How To Make A Laser Pointer
If you want to save a good deal of money, but still have an impressive laser pointer, you should learn how to make a laser pointer. While there is a fairly lengthy learning process on the proper creation of a laser pointer, it is possible to make a pointer of up to 100mW on a budget of 50 dollars or less. A 100mw laser pointer is sufficient for astronomy use, as well as popping balloons, lighting wood on fire, and melting plastic. How efficiently you do any one of these tasks is all dependent on how well you make your laser pointer.
Before you learn how to make a laser pointer, you should consider the safety risks you will be undertaking by owning a high powered laser. The most notable of these risks includes burns and blindness. As these lasers are potent enough to cause fires, they are not toys, and should not be treated as such. They should never be pointed into the sky at aircraft, nor should they be pointed at anything living, even in jest. Both of these actions can have dire consequences, and are not funny. As well, it can get you arrested as owning portable lasers over 5mW is illegal in many places around the world. You should understand the risks that you are putting yourself and others at before you begin construction of your laser pointer.
Once you have determined you are ready to learn how to make a laser pointer, you will need to gather the supplies required. What is needed is dependent on the type of laser you are making. For the common red laser, you will need a dvd drive that you are willing to destroy, the cables from that drive, a mag light, and some other common parts. Using the mag light in combination with the dvd drive laser, you have ample light and power to form a strong beam. If you have spare computer parts, you may be able to build a suitable laser without having to invest for newer parts.
As a general rule, the higher the quality of parts you put into your homemade laser, the better it will be. If you are serious about making high quality lasers at home, you may want to spend more than 50 dollars to purchase tools that can measure the strength of your laser beams. This can help you learn from experimenting what creates a better quality beam.
When you learn how to make a laser pointer, remember that you should keep safety as a top priority. Invest in a pair of safety goggles to protect your eyes during the construction and testing of your laser pointers.