Hi, i'm new to this forum, and kinda new to the raspberry, so bear with me.
For a school project i want to use a visible laser light. not a 5 mw deal which only shows a dot. I was thinking about buying one with 100 mw from dx (http://www.dx.com/p/100mw-532nm-green-l ... -9mm-26890). Do i use this one with the Breadboard? I read that the breadboard has a max current of 50mw or so. Does that mean i have to use the usb port? I hope u guys can help me with this. i haven't bought the laser or breadboard yet. I have a raspberry pi 2
Re: controlling laser light
First off have a google about laser safety and any rules, in the UK a more powerful laser can be treated as an offensive weapon and misuse could land you in serious trouble. A 100mW laser has the capability of doing a lot of permanent damage to people and property. You should also talk to relevant people in the school and get an agreement from them in writing before going ahead with this project.Tamar wrote:Hi, i'm new to this forum, and kinda new to the raspberry, so bear with me.
For a school project i want to use a visible laser light. not a 5 mw deal which only shows a dot. I was thinking about buying one with 100 mw from dx (http://www.dx.com/p/100mw-532nm-green-l ... -9mm-26890).
My quick google gave this as a reasonable starting point for reading http://www.megagreen.co.uk/shopcontent. ... nformation
Re: controlling laser light
Hi Tamar,
What are you planning to do with the Pi and laser?
You can use the Pi to switch pretty much anything on and off with the aid of transistors. What kind you use depends on the device power and switching frequency.
Isn't it in the nature of a laser to only show a dot? A more powerful laser will still only show a dot, and possibly a wisp of smoke.
If you do go for a 100mW laser, of course everyone in the room will be wearing the right safety goggles for that wavelength, you will have warning notices on the door and written approval from the school management!
What are you planning to do with the Pi and laser?
You can use the Pi to switch pretty much anything on and off with the aid of transistors. What kind you use depends on the device power and switching frequency.
Isn't it in the nature of a laser to only show a dot? A more powerful laser will still only show a dot, and possibly a wisp of smoke.
If you do go for a 100mW laser, of course everyone in the room will be wearing the right safety goggles for that wavelength, you will have warning notices on the door and written approval from the school management!
Re: controlling laser light
Not one to talk about what you do with the project,but since it's a school project then check your regulation and a safety assesment.
Anything over 1mW output are discouraged in UK schools for general classroom use, over that and it would need teachers to perform a risk assesment and few would know what they are with lasers.
Not all lasers are dots, solid state tend to be rectangles. The optics alter the appearance.
Do you need a brighter dot really?
It'll tax your circuits more, you cannot run it directly of the Pi, but check the laser secs for it's external power draw.
What do you intend the Pi to do in this project (the interesting bit)
Anything over 1mW output are discouraged in UK schools for general classroom use, over that and it would need teachers to perform a risk assesment and few would know what they are with lasers.
Not all lasers are dots, solid state tend to be rectangles. The optics alter the appearance.
Do you need a brighter dot really?
It'll tax your circuits more, you cannot run it directly of the Pi, but check the laser secs for it's external power draw.
What do you intend the Pi to do in this project (the interesting bit)
Re: controlling laser light
Trying to read between the lines (dangerous I know) 
If the issue is that you want the laser beam to be visible as it goes through the air then there are better solutions (more power may not make it any more visible). What you need is something in the air that causes a bit of scatter of the light (particles it can bounce off). For a small area you might manage that by generating steam. For a larger area if the school has a drama / entertainments department maybe see if they have a hazer / fogger you can use.
If the issue is that you want the laser beam to be visible as it goes through the air then there are better solutions (more power may not make it any more visible). What you need is something in the air that causes a bit of scatter of the light (particles it can bounce off). For a small area you might manage that by generating steam. For a larger area if the school has a drama / entertainments department maybe see if they have a hazer / fogger you can use.