DIY Laser Spirograph

Did you ever see those laser devices that make a little laser show on a wall that changes around? I'll show you how you can do that with stuff laying around the house.

Step 1: Gather Materials

These are the things you will need before starting.

-laser
-2 mirrors, one has to be at least 2" by 2"
-2 electric motors(scavenged from toy fans)
-a AA battery
-plenty of small wire
-some plastic containors to mount the motors on, anything about an inch high and sturdy enought to mount the motors on will work.
- DIY Laser Mount
-a base about 5" by 5", I used a plastic lid, you can use cardboard or anything else thats handy.
- a potentiometer to control the speed of the motor, any salvaged volume control should work
-plenty of wire so we have some slack to work with

Tools
-soldering iron
-hot glue/epoxy

Comments

[ananda1]

How would one integrate a spirograph into a party SAFELY? Would you aim it at the air, a wall, the ground? Lawyers are expensive.

[AlphaRomeo]

Thanks for putting this wonderful instructable - I will make one as soon as I can

One possible modification could be that one could fix toothpaste caps (or something similar) to shafts of the motors - and stick mirror to cap using plastic clay or something like that.

Now you can experiment with different reflecting surfaces and materials - such as CDs or DVDs -

[coolfordy]

you could try small computer fans and bluetack

[dbshortwave]

this is not a bad idea i wonder if we could add more to this like an arduino instead of brush type motors why not some bi- polar motors and servos to control the X-Y

[supercrazytutorials]

can i coonect it with the output audio jack of my pc???????

[trooperrick]

No, but there are a whole bunch of other instructables that will show you other designs.

[electfire]

I am working on a laser light show using one motor driving two mirrors (rotating in opposite directions) and a speaker with a mirror (so it will be audio controlled)

[Liberty92]

you should post a better layed out picture, maybe an obvious schematic or something to show a better view of the circuit

[chinnerz]

yeah, i think this is a very good instructable. nicely done.

[wethecom]

try this with slytle melted cds

[AP Digital light]

Good job! I'm building similar device with three mirrors.

[FathomBoy91]

if u shined it at a building from a distance could u still see the design? a pic of that would be rlly cool

Check out my Instructables. Comments and ratings are greatly appreciated!
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[trooperrick]

It depends, if you make the mirrors less tilted then the design will stay more compact over a long distance. A 5 mW like I have probably won't be able to be seen very far at that speed but anything over that probably will.

[conceptualstratagem]

Its all gravy here. Let the number of posted instructables do the talking. +(faved)

[errthum]

If you want to add a muscial component to it, add a third reflection off a mirror mounted on a small speaker. The speaker will add small variations to the beam and will change with the music.

[FrenchCrawler]

Check out this Laser Video Projector

[Chavez]

(removed by author or community request)

[thecheatscalc]

bleh, I give you an F- for heartlessly criticizing the work. LOTS of those videos exist! Seriously, has that guy even made an instructable? Further, is trooperrick even copying his work? This is a simple two mirrors on motors scanner. I think he did an excellent job. Good job, it may be simple, but, looks like it works pretty well! I'd suggest using wood blocks though, they won't flex as much as the plastic containers will.

[trooperrick]

Yeah I was looking for something stronger but came upon this in my tupperware drawer. I thought it would work fine and it did. It seems the ridges in the plastic keep it from flexing too much. Can't wait to see your instructable.

[trooperrick]

I didn't even know that that video existed. I wanted to see if anyone posted a spirograph and no one did, so I thought I should. Don't think I copied, most people who have high powered lasers know about this technique.

[Solaryellow]

Nice job trooperrick. It's different than the one I was working on, but I just cancelled it because this one is more technical. Mine just involved string and a camera. Part 2 of my Laser Wall Art.

[trooperrick]

That sounds interesting. Very Mcguiver-ey. I would like to know how you were going to do it.

[swargy]

I like this project. Very cool idea, I hope to make one if I can find the time.

[GorillazMiko]

wow, awesome. and its not copying, maybe he didnt know about it, maybe its an original. maybe that video wasnt on here, so he didnt know. i give Chavez an F- for accusing people of stuff they didnt do.

[rimar2000]

Very nice, very ingenious, good instructable. Thanks.