Hi my first laser question. (About green module start)

[Miccim]

Hi. Im a newbie form Denmark and i have a question or two.

If I, at first, just buys this green laser:

Hmm... I cannot link directly but it is in the top left corner under "laser modules" and then in "green laser Modules"

www.laser-wave.co.uk/


1: Can i then just hook it up to 230v and then get my green beam to play with?
2: Is this a fairly good laser? I only want to built a green laser. (Yes, you heard thet before)

Thanx in advance

Miccim

[ElektroFreak]

Yes, those modules accept 90-240VAC into the power supply, so just plug and play. With analog-modulated lasers (which yours most likely is) a DC voltage of 1-5V must be applied to the modulation input to get output, the power increasing with the voltage applied.

Laser-wave lasers are excellent far-eastern lasers. They have an excellent reputation here, as does stanwax (the owner of the website laser-wave.co.uk).

A laser-wave laser would make an excellent laser source for a single-color scanner like you want to build.

[Carl B]

Hi Miccim and welcome to PL.

The laser module you are looking at is a Laserwave unit which are about the best chinese lasers on the market and the web site is owned by the PL member STANWAX better known as Rob and is a great chap to deal with. Have no worrys about buying your laser from Rob.

Carl

[Miccim]

WOW That was fast answers

So i see that i have to have some sort of voltage to control the laser. That seem lucky enough as that lets the user control the mW output also, right?

There must be a name for that thing that does that. What is that please? I thought the laser diode just got power and then startet to give light. Is it some sort of psu that drives the 1-5v to the laser and also gives power to the scanners? How is that connected?

About scanners:

I want at 500mw green laser for my mobile disco. I want it to make tunnels , waves ect. not digital clocks ect.

Is the £125 good enough for that:


20K Scanner set comprises of the following.
X & Y scanners & mounting block
2x Driver Card (only 1 pictured)
1x Power Supply
1x Cable & connector kit



Or should I go for the: DT-30 Mid range Scanners?



I might upgrade the laser to a more powerfull one later, and the will need a better scanner to give better light lines. (Not the best word but you get the meening)




Thanx again


Miccim

[Carl B]

When you look at the photo of the laser on the web site you will see a silver case which is the switch mode power supply to convert 90 - 260 v AC to a 5v DC supply. The 5v DC then gose to the driver thats mounted on the black metal block. in addition the this 5v DC supply you also need to connect a 0 - 5v signal that allows you to control the brightness of the laser. This is called the Analouge modulation input and is on a seperate connector.

With regards scanners the 20k ones are OK for beam shows but if you can afford them go for the DT30's.

If you are intending to use a 500mW laser in a club then you will have safty issues to deal with. especialy if you intend to audience scan. If you search this forum you will find a lot of info covering most aspects of safty with lasers in public venues and what you need to do to be safe and legal. It may not sound it but 500mW is a lot of laser power that can do permanent damage to the eye within a couple of milli seconds.

Carl

[Miccim]

Dam i replyed directly to Carl B

I wrote:

I will go for the DT-30 Scanners then.

I use dmx 1-10v for my light in the disco. Maybe i can build something that can help me there.

What is the mos common way to make the 1-5v DC modulation input?

[Carl B]

Your Best bet to controlling your laser projector is to use dedicated computer software and a DAC interface that gose between the computer and the laser. The most popular starter DAC is the FB3 now also known as the Quick Show package from pangolin www.pangolin.com which comes with a great bundel of software with it. Bill Benner from Pangolin is also a member of this forum.

Carl

[Miccim]

Ok so you buy the software and DAC interface. The DAC gives the laser the 1-5v dc input and also controls the input of the scanners?

Again thanx.

I will go to bed now. Have a happy new years evening.

Regards Miccim

[Mr.Coffee]

can you post a picture of your laser and driver? I have a laserwave as well and I love it. If you have the small driver that is a really big heatsink with fans on it, that has switches that will let you run it in cw mode, ie: you get a beam without having to hook external voltage up to it. just watch out where you shoot that beam, 1/2 watt is a lot of light to accidentally hit yourself in the face with.

[Miccim]

Hi there, im just getting basic knowledge in place. In #1 i wrote the laser module im interested in...

Regards Miccim