SELEM 9 - August 12-16th 2015 - Sign up now!

[Bradfo69]

I second both of these statements.

Bullshit! Think positive, dude! You *WILL* be there, you *WILL* do your presentation, and you *WILL* have a good time, or else I *WILL* drive down to Orlando to kick your ass personally!

I could benefit from learning more about beam correction on the higher power diodes using cylindrical pairs, prism pairs and other methods. It would be cool to see a demo of how to correct the beam and what to expect once its done (power losses, beam shape, etc). Not sure if this is a 5 minute discussion back stage or if it warrants a full hour of demo/discussion.

Especially in light of some recently acquired bits to do just that with a ton of red.

[HankLloydRight]

What I'd like to see is projector building 101.. I know a lot of you (or MOST of you) guys have all the tools and spare parts "just laying around" to build/fix/modify all kinds of boxes.

Now I'm pretty handy myself, have basic tools for all sorts of electronic or automotive audio or other control projects, and I've built and repaired plenty of electronic stuff in my lifetime.

But finding and building a PJ box? It's a big unknown to me. Where do I find the raw parts? How do I assemble them? How do I know what all the doodads, screws, brackets, plates, spacers, etc to find and use? Especially if I *don't* have a garage full of thousands of parts from old laser projects from which to salvage?

I do have an ulterior motive for all of this, as Adam knows well. As many of you know, I bought two of his RGB lasers last year, and I've been looking into transplanting the Alphalite laser into a more professional looking box (*everyone* who see it in my house makes comments about it). Adam suggested some cases from overseas, but the shipping charges were 2x the cost of the case! So I've been looking at some nice Pelican cases like this which I really like (compact, portable, sturdy): http://www.pelican-case.com/im2200.html that would fit the existing light board pretty much as-is, but when I dig deeper, there's nowhere for the laser opening to fit -- it's either over one of the latches in the front, or the hinges in the back. And even assuming that that wasn't a problem, I don't know where to begin with selecting and acquiring the proper mounting parts to even make it work!

Anyway, it's something I think a lot of you take for granted because it comes so naturally to you and the availability of existing parts. Interestingly, I'm comfortable figuring out the innards of a projector (I've taken Adam's two PJ apart twice already to replace the diode modules, but that's another story I need help on too!).

At Carib-LEM it was mind boggling to just sit and watch Adam and Rich throw two projectors together in a day or two. But Rich also had an entire store-room full of parts! If I had that, I probably could figure something out, but I'm starting from scratch. Rich also gutted an RGB projector to re-purpose the case, and gave me pretty much all the innards (thanks Rich!), and it was suggested that I make a lumia box. Sounds great! But how do I even start a project like that? I'm sure I could get the lasers to work, but then there's this nagging box problem again!

[Lazerjock]

I will do my best to make it to SELEM. It's a tradition now.

Hank,
I would be more than happy to show off my projector and how I built most of the parts. I don't have a machine shop either, but I do have a bunch of tools. A drill press, belt sander & tap set can do wonders. There are a few items you will need to buy like mirror mounts, but even these can be manufactured if you really need to.
It really isn't as hard to do as you might think.

Chris

[HankLloydRight]

Thanks, I remember your projector quite well from last year.

[buffo]

Hey Chris:

The projector Hank wants to transplant is a monolithic unit. (It's my old Alphalite RGB rig.) Everything is already mounted to the optical plate and wired up. Scan amps, lasers, drivers, and optics are all on the top, and the two power supplies are attached to (hung from) the bottom.

So all that needs to be done is to mount the optical plate in the new case and drill a hole for the aperture, and then install the ILDA, Interlock, and power connectors on the back and wire them to the optical plate. It would be a slam-dunk if he wanted the optical path to be exposed as in your "suitcase" projector, but I think he's looking for a completely-enclosed case, which will require drilling a hole for the aperture...

Adam

[HankLloydRight]

I still have the problem of finding a good case!

Also, I am interested in building the lumina box with Rich's parts, but don't know where to start with that either!

[hakzaw1]

Can't speak for him BUT..
nathan miller & i have been chatting about (SELEM) & LSO class- and pretty sure he is in.
also many others but he so far is the most serious-

Brad's LPM idea is awesome!! & Greg would be the right guy..I'm sure seeing it done is way better than reading about it.

[Bradfo69]

I'm sure seeing it done is way better than reading about it.

Abso - frickin- loutely. I know... I know... eyes are not the best judge but, in the grand scheme of things the only thing I have ever seen that was rumored to be USA legal audience scanning was the Justin Timberlake concert. 25,000 seat sports arena with much more professional stuff than most of us own, as compared to a lower powered RGB in a 500 seat auditorium should be very interesting. I'd like to see if the hoopla is REALLY truly worth it. Am I going to see it and say, yeah... I can justify $7,000 $10,000+ or more, to be able to legally do this.

[AnthonyGarcia]

Am I going to see it and say, yeah... I can justify $7,000 $10,000+ or more, to be able to legally do this.

Personally I've seen a handful of audience scanning shows and once operated an audience scanning demo. It's a neat effect for a song or two but gets old quickly to me. So I guess you could just drop it once or twice for a show, but that would require optics that switch out and switch in. Is this something that is available? And for cheap? I'd hate to do 90 percent of a show without scanning but with the diverged beams of an audience scanning projector

[hitekvoop]

I'd hate to do 90 percent of a show without scanning but with the diverged beams of an audience scanning projector

Which I imagine is the whole point of the Pango safety scans' shape... get the Horizon right and only the audience-bound beams will be diverged.