Introduction: Steam Punk Light Saber
This an ongoing project to build a laser light saber with a retractable blade,
Step 1: Starting Point
A battery powered tape measure! :) If you extend a tape measure, fold it back on itself, it can be pushed in and out and remain stiff....
Step 2: The Design
The drawing shows a three laser mount that rotates around the guide for the tape measure blade, the laser beams project out to a bounce mirror then bounce up again and so on.
The blade comes out of the mount (shown left of first picture) goes round a guide at the top (shown to right of first picture)
Second picture shows the actual top end.
Third picture shows the rotating laser mount
Step 3: Laser Mount and Power
First picture is the plastic mount for the lasers, inside is a tube and a pair of bearings to allow it to rotate
Second shows the slip rings which will connect the supply to the lasers.
Third shows rings fitted and the brushes ready to fit
Fourth shows it all assembled.
Step 4: Motor Drive Unit
This mount drive is a small motor ang gearbox that drives the lasers around via a belt drive.
Second photo shows it rotating....at speed!
Third shows the lasers when stationary
Step 5: Assembly
These pictures show the drive to rotate the lasers, the slip rings that transfer the power to the lasers and the tape measure body.
Step 6: What Next
This will not be finished by the closing date of the wicked lasers competition so here is an impression of the finished item.
The sleeve at the right hand end of the handle will hide the end of the blade when closed.
There are 3 movies, the first shows the blade extending in daylight.
http://www.vimeo.com/21548348
The second shows the lasers lit and the blade extending.
http://www.vimeo.com/21549102
The third one shows the lasers lit and the blade retracting.
http://www.vimeo.com/21547573
This is a work in progress and I know it will never look like a real light saber but as a punk build it has an appeal to me
Regards rog8811
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30 Comments
8 years ago on Introduction
PS: no distinct humming sound or the crackling sound struck way back then. Hope you make with the humming & crackling sounds!
8 years ago on Introduction
Hi, Rog. Cool stuff. I was able to make a light saber using an old car's motorized antenna way back 1991! LED's (green & white mix - where you attached the laser) were used alternately to produce the color hue of Luke's saber. I covered the antenna (glueing the tip) inside the saber's toy that extends when flipped, then glued the other end at the base. It extends & closes faster! I made one for my cousin using red LED's (he wanted to be Darth Vader - since he has the "mask & voice synthesizer). Handles used were old metal flashlights (I needed the switch with the red button), since i'm a penny-pincher, had no work then). Sold our Saber toys at ebay for $50 (Luke's) & $40 (Vader's). Now my son (12 y/o) is into electronics, he wanted me to help him build the same model of Luke's saber. Hope I would have the time to build another (since I'm busy at work). Hope you could build the same & upload the video here. "May the FORCE be with you!"
8 years ago on Introduction
Hi, Rog. Cool stuff. I was able to make a light saber using an old car's motorized antenna way back 1991! LED's (green & white mix - where you attached the laser) were used alternately to produce the color hue of Luke's saber. I covered the antenna (glueing the tip) inside the saber's toy that extends when flipped, then glued the other end at the base. It extends & closes faster! I made one for my cousin using red LED's (he wanted to be Darth Vader - since he has the "mask & voice synthesizer). Handles used were old metal flashlights (I needed the switch with the red button), since i'm a penny-pincher, had no work then). Sold our Saber toys at ebay for $50 (Luke's) & $40 (Vader's). Now my son (12 y/o) is into electronics, he wanted me to help him build the same model of Luke's saber. Hope I would have the time to build another (since I'm busy at work). Hope you could build the same & upload the video here. "May the FORCE be with you!"
8 years ago on Introduction
Hi, Rog. Cool stuff. I was able to make a light saber using an old car's motorized antenna way back 1991! LED's (green & white mix - where you attached the laser) were used alternately to produce the color hue of Luke's saber. I covered the antenna (glueing the tip) inside the saber's toy that extends when flipped, then glued the other end at the base. It extends & closes faster! I made one for my cousin using red LED's (he wanted to be Darth Vader - since he has the "mask & voice synthesizer). Handles used were old metal flashlights (I needed the switch with the red button), since i'm a penny-pincher, had no work then). Sold our Saber toys at ebay for $50 (Luke's) & $40 (Vader's). Now my son (12 y/o) is into electronics, he wanted me to help him build the same model of Luke's saber. Hope I would have the time to build another (since I'm busy at work). Hope you could build the same & upload the video here. "May the FORCE be with you!"
10 years ago on Introduction
"Light Sabre" is spelled Light Saber.
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Thanks for letting me know....life changing moments like this are so rare.....
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
they truly are.
11 years ago on Step 6
Awesome! Now.....it just needs to be finished and 'punk'd'.
11 years ago on Introduction
that is awesome, did you machine all of it?
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Yes, all done from raw materials machined to my own design. I am in the fortunate position of having full workshop facilities at home.
I could not survive without a workshop :)
11 years ago on Introduction
If you've ever read any Larry Niven, He had a far more workable solution (and even before George Lucas's "Star Wars Ep. IV") to the "lightsabre TM" although not quite as pretty. It basically involved a mono-molecular chain that was extended by a magnetically suspended ball (which I believe was accented in 'safety orange' or some other way so that you knew where your 'blade' was located. It was also sharper than nearly anything. Larry also had adjustable 'flashlight lasers' that are probably closer to modern reality than any other "weapon" in sci-fi. But the best tool/weapon he had envisioned had to be his "digging" tool, which resembled a shotgun and tore apart the molecular bonds of nearly any material, making rather nice big holes in, well, nearly anything.
11 years ago on Step 6
awsome, it's much better than the lithsabers toys at sale, it's a shame that companies don't look for durable toys
11 years ago on Step 6
It's a great approach to a "realistic" lightsabre. I'm aware it's a work in progress, but have some questions and suggestions.
Rather than install a larger and heavier motor for rotation, have you tried increasing the voltage to it so the rotation speed is increased? Perhaps LiPo batteries (smaller, lighter, more power). I ask this because there's a noticeable black "stripe" or strobe effect happening.
Also same question/comment/critique for the tape measure extension speed. To my eyes it looks a little slow to extend.
Last question: after you folded back the tape measure for increased rigidity, did you test its resistance to G loading by whipping it about? Like jab, parry slice moves etc? I wonder if it might fold briefly before straightening again.
I'll be following with interest!
Reply 11 years ago on Step 6
Rather than install a larger and heavier motor for rotation, have you tried increasing the voltage to it so the rotation speed is increased? Perhaps LiPo batteries (smaller, lighter, more power). I ask this because there's a noticeable black "stripe" or strobe effect happening.
The rotation speed of the lasers is quite high, the camera struggles with filming it, to the eye it looks much better due to persistance of vision. Speed of rotation is not a problem.
Also same question/comment/critique for the tape measure extension speed. To my eyes it looks a little slow to extend.
The tape measure is extended and retracted using a friction drive with a rubber wheel against the tape, I tried increasing the speed but I just got drive slip. I have yet to look to see if I can increase the friction pressure.
Last question: after you folded back the tape measure for increased rigidity, did you test its resistance to G loading by whipping it about? Like jab, parry slice moves etc? I wonder if it might fold briefly before straightening again
No, This was never going to be a fighting device, the only thing I knew was that if you extend a tape measure and double it back on itself it is quite rigid. I had seen a motorised version and thought " I wonder if I could make a light sabre out of that :)
11 years ago on Introduction
He he - I will stick to my steampunk laser blaster myself thank you! Cool project though!
12 years ago on Introduction
Oooooooo.......
I am so looking forward to the finished product!
Are you going to polish the markings off the tape?
Oh! Does it stay rigid when you wave it around and say "zhuum, zhuum"?
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
I am looking at painting the number side black as it is inside the loop and hardly seen.
As to the Zhuum Zhuum.... It is not stiff enough for serious waving about but it is sturdy enough that you don't need to treat it with kid gloves.
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Instead of painting it black, what would happen if you used reflective paint?
http://store.newlevelmotorsports.com/nilirepa.html
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
cool and as usual Rog you make some cool stuff I'm still around too and still playing with my lasers just no time for LPF lately.
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Nice to hear from you TJM, I enjoyed being a part of the laser community at a very exciting time and still enjoy building laser related stuff, I just find I need to steer clear of the forums as they took up too much valuable time.
Regards rog8811