Greetings, all;
Welcome to the PL Lumia Forum.
Here is something I put on the MIA PL Wiki back in 2013, updated slightly for today:
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As some of you know, I am deeply embedded in the art of lumia these days. I do shows at art competitions and have a big gallery show coming up in October that will involve 17 linear lumia laser projectors.
Pix of my Grand Rapids show are here:
http://mikegouldlaserartist.com/webg...s10/index.html
PL has been of enormous help to me over the years, so it’s payback time. Here is a list of where to get parts for lumia, based on my many years of research.
Hardware
I am currently toiling away deep in the sub-basement of St. Wilfred’s Lumentic Institute, cooking up new nifties and spending a lot of quality time with my new band saw:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...1386_200481386
Ideal for cutting up aluminum for motor and lens mounts, base plates, etc. Note that you want to set it for the slowest speed and you need to keep the wheels clean of aluminum debris. These aren’t really designed for metal work, but if you use a 14tpi blade and keep ‘em clean, they work a treat.
Once you cut your aluminum, you need to clean the edges with a bench sander:
http://www.amazon.com/Shop-Fox-W1828.../dp/B00B4US0SY
This also works to remove sharp edges on lumia disks; just be very careful with the powdered glass this generates. Use a vacuum system and a breathing filter.
Then you need to shoot some holes into your aluminum. I use this:
https://www.ryobitools.com/power-too...e-laser-system
It has not one, but two lasers built into it!
I buy my Aluminum cheaply at Alro, which has outlets around the US. The one in Ann Arbor has an enormous variety of surplus bits and pieces, and has been supplying me and CDBeam for years now. My home away from home…
http://www.alro.com/Locations/Locations_AA.aspx
Motors
To do this right, you need to spin a glass disk or other media very slowly in front of your laser of choice.
I use a DC geared motor: with DC you can easily control the speed and direction of your media. This led me on a merry chase for the last 3 years, but I finally tracked down the ultimate lumia motor:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-12V-2RPM-...-/351900958125
Attn: Dave or other dealers – how about stocking up on these puppies?
Hubs
Next you need to attach the media to the motor shafts – I use these hubs:
http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/1203
Make sure you order the hole size that matches your motor shaft.
I epoxy these to the glass disks I use.
Speed control
PWM (pulse width modulation) is your friend. Lots circuit boards out there for this. For years I used these:
http://www.bakatronics.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=383
A quickie-built kit. I have received some that were missing some drilled holes, easily fixed with a 1mm bit.
Then I discovered these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/271046566081...84.m1439.l2649
Cheaper, pre-built, working well for me with the above motors. I have around 8 of these, and one has died. I am using these for testing while I await the custom 3-channel PWM board my Chief Engineer is designing for me..
Lenses
Surplus shed for these, used to turn laser points into lines:
http://www.surplusshed.com
I buy long cylindrical lenses and cut them into smaller items with this:
https://www.amazon.com/SKIL-3540-02-...R08/ref=sr_1_1
Ideal for glass cutting, but very messy. Do this in a garage wearing a raincoat, as you will be coated with glass dust suspended in water. I also use this to cut up glass vials for torture tubes. This el-cheapo saw works great, but you need to replace the blade with a good one, such as this:
https://www.amazon.com/QEP-6-1008BW-...5Q/ref=sr_1_31
Power Supplies
For my museum install, I am running 3-cond. Conventional AC line to each box, and turning it into 12VDC to run my lasers and motors. I like these supplies:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/370701394876...84.m1439.l2649
Super cheap, and reliable so far.
For wire:
http://www.skycraftsurplus.com/
Again, dirt cheap.
Glass
For lumia, you need to experiment with a variety of textured glass. I am fortunate in living within easy driving range of one of the biggest stained glass suppliers in the country:
http://www.delphiglass.com/
I like this glass, among many others:
http://www.delphiglass.com/stained-g...extured-petals
Note that they have assortment packs:
http://www.delphiglass.com/spectrum-...ral-glass-pack
Now to make your glass disks, you need a circle cutter – I use this one:
http://www.delphiglass.com/glass-cut...ut-lens-cutter
Once your glass is cut, I find it works best to drill out a ¼” circle in the center so the disk is adjustable up and down the motor shaft. First you need to find the center of the glass circle:
http://www.amazon.com/Woodstock-D309...dp/B0000DD4KF/
You drill your center hole under water with this:
http://www.amazon.com/Amico-Diameter...dp/B00880CG0Q/
These are even cheaper on eBay.
The above should help you get started, or ease your way if you are already addicted.
Hope this helps some of you. Thanks again for all the fish.
Lux Plus Esto…Mike