Scavenging lasers - Lumio Intensity to Lumia Intensity

[frostypaw]

Looking through ebay I find occasional cheap-ass lasers that are a bit broken and super cheap - and I've wondered....

I've picked up a 'bust' Lumio Intensity 3 colour garden laser. It's actually kinda pretty but has lost it's remote which makes it rotate the patterns and changes the colours. The idea is for barely over 20quid I could make a simple lumia projector replacing it's rotating grating with a distortion wheel.

Only bugger is the remote seems to be what starts the rotation so I really do need to get into the back no matter what, then I can adjust the levels too as the green is waaaaay brighter. Here's the breakdown so far....


intact

irritating very soft security screws removed

the little gratings about 1cm square - 2x wide spaced evenly illuminated one more tightly spaced and uneven

rotating grating exposed - another wide spread grid. What looks like an IR filter seems to confirm it's DPSS green.

Perfect - it's going to be very easy to replace with a lumia wheel.

This is approximately where I would have liked to see a bolt holding front and back together that I could undo but there's utterly nothing.

I think the little black wire like thing is part of a temperature shutdown sensor

So I have a few spare diffraction gratings if anyone's interested but most of all has anyone dismantled one of these before to know how to get inside any further? It seems worryingly like front and back were press-fitted once all the components were in place. There are no further things to undo.... just a very thin seam and enough loose wire to fit it like that in the compartment. I may have to cut it open to get any further, which is sad as it's not bad looking compared to a box.

First to the freezer in a bag to see if a little shrinkage loosens anything. Even if it ends up coming to a sad end it looks like a usable amount of 445/532/638 or similar for £22 delivered so will be happy and might be a good source of RGB for thrifty folk


ps. looks around 100mW each comparing to others I have set to known currents. 520 is so much more green than 532, fascinating side by side

[Datsurb]

As for the remote, the China guys have no fantasy, and are using the same credit card controller for 99% of all items. I'm quite sure a remote from a rgb led strip or a cheap car audio will do just fine. (My car stereo changes radiostation when I want to change colour onth strips in the partyschack)

As for further dismantling, try ever so hard/gently twisting the body. A few of my rgb spots looks quite similar, and they are screwed together in several bits.

[frostypaw]

Ah that's what I tried and hoped - are your lights the sort with the little twist+notch that locks them in? Sadly no movement even after a trip to the fridge then warming the back. Going to get a mate to take a look tomorrow before doing anything drastic.

lol@car+lights i'll have to check, I think most of the ones i have are IR not RF... will find out and check - good call thanks.

[norty303]

We need to see pics of the side and rear of the unit really

[frostypaw]

We need to see pics of the side and rear of the unit really

I thought I'd save anyone the download - apart from the very thin and immovable seam it's featureless smooth metal and some stylish ridges - and the cable exit gland which can't be connected to anything holding the front on as the circuitboard's in the way. My mate's given it some language too now to no avail - they're well made little buggers!

chop chop chop chop chop

surgery pics tomorrow