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Step 3Lasers
Overview:
Laser's aren't toys!... no wait... maybe they can be? As Ralphie's mom might say, "You'll shoot your eye out!" I think we all understand by now that lasers and retinas don't always play nice but that doesn't mean we still can't have fun with our Red Ryder BB gun.
The lasers used in the project are not the kind that will light matches, pop balloons, or cut 007 agents in half. They are low power and relatively harmless (check out the links at the bottom for more safety info). Lasers can be a lot of fun if you treat them with respect! Even with that said, read about laser safety, understand the risks, maybe lasers aren't for you but then again maybe with just a little more research and experience you'll see you can still have fun while being safe!
Common features and how to buy?
Laser Ball laser specifications (from Aixiz):
Check out these links for more information on lasers:
Laser's aren't toys!... no wait... maybe they can be? As Ralphie's mom might say, "You'll shoot your eye out!" I think we all understand by now that lasers and retinas don't always play nice but that doesn't mean we still can't have fun with our Red Ryder BB gun.
The lasers used in the project are not the kind that will light matches, pop balloons, or cut 007 agents in half. They are low power and relatively harmless (check out the links at the bottom for more safety info). Lasers can be a lot of fun if you treat them with respect! Even with that said, read about laser safety, understand the risks, maybe lasers aren't for you but then again maybe with just a little more research and experience you'll see you can still have fun while being safe!
Common features and how to buy?
- Lasers come in many shapes, sizes, powers, and colors (wavelength).
- Understand that most "lasers" you can buy are "laser modules" rather than just the pure laser diode.
- Always go with the "laser module" which includes housing, collimating lens, and driver/current controller
- The component in a laser pointer is a "laser module"
- Lasers are rated for optical power not electrical power so when you see a 5mW or 10mW laser module its referring to the amount of light being produced rather than the amount of electricity being consumed.
- In a circuit, a laser is acting just a like a diode, in other words, treat a laser module just like you would treat an LED
- Red laser technology is more mature than green and blue. As a result, red lasers tend to be lower cost, smaller, and more efficient than green or blue.
Laser Ball laser specifications (from Aixiz):
- 650nm (RED)
- 5mW (optical power)
- 3.2V
- 20mA (this is comparable to any modestly bright LED)
- Datasheet
Check out these links for more information on lasers:
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