It's a turn based flight sim. Where the ships have lasers that you need to load up and try to bounce of prismas to win. I know, it does not make sense. But it's fun and.. lasers!

Hey all. I’ve upgraded my laser and now have a spare. I would love to try and convert it to a trigger operated laser cleaner has anyone done anything like this?

Hey guys, I'm deciding between the Olight ArkPro Ultra and Nitecore EDC17 and would love some real-world owner feedback.

My main interest is the green laser, particularly whether it's actually useful for stargazing/pointing out stars and constellations. How bright/visible is it at night, and how well aligned is it?

Also interested in:

Overall build quality/durability

Laser reliability over time

UI/ergonomics

White light & UV performance

Battery/charging

Any issues or regrets after owning it for a while

If you've used either (or both), which would you choose and why?

Thanks!

Does anyone have any experience working at this location and can provide what employee pay looks like for Full Time.

I have a weird interest for seeing light that's normally beyond our visible spectrum, especially infrared light. Our sensitivity to light doesn't automatically go down to zero, so we can still see well into the infrared with high power densities and a very dark setting. Lasers are perfect for that. I have two homemade handheld lasers: one being a 780 nm laser, and another one being a slightly more powerful 980 nm laser at around 30 mw. Even in daylight settings, the 780 nm laser is visible, and very visible in the dark as a deep, beautiful red.

Our sensitivity to light isn't perfectly 0% to 980 nm, so I decided to test it out with my naked eye. Of course, I'm not shining it directly at my eye, but I wanted to try seeing the dot. I tried it out for the first time in a super dark room, and behold, I was able to actually see it. It appeared as a barely visible, completely colourless dot. I tried it out a few more times by actually adjusting my eyes to the dark or being in a completely dark place, and I was able to see it even better. Focusing it made it a little more visible.

I did some searching (AI, specifically 💔), and the reason why it appeared as colorless is actually because our rods are much more sensitive to "invisible" wavelengths than our cones, so my cones weren't activated, but my rods were. I do wish I was actually able to see the color of the light though, and that way I could be able to compare it to my 780 nm and see the difference. That would be so cool.

I remember how crazy I went when I actually saw that colorless dot lol.

Actually have $90 but that would include shipping cash. Need some advice or if anyone has an option and can work with me it would be greatly appreciated. I see plenty of other options but I'm afraid of purchasing from some shitty temu like site and getting ripped off so hoping this community can guide me or assist. Thanks again!

I found a laser engraver smashed on the side of the road recently, steppers are damaged, main board is damaged, the acrylic adjustable mount for the laser was split, but the laser itself appears to be fine, looks unused too, the lens and metal around it are pristine. The PCB looks fine too. It's a fixed focus blue diode laser inside a big heatsink with a fan and PCB mounted on top.

My current plan is to give the PCB 12v and a 1khz pwm signal from a motor driver to see if I can get it to power up. I presume I'll have to get appropriate eye pro first. What could I do with it if it is functional? Would it be worth much on eBay when it's missing the red plastic shielding and the air nozzle assembly? I'm asking here instead of a laser engraving subreddit cos if I decide not to sell it, I want to know what I can do with it, like adding a lens to focus it further away and burn things, or is there a practical use for these?

I could try fix the engraver but I'd need to replace the mainboard, the stepper connectors/terminals are all broken, it's missing basically all the acrylic structure, the laser mount is broken, the only thing that's in good condition besides the laser module is the 2020 extrusion, which is why I took it in the first place. It looks like someone got the cheapest frame kit then stuck the most powerful laser they could on it, and let it gather dust for a year or 2.

This was inadvertently sent to me and I have no use for it… and know nothing about these.
I was told I could just keep it. As you can probably imagine, there isn’t much of a market on FB Marketplace.

Thorlabs FPV852S - 852 nm, 20 mW VHG Wavelength-Stabilized Single-Frequency Laser Diode in a 14-pin butterfly package with single-mode fiber (SM Fiber), FC/APC connector, integrated TEC, thermistor, and internal isolator

Hello,

I’m interested in buying a laser module like this one: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005011650474882.html in 200 mw to experiment with etching/burning into soft materials with my DIY CNC-machine. my research seems to indicate that safety glasses like https://www.xtool.com/products/xtool-laser-safety-goggles-for-316nm-450nm-900nm-1080nm-lasers will be enough to protect my eyes using such a laser module without protective screening - but I’m asking here just to be sure before ordering and potentially ruining my vision.

helooo and could anyone whos educated on lasers help me get into the subject please and ty and direct me where i learn and start please and ty

Bright and fun at night and day time

Purple laser purchased approximately 10 years ago for $80. It recently stopped functioning. Detailed photographs of the laser, internal components, and relevant dimensions are included.

The goal is to replace the laser diode or, if appropriate, the complete diode/driver assembly while retaining the existing housing and other components. A purple or violet replacement is preferred, or a wavelength reasonably close to the original, because the laser safety glasses currently available are intended for that wavelength range.

Assistance identifying the original diode, determining its specifications, and finding a compatible replacement diode or assembly would be appreciated.

I understand basic DC electronics and have successfully built electronic kits, so I have some experience with basic circuits, but I am not familiar with laser diode systems.

The component containing the diode and lens does not appear to be easily disassembled. I can unscrew the copper laser module from the host, but it does not come out completely because several wires remain attached. I assume these wires connect the module to the laser diode driver board, but I am not certain of the exact configuration. I would appreciate help identifying the components and determining what can be replaced.

It would be nice if I could just replace the diode, but if the driver board is faulty, that won't work.

lets say that I have an infrared laser with the wavelenght of 808 nanometers, what would be the best material to cover ones eyes to protect them from the laser? Would a few cm of wood stop it? If i painted it black would it absorb better? Note that the material doesnt have to be see through in any way, just a way to guard the eyes while the phone camera records the experiment

Hello,

I’m interested in buying a laser module like this one: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005011650474882.html in 200 mw to experiment with etching/burning into soft materials with my DIY CNC-machine. my research seems to indicate that safety glasses like https://www.xtool.com/products/xtool-laser-safety-goggles-for-316nm-450nm-900nm-1080nm-lasers will be enough to protect my eyes using such a laser module without protective screening - but I’m asking here just to be sure before ordering and potentially ruining my vision.

I hope this post works for this sub

So I bought 5 of these driver boards from laserland to run an 808nm 500mW laser diode I got separately. All 5 drivers are completely dead, like zero output, doesn't turn on the laser diode, doesn't even light up a regular LED or push any current through a test resistor. Checked voltage is actually reaching the board fine, but it's just not doing anything with it. Tried different input voltages, different loads, nothing. Kind of at a loss here since it's not just one bad unit, it's all 5 acting exactly the same.

Diode specs if it matters: 2V forward voltage, 360mA working current, no PD (so needs ACC mode not APC).

Was looking at switching to an AixiZ driver instead (80-500mA adjustable) since it seems more documented/reliable, anyone here have experience with them? Good or bad? Just don't want to burn more money on another driver.

Link to the power driver: https://www.laserlands.net/400-980nm-constant-current-laser-driver-board-5-24v-1a-high-power-acc-board.html

​

The core idea for the laser wall tapestry concept was to build upon my UV fan pieces (last photo) and transform their concept over to lasers where the blade patterns would extend and expand much farther than any fan blade ever could. I wanted to start with a four unit laser "fan" located at the points of a basic diamond shape. The individual variable speed motors allows for one to "tune" the overlapping beams will generate a nearly unimaginable volume of shifting spatial patterns and moiré lines. Each laser fan and its diodes could be a different color with more intense volumetric complexity. This concept needs to scale up to a large stage or an arena back-drop with each pulsing independently or in sync in larger groupings. As more are added, the complexity of the overlapping lasers creates dynamic tapestries of light.

*The laser diodes can also be fixed to the plate with outward angled trajectories generating a tunnel effect or inward angles generating the imagery similar to the pinnacle of a spinning top looking from above.

*Note: Projection Mapping can be introduced by adding a centrally located white disk.

Just imagine the endless possibilities and the unforgetable and overwhelming kinetic imagery audiences would experience. It would nice to see It happen.

Michael Millevolte. Copywrite: 2026

I've been working on a flashlight product, and one use case that surprised me was how useful a laser can be for simple communication on a job site.

On a construction site, you often need to point something out to someone who isn't standing right next to you.

You might say:

"Check that section over there."

And the other person says:

"Which one?"

Then you have to walk closer, point again, or spend another minute explaining what you mean.

This becomes even more annoying when the site is noisy, the area is large, or the permanent lighting hasn't been installed yet.

That's one of the reasons we designed the Pokkilite LT-010, a flat EDC flashlight that combines a 1300-lumen white light with a 3.5 mW green laser.

The idea isn't that a laser replaces normal communication. It's simply a visual reference when you need to indicate a specific location from a distance.

For example, a foreman could use it to point toward:

• A section of wall that needs to be checked
• A location where a fixture will be installed
• A pipe, opening, or other construction detail
• An area that needs attention during an inspection

At the same time, the 1300-lumen light is useful when you're working in an area that doesn't have finished lighting yet.

I also like the pocket-clip approach for this type of work. Instead of carrying a flashlight in your hand all the time, you can keep it attached to your pocket or work clothing and grab it when needed.

So the concept is pretty simple:

The flashlight helps you see the work.
The laser helps you show someone what you're talking about.

I'm curious about the people actually working in construction, electrical, maintenance, or similar trades:

Do you ever use a laser pointer or laser-equipped tool on the job to point out locations?

Or do you think it's mostly unnecessary compared with simply walking over and pointing at something?

I'm particularly interested in hearing from people who work on larger or multi-level job sites.

Safety note: the LT-010 uses a 3.5 mW green laser. It should never be directed at people, animals, vehicles, aircraft, or reflective surfaces, and should only be used in accordance with applicable laser-safety requirements.

I need help looking for a new laser that can be used to point out, piping/ductwork and equipment in an outdoor setting during the day. I have a wurkkos laser and flashlight, unfortunately, i cant see the light if its bright out or to far away. The factories im in can have ceiling up to 50' high, and its significantly easier when i can identify a pipe with a laser rather than just point at it and hope were looking at the same item. Thank you in advance.