Subject:
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RE: !!! Laser attachments for Mindstorms !!!
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.robotics
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Date:
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Fri, 8 Oct 1999 16:53:05 GMT
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Viewed:
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759 times
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Richard [richard@mailstart.com] wrote:
> Laser tag sounds like another interesting alternative. It would be • difficult
> to 'score' a hit on another robot due to the narrow beam. Is anyone good
> enough at optics to elaborate on how the beam could be diffused into more • of a
> cone shape?
Snip
You put a single field lens in front on the laser to provide a conical
beam, but this is usually already done by the manufacturer because a laser
diode is basically a point source and needs to be collimated to be useful.
OEM modules like this are available from LaserMate Corporation
http://www.lasermate.com . They come in many flavors. Their part #PLP 650
3AWB is a laser diode module in a small brass body, with a small battery
supplied power supply/modulator, adjustable plastic front optic used for
focusing (or un-focusing in this case) 3 mw, 650nm (visible red). $19.00
each, visa/mc/amex. These folks make a lot of the parts you'll find in
cheap laser pointers and levels.
A note on ***EYE SAFETY*** I think lasers under 5 milliwatt are considered
class IIIa by the FDA. That means they are not very powerful, and are not
considered terribly dangerous. You can buy them as pointers, keyrings and
the like. This will seem real obvious but, DON'T LOOK DIRECTLY INTO THE
BEAM. It can still cause damage to your eyes. Occasional exposure is
apparently considered to be ok by the FDA, which is why you can look into
the supermarket scanners, but if you are going to play with lasers and want
to look at your grandchildren in thirty years use caution.
Jeff
jeffrey.hazen@northmill.net
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