

The last few mirrors would have to be GINORMOUS

 

[lamborgini8]

The last few mirrors would have to be GINORMOUS

About 20cm I would guess, if you set the all up in a paralell style.

 

[keeperx]

that all depends on how much of an angle each one was set to.
you would need to use surface coated mirrors and the end result would probably be a big dot on the wall..

 

[andy_con]

ohhh the loss of 10 mirrors...................

 

[lamborgini8]

ohhh the loss of 10 mirrors...................

Not really, I have loads of them. Blue tack hold them on well.

 

[andy_con]

no i mean the mw lost through 10 mirrors, probably mega

 

[laserterd]

no i mean the mw lost through 10 mirrors, probably mega

lol no light coming out at the end. you just have to imagine what the projection would look like.

 

[andy_con]

lol

 

[Things]

Yeah, dont try using a 1mw red for tis, chances are nothing will come out the other end lol


Could be interesting though, but i'm guessing it would just be a big bunch of scribbles.

 

[lamborgini8]

Yeah, dont try using a 1mw red for tis, chances are nothing will come out the other end lol


Could be interesting though, but i'm guessing it would just be a big bunch of scribbles.

Will use my Viper 75, thats if I ever find enough motors.

Spiros just scribble anyway. they are just doing it so quick it looks like it makes shapes. So you never know.

 

[Things]

I mean, like a scribble pattern. Like you get from shining a laser on a speaker playing some music.

 

[Raytracer]

BTW regular mirrors are not really suitable for this, since part of the ray is diffracted by the glass itself.

Regular mirrors gives you 2 rays, one with ~90% and another one that is parallel to the first, 10% of the power (or 80% / 20%, depending on the mirror quality).
The space between 2 rays (main one and diffracted one) is proportional to the glass thickness.

For 10 mirrors I would highly recommend first surface mirrors (FSM).
They are not cheap, but you will have minimal power loss (5 or 6%) and no diffraction.

The material used for those FSM is essential too, see that link for example.
http://www.anchoroptics.com/catalog/product.cfm?id=360

RayTracer.

 

[Things]

Yeah. Some mirrors give you 4 other outputs even!! FS mirrors are deffinately needed for this if you dont wanna end up with like 20 beams!

 

[FokoF]

instead of speaking about it.... Would someone just build the dam thing! ;D someone with CAD skills could work out the sizes required.... just my 10 cents!

 

[keeperx]

10 is overkill..

going past 4 or 5 would be overkill

the reason the 3 motor is cool is that it gives you the ability to manipulate perspective so you get virtual 3d. adding a 4th would posibly allow that shape to be warped a little.. after that it seems overkill.