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Is it possible to build a space-age ray gun at home? With mostly houshold items, it is. Perhaps many of you have seen tutorials online on how to build a laser pistol, but these tutorials are almost always only reliant on weak laser diodes. This pistol is a SOLID STATE PUMPED laser and is the first online.
In order to prevent confusion, I will explain the difference. A SOLID STATE laser is pumped with intense light from a flash lamp in a single pulse onto a lasing medium. In this tutorial we will be using Neodymium:YAG as our lasing medium. If you build this pistol properly, it should be able to punch through plastics, wood, styrafoam, or even thin metals instantaneously or make blind spots on television screens.
WARNING: Due to the inherent dangers of this project, make sure to take all necessary safety precautions including eye protection. Never point the ray gun at any living thing, and always make sure to have proper supervision.
This tutorial simply gives basic instructions for a way to build the pistol but does not go into great detail on how it will work. (I will post soon) In addition, though the capacitors can be charged faster using alternative methods, for the sake of simplicity (and cost), I will be detailing how to build a working charger with only disposable cameras.
Before you begin this project, it is advised that you first watch this brief instructional video covering the bare basics (read below):
NOTE: NEVER fire a laser without proper eye protection or handle bare capacitors!! I was in no danger throughout the video, although it was made humorous. Make sure to shield your eyes properly when firing solid state lasers, and make sure that capacitors are adequately insulated. This video is not meant to be serious, but is only to showcase the laser pistol. A video will be posted to better show it in action (firing).
In order to prevent confusion, I will explain the difference. A SOLID STATE laser is pumped with intense light from a flash lamp in a single pulse onto a lasing medium. In this tutorial we will be using Neodymium:YAG as our lasing medium. If you build this pistol properly, it should be able to punch through plastics, wood, styrafoam, or even thin metals instantaneously or make blind spots on television screens.
WARNING: Due to the inherent dangers of this project, make sure to take all necessary safety precautions including eye protection. Never point the ray gun at any living thing, and always make sure to have proper supervision.
This tutorial simply gives basic instructions for a way to build the pistol but does not go into great detail on how it will work. (I will post soon) In addition, though the capacitors can be charged faster using alternative methods, for the sake of simplicity (and cost), I will be detailing how to build a working charger with only disposable cameras.
Before you begin this project, it is advised that you first watch this brief instructional video covering the bare basics (read below):
NOTE: NEVER fire a laser without proper eye protection or handle bare capacitors!! I was in no danger throughout the video, although it was made humorous. Make sure to shield your eyes properly when firing solid state lasers, and make sure that capacitors are adequately insulated. This video is not meant to be serious, but is only to showcase the laser pistol. A video will be posted to better show it in action (firing).
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Signing UpStep 1Getting Cameras
To begin with, you are going to need a ton of disposable cameras. Depending on how powerful you would like your ray gun to be, you will choose how many disposable cameras (though at a sufficient amount there is a ceiling to how much the pistol can pump out). Politely go to a nearby photo developing store and ask if they have any used disposable cameras.
From my experience, the store employees' willingness to cooperate is dependent on a few things:
1.) How old you look
2.) How much you look like you know what you are doing
3.) How dangerous your project sounds when they ask you what you need the cameras for
Once you have a big bag full of cameras, its time to start shucking! Inside each camera there are many useful components we will need. But before removing the outer plastic container, you must first remove the camera's battery, and have a thick piece of metal insulated from your hand. Use this to discharge the camera's capacitor very carefully by tapping the two pieces of metal jutting out from it. Once the capacitor is discharged and the battery is removed, the electronics are safe to touch. Remove them. I have attached a photo with the basic information on it. Though there are many different designs for disposable camera circuits, they all work similarly.
From my experience, the store employees' willingness to cooperate is dependent on a few things:
1.) How old you look
2.) How much you look like you know what you are doing
3.) How dangerous your project sounds when they ask you what you need the cameras for
Once you have a big bag full of cameras, its time to start shucking! Inside each camera there are many useful components we will need. But before removing the outer plastic container, you must first remove the camera's battery, and have a thick piece of metal insulated from your hand. Use this to discharge the camera's capacitor very carefully by tapping the two pieces of metal jutting out from it. Once the capacitor is discharged and the battery is removed, the electronics are safe to touch. Remove them. I have attached a photo with the basic information on it. Though there are many different designs for disposable camera circuits, they all work similarly.
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I believe you were wearing two layes of gloves, right? Spot on.
If you want safety in gloves, at least use washing-up gloves.
A friend of mine was playing with a Tesla coil, and wanted me hold a cable. I wouldn't touch it until I was wearing leather gloves and then holding the wire in insulated pliers. I could still feel the electrical pulses.
"(Unless you wish to also ban archery, shooting skeet, campfires, AC power (as suggested by Edison because of the dangers of AC over DC)" The only reason that AC was more dangerous than DC was because it threatened the monopoly Edison was attempting to establish. Edison's greatest gift to the world is the electric chair. He obtained a sponsorship from Westinghouse who had no idea what he was sponsoring. Edison proposed that his new witch-burning stake be referred to as the 'Westinghouse'. Ironically the modern versions of these barbaric device all run on DC.
You've all seen those search lights that shine up into the air? They're running DC arcing between two carbon electrodes. So you can imagine what an arc like that could do to your home if it ran high voltage DC.
lol
Thanks in advance!!!!!!!!!
Ps: I've already have the capacitor bank made :p
http://www.amazon.com/650nm-250mw-Power-Laser-Diode/dp/B005S5HX8E/ref=pd_sim_misc_3
could be placed instead of a SSY1, thanks
Finally, this is kinda stupid of me, but wouldn't a C class or D class battery work for longer that a pair of AA's?
The experience was shocking, to say the least.