Where to get a cheap burning laser

[kcducttaper]

I've got a project where I'd have to pop balloons at a distance of say 10+ feet. I picked up this "200mw" green laser, and while it's good fun and everything, it can only pop balloons while focused at a relatively close distance. I'm thinking a 500mw might be more what I'm after - preferably green. Any tips on where to come up with one relatively quickly and cheaply would be appreciated.

 

[ARG]

500mW, cheap, quick and green don't go well together.

If you're trying to pop balloons at 3 meters holding the laser stable enough may be more of the problem than the power.

 

[KRNAZNBOY]

500mw of green = over $300 dollars. I am assuming you are not old enough to afford that.

We kind of have a sixth sense to when kids are posting on the forum... Then again, i could be wrong.
We have posts much worse

You can check here: goldenstarlaser.com but the lasers there are not portable. Your next option is the 300mw HL532 from laserbtb. They usually output over 400mw and only cost $180

:beer:
-Matt

 

[Pi R Squared]

Yes what ARG says is right, get a tripod something like this: Clamp Mount & Tripod however I am skeptical about a 200mw green popping balloons at 10 feet+, maybe black balloons only. I have a powerful 445nm blue that can leave scorch marks on things at 10 feet if its on a tripod and pointed at the same spot for a few seconds, if you can spend about $300 then get something like that about 3w+ and you can pop all the balloons you want.

 

[trencheel303]

for popping at that distance you might be better off with a 405nm laser. even at lower powers than a 445 it will be better for distance burning as the beam specs are tighter, and you will get a 500mW 405 for less cash than a 532 of similar power.

This video shows quite well how 405's do over distance:


There was a video comparing 445 and 405 directly but I'm having real trouble finding it. If I do, I'll edit this and pop it here. I'd make one myself, but my 405nm laser is not focusable.

 

[kcducttaper]

Ignoring the couple doom sayers, you guys have given me some interesting ideas.

I could work with the blue laser idea - perhaps building my own from a blu-ray burner diode. I've seen that done several times with good results, and it actually might match my project fairly well as I can customize the location and circuitry of the electronics to the project, then stick it in a flashlight host later on.

Are Blu Ray diodes fairly universal, or do they have specific mw ratings depending on the one you get? I know the real power rating comes from the driver, but I don't want to burn out a diode or anything. I presume the diode needs to be specifically a blu ray burner, not just a blu ray diode.

After a bit of a search, I found this blog, where a guy used a DVD burner and some electrical components to wire up and laser. It's not blu ray and I didn't see much on the mw rating expected from this setup, but if it's significantly cheaper to build the driver myself with a blu ray diode, I'm all for it. I'm no stranger to electrical wiring and soldering.