laser mentor in Austin, TX? Please help!

[superbert]

Hi everyone! Hope all is well!

Sorry for the lengthy post, but please read it all. I hope its in the right section of the boards.

I fell in love with lasers over a decade ago when i was in 2nd grade, and have been hooked ever since. I purchased a red pointer from Target for $15, which was confiscated later that year because I decided it would be a good idea to shine it all over the place during class. Shining it in the steam-filled bathroom after taking a shower was one of my favorite things to do; I often stayed in there for 20 or more minutes at a time. I collected several other pointers throughout my childood, and remain obsessed to this day. Despite my immaturity early on, I practiced safe operation in regards to people's eyes and my own.

When i was 17, I built a small website called bertztoyz, and sold >5mW Leadlights by advertising on CPF and some other forums. I made practically no money, but purpose of the "company" was to get my own for cheap, and have the ability to play with several of them for free. Close to that same time, I organized a group buy for >150mW PGL-III's from CNI. Due the steep pricing at the time, I wasnt able to get one for myself, but had an amazing 24 hours with them before shipping them off to their respective owners. =)

Now that Im a little older and have been able to get a better paying job, I am the proud owner of a 400mW handheld, which I consider one of my most prized possessions.

Ive been reading about x-y scanning for a few years now, but have only recently started to understand all of the components. I feel that with the literature available online and with what I have downloaded, as well as the questions that Ive had answered here, I could build a complete RGB system.

Prior to dropping upwards of $2000, Id like to have a SOLID understanding of the equipment and procedures that are involved in building scanners and putting on public displays. Are there any experienced laserists in Austin, Texas, that would be willing to show me the ropes? Id prefer to meet with someone that can confidently put on a show for a crowd, and possibly does so as a profession or for fun. If there is a job opening available with an actual company, it would be an honor to help out.. Pay isnt necessary. I am a quick technical learner, and have experience with building computers and other electronics.

If theres any of you that can help me get the knowledge i need, Id be more than willing to watch and listen with everything that Ive got in me.

Thanks in advance guys. Take care!

Sincerely,
Brett G

[buffo]

Hi Brett;

Welcome to PhotonLexicon. I don't know if we have any members in Austin, though there are a few people in Texas at least. (Then again, Texas is a big place, so you might be looking at a long drive to meet up with one of our other Texas-based members.)

If you're interested in putting on public displays, understand that there are some regulatory hoops that you'll need to jump through first. There is assistance available here, but it's not something that you're going to complete overnight. There is a good bit of work involved in getting your equipment certified.

I strongly encourage you to attend a laser enthusiast's meeting in the future, so you can learn more about this hobby. The next one will probably be SELEM, over the weekend of August 21st and 22nd. It's held in North Carolina, which is a long way from Texas, but I think the trip will be worth it for you. (Search the forums for "SELEM" and you'll see what it's all about.)

Adam