Mounting lasers on stage

[danielbriggs]

Without meaning to threadjack;
Could I just ask recommendations of a half decent stand for my "Toblerone" rig?
I've seen these two; any preference?
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/produc...ker-stand.html
http://www.djkit.com/product.php?id=2290&cat=278

I was planning to make a plate (from some really thick kitchen top laminated chipboard cut to the size of the base of the triangle), screw on some square section around the edges for location, and mount a top hat adapter on the base for mounting to the stand.
Can anyone advise on a better way to do this? I don't really want to mount the tophat adapter directly to the aluminium base...

Ta,
Dan

[mliptack]

And I seriously doubt that lasers can't be mounted on the floor; the Australian Pink Floyd for example:



(in the actual show I saw they were a bit lower).

Steve covered this topic already. The performers of course were trained with the safety of the lasers behind them as were the crew. (I should know, I worked on the lighting for that tour in the US)

Unfortunately, however, they have dropped the lasers from the show this year. I am unsure of the specifics, but it might be due to the Barco projector they fried with the laser.

[Doc]

Without meaning to threadjack;
Could I just ask recommendations of a half decent stand for my "Toblerone" rig?
I've seen these two; any preference?
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/produc...ker-stand.html
http://www.djkit.com/product.php?id=2290&cat=278

I was planning to make a plate (from some really thick kitchen top laminated chipboard cut to the size of the base of the triangle), screw on some square section around the edges for location, and mount a top hat adapter on the base for mounting to the stand.
Can anyone advise on a better way to do this? I don't really want to mount the tophat adapter directly to the aluminium base...

Ta,
Dan

Hi Dan, the first of those two looks incredibly flimsy. You need something much more substantial.

I have two truss clamp positions on my RGB that I use where possible, but also use a tripod when it's the best option (bearing in mind what Steve said about vibration and movement; I would only use the tripod on a solid concrete stage).

I think Carl B uses the mounting method that you described but I have installed the top hat mount in to the chassis of the projector, and from memory your toblerone has an extremely solid frame so maybe that's an option?

[mliptack]

You know I have to wonder, what is the obsession of people using tripods?

Tripods always seem flimsy even more so when used improperly (legs not spread correctly, up too high, overweight to manufacturers suggestion etc.). Why don't we see more threaded pipe and pipe fittings in here? Using a 50 Lb threaded base and carying some various sized schedule 40 pipe you can make one hell of a projector stand, that could take almost any diode-based system.

50lb base: http://www.stagelightingstore.com/s.nl/it.A/id.1477/.f (this was a quick search, I am sure you could find one cheaper)
SCH40 pipe: Available at a home depot
SCH40 pipe fittings: Home depot

They actually sell a piece that is a flange with a threaded coupler. I cant find an image of one for the life of me. but using this you could screw the flange part into the bottom of your projector and then thread it directly on top of the pipe and base.

Of course if you already had a c-clamp or my personal favorite the mega claw http://www.thelightsource.com/products/7/view you dont even need the flange, just a pipe T at the top.

This is something else I have been meaning to throw onto the forums, and now is no better than any other - so here it goes. To those of you using C-Clamps to hold the weight of you projector. Keep in mind, while C-Clamps can surely hold quite a bit of weight, they are only made to hold the weight of the manufacturers heaviest fixture created.

[Doc]

I wouldn't call it an obsession, I prefer to use trussing where possible but sometimes it's not.

My projector weighs about 60lbs, my tripod is rated at 3 times that and has a rack and pinion winch that raises it to 10 feet. Even at maximum height it is rock solid and the legs have a spread of 6 feet. It's no lightweight itself though, but it will fit into a medium sized car and is a godsend at 5am when you are packing up.

[smokeAndMirrors]

Steve covered this topic already. The performers of course were trained with the safety of the lasers behind them as were the crew. (I should know, I worked on the lighting for that tour in the US)

Respect!

So how were the lasers mounted?

Unfortunately, however, they have dropped the lasers from the show this year. I am unsure of the specifics, but it might be due to the Barco projector they fried with the laser.

Yeah I saw The Wall tour this year, light show was a bit disappointing to be honest. To make up for it I am seeing this tomorrow

[Jem]

Ahhh... So, i'm guessing you're in the Cambridge area then

Well then, you'll be delighted to know that Cambridge is one of the areas in the UK where the Council is pretty knowledgeable about lasers. I believe it is not uncommon for one of the Country's top laser experts to just 'drop in' on a show where lasers are being used.

We have another forum member in that area who is well aware of dealing with this gentleman at laser shows (I have no doubt he'll step in to this thread if he wants to ). I think this is developing into one of those occasions where you will *really* have to make sure your paperwork is in order and that you are doing everything as you should be.

Incidentally, there's no-one trying to frighten you off here, it's more just a bit of good advice to save you hassle in the long run

Take care

Jem

[smokeAndMirrors]

Ahhh... So, i'm guessing you're in the Cambridge area then

Well done Sherlock!

Well then, you'll be delighted to know that Cambridge is one of the areas in the UK where the Council is pretty knowledgeable about lasers. I believe it is not uncommon for one of the Country's top laser experts to just 'drop in' on a show where lasers are being used.

Well at least the Council are good for something then.

We have another forum member in that area who is well aware of dealing with this gentleman at laser shows (I have no doubt he'll step in to this thread if he wants to ).

That would be interesting. Mind you, Cambridge is poorly served for smaller music venues that support any sort of light show, never mind lasers, so I tend to work out of town.

I think this is developing into one of those occasions where you will *really* have to make sure your paperwork is in order and that you are doing everything as you should be.

There seems to be an assumption that it is not. Which may or may not be the case, but...

Incidentally, there's no-one trying to frighten you off here, it's more just a bit of good advice to save you hassle in the long run

...the lectures started even before you knew my level of experience and I'd asked an elementary question about mounting. Of course I don't want hassle and I aspire to wow my customers, not blind them; your help is appreciated, but by the same token I have always realised that lasers are not toys and can be dangerous; even the lower-power lasers I've used for small gigs before have been directed way above heads avoiding reflective surfaces and so on, even if the band and the venue were blasé about the safety aspects (which they were). So whilst I think no-one's trying to frighten me and you're all smart and well-meaning and that I could (and want to) learn a lot from you all (and already have!)... you could be just a little a bit less intense with the sermons.

[Jem]

Oh dear... Sorry, I didn't mean to sound patronising

This is one reason why it's a *very* good idea to introduce yourself on the forum and tell us a bit about yourself, your experience with lasers and the general area where you live. By doing that we can then pitch answers that are meaningful to your particular situation without being condescending.

Without this knowledge, I guess there is always the assumption that you are new to the game and the answers are pitched accordingly.

Hope we haven't offended you

Jem

[smokeAndMirrors]

Oh dear... Sorry, I didn't mean to sound patronising

I know you mean well, and from the quality of your replies and the obvious vast experience the posters have here, if I ran off in a strop I'd be the loser. And I'm really glad I was taken to task on the "scanning frequency" point because I don't want to make mistakes that result in people getting hurt, and I'm glad that it came up even if it was a bit OT.

This is one reason why it's a *very* good idea to introduce yourself on the forum and tell us a bit about yourself, your experience with lasers and the general area where you live. By doing that we can then pitch answers that are meaningful to your particular situation without being condescending.

I joined ages ago, but my work was sporadic, I fell out with the band I was working with (they turned quickly from a bunch of decent guys to would-be-rock-stars and dumped heavily on me). Since then I've done one video shoot for my own band, but I have just formed a working relationship with a new band and I've just acquired my RGB laser so I feel that I've stepped up a rung in the ladder, not least in terms of the output power of my laser. With regards to the lower-power devices (280mW RGYs that I have) there is a bit of a lax culture but I realise that at 600mW my new box is capable of doing damage, even burning skin.

(Incidentally, I saw Jean-Michel Jarre this year, who seemed quite happy to stand in a static scanned white fan for some period of time and I'm guessing his lasers were 3W or above so what gives there?)

Hope we haven't offended you
Jem

No, I appreciate your comments. But I also want an answer to my question, which seems to have taken a back seat to the H&S issue.