Laser Vortex

Step 6 The Reflector Module

The reflector module is really a simple concept but it can be a bit difficult to construct. Its job is to reflect the laser beam at an angle that constantly changes to make a circular pattern. This is accomplished by placing a mirror at an angle on the shaft of a small electric motor. As the motor turns, the angle is changed making a circular pattern.

In a foggy room, we can see the pattern as a cone from the striking point of the laser on the rotating mirror outward. With a dense wispy fog created by a small fog machine, the vortex affect we desire is created by reflecting more of the concentrated laser light off of the denser areas of fog.

Comments

[Charlie13]

You could tape a prism to the top of an old whacked out CD player and then reflect the lasers through the prism.

[youkneephsycle]

i see where ur coming from with the wind that the cd would produce. i actually tried to make one of these yesterday( i wasnt very succesfull, thats why im here again) and i got a pretty nice looking vortex by reflecting the laser off of a piece of aluminium foil, the little wrinkles in it make it look really cool.

[youkneephsycle]

to be even more practical why not use an upside down old cd for the mirror, they are very reflective.

[mever]

The first one I made used a CD and the will work but they are not as reflective as a mirror. Their large diameter also makes balancing an issue and more wind turbulence disturbing the wispy fog that looks best in the Vortex. You can use a CD but small mirrors work better and first surface mirrors are best.

[livinghighlander]

A hint from when I was a kid if you buy a cheap 5 dollar CD player and take the lip off but then lock it so its things the lid is on you could glue a small mirror to that and it would rotate pretty well

[mever]

Thats an excellent tip. I found the motors in old cd players to work great as well. The clasp that holds the cd to the motor is great to glue a mirror to.