Alternative Laser Writing

Hi, as many of you, I'd love to have some kind of laser projector to write messages or draw pictures.
But it's ether expensive or tricky to realise an XY laser show.

Anyway, it doesn't stop me from writing with a laser.
I just do it a different way!

My idea is to create a path for the laser, which illuminates letters or shapes.

For this Instructable you'll need:

- a Laser, of course. mine is a 100mw Green laser.
- a switch.
- power source for your laser.

- a pair of glasses to protect your eyes from the laser when setting up.

- small magnets. (white bard magnets)
- a bigger magnet
- a mirror (explanations to choose well the mirror)
- a transparent glass (optional)
- super glue. I used loctite

I previously mounted my laser into a dead airsoft gun.
I made it for a "space cowboy" costume long time ago.

So, to get it back, here is a reversed instructable (destructable?) of what it was.

Choosing mirror is important.

You want to get a mirror with its silvering immediately outside the mirror, and not behind a layer of glass.

In fact, in the first case you have only one reflection on the metal, where in the second case you have 2 reflections, one from the silvering and one from the glass.

There is different ways to have it.

I used a mirror scavenged from a scanner. (2 first pictures) it has the good shape.

you can see one side is immediately reflecting. the other one has glass before.


You can find this kind of mirror in overhead projectors also. ( 3 last pictures )
Or try with normal mirror to remove the backing varnish with acetone.

Now we need small mirrors to be mount on magnets.

So let's cut them in small squares. (that's why scanner mirrors are convenient, they already are the good width.)

To do that:

- Mark where you want to cut
- scratch the marked line with the glass cutting tool. (optional)
- put a small rod under the mirror
- cover with kitchen paper to protect from debris
- brake the bit of mirror

Remember: You're working with glass and it may be dangerous.Be careful.

Gluing mirrors is both the simplest step, and the trickiest one.

Yes it's just gluing, but you'll have to glue with the best right angle you can!

follow the pictures, it speaks by itself.

you can also glue a small glass the same way.  it'll be used to split the laser light into two rays

There is not much to say. It's quite simple.

BUT: Verify that your laser beam is parallel to the surface of the magnet. ( parallel to your table in fact )
             This is important if you don't want to be stopped after one letter drawn.

Solder the laser to it's power source with a switch between.

Don't forget to use thin flexible wire, it will be easier to set everything up later

My power source is 2 AA cells connected together. 3volts .

I didn't have true laser glasses so I made some

I took red light filters.

theses plastic filters are candy plastic wrapping.

It was the plastic that absorbed the most the green laser.

Now it's time to write. To laser Write.

FIND A FRIDGE!

Stick all your magnets on it, and start composing!

Here is what it looks like.

I tried several picture mode on my camera, but it's hard to get exactly the render.

Anyway, enjoy!

Feel free to improve and share your ideas of improvement!

Bye !