[MitchPD3]

http://now.msn.com/now/0507-realistic-lightsaber.aspx

"First the geniuses at Wicked Lasers mounted lasers onto sharks. Now they've come up with the most realistic lightsaber this side of Alderaan. The high-tech company has debuted its LaserSaber, a device that attaches to the green and blue lasers it already sells. There's an extremely geeky explanation for how the unit works that incorporates such terms as "internal diffuser tube," "beam-grow effects" and "ultra smooth magnetic gravity system," but honestly, we don't care about any of that. We just think the video is super-cool. If you're thinking of purchasing one for your own young Jedis, do consider this: The lasers in this series house "a considerably intense 50 milliwatts to a crazy-dangerous full watt of laser power." Not exactly child's play."

 

[SteveR]

Apparently the company is so swamped with orders, rumors abound that it isn't legit. Caveat emptor.

 

[Dyonisis]

I know how to make one of my own - only this kind of thing can be dangerous to the user! There are laser cutters out on the market now. Most of these are for industrial, and medical use.

 

[SteveR]

"You'll shoot your eye out, kid."

 

[robiwon]

Meh, I built my own lightsaber.

 

[SteveR]

Meh, I built my own lightsaber.

Your skills are now complete! :thumbsup:

 

[StarshipClass]

In the future, everyone will wind up blind from lasers. Gang members will go around permanently blinding older people with laser beams. Eventually even the gang members will be blinded in fights with other gang members and accidental reflections or just looking into the laser "to see how it works."

 

[robiwon]

Thanks SteveR!

Here is a video.

 

[Dyonisis]

In the future, everyone will wind up blind from lasers. Gang members will go around permanently blinding older people with laser beams. Eventually even the gang members will be blinded in fights with other gang members and accidental reflections or just looking into the laser "to see how it works."

It's unavoidable! You're bound to have accidents any time something new comes along.

 

[edward 2]

how do they make the beam slide out when it is turned on.

 

[Dyonisis]

how do they make the beam slide out when it is turned on.

This is done with LEDs inside the blade. They're programmed to come on in sequence to replicate the original saber effect.

 

[robiwon]

This is not an LED saber. It's a laser modeled to look like a lightsaber. The extension effect is created by a ball bearing that blocks the laser near the hilt. Tip the blade tip toward the floor and the ball bearing rolls to the end of the tube, thus creating the extending blade effect inside the tube. The bearing is held to the tip by a magnent, keeping the blade "extended". A quick tap of the blade will allow the bearing to roll back down the tube "retracting" the blade. Then, you turn the laser off. The laser is diffused inside the blade with plain old cellophane.

However, the video is very miss leading as in some shots you do not see the acrylic blade, only the light extending out of the hilt. There is also additional flare added to make the blade "glow" more.

 

[Dyonisis]

Thlaser is diffused inside the blade with plain old cellophane.

However, the video is very miss leading as in some shots you do not see the acrylic blade, only the light extending out of the hilt. There is also additional flare added to make the blade "glow" more.

Miss Leading? Is she good looking?

OK. I didn't know that. I DO know that the original sabers ( in the movies) were airbrushed colour, but the FX models released in the early part of the millenium were LED equipped. It's too bad that these didn't exist in this form back then - what a difference that would've made!! Just imagine seeing the reflection on Vaders' armour, and helmet/facemask. That would be priceless!! :wave:

 

[DR. PRETORIOUS]

check this link out:

http://kipkay.com/videos/star-trek-blu-ray-laser-phaser/

 

[Dyonisis]

That was interesting. Check this out: http://kipkay.com/videos/hacks/led-zippo-flashlight

I used to smoke centuries ago. I still have my old Zippo that I used forever, and a day. It's almost seventeen years old. Maybe I'll do this with it. I just hope that I never have a power outage where I need a lighter!

~ Chris​

 

[SFCOM1]

Your skills are now complete! :thumbsup:

Now it is time to meet your new Master! (just had to do that!)