ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

Glen Moore wrote:
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
>
> Tim
>
> We have a LaserPhysic 300mW white light but unfortunately they are no
> longer made. Will be interested to see what replies you get as we will
> need to replace ours at some stage.
>
> Gkgm
> Science Centre and Planetarium 
>
> Tim Pula wrote:
>   
>> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
>> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
>> *****************************************************************************
>>
>> Is anyone currently using a 3 color laser for shows and or physics
>> demonstrations? We are in the process of planning a new physics lab and
>> would like to implement such a system in the lab. Our budget is tight so we
>> have begun our research with dance club type systems. Our end goal is to
>> show each of the beam colors as well as all of them to form white light. We
>> would also like to be able to program the laser to display any number of
>> images or text.
>>
>>
>>
>> Tim Pula
>>
>> Science Coordinator
>>
>> Gulf Coast Exploreum
>>     

Just to explain, what Glen is using is a white light laser.  Most laser 
projectors
of the past used either a laser with both blue and green lines which 
were split
and then added to a red laser's output;   or, a white light laser which
produced multiple lines.  A color device such as a 
polychromatic-acousto-optic-modular
could separate out whatever color you wanted from either.  It wasn't common
to see separate red, blue and green lasers used and you didn't see an 
laser with
only red, blue and green output.     Most recently, solid state lasers 
with the
specific red blue and green wavelengths are being used.  Most of the time
you don't need multiple watts to get plenty of light.    Depends on what you
want to do with the lasers whether you need a large continuous output or
could use lasers which pulse their energy output.   I doesn't take much heat
to pop a balloon.  On the other hand if you want something spectacular
to do some cutting and/or burning, that's another story.  

Also, be aware that in the US there are specific federal regulations 
regarding
use of lasers that must be followed.  For anything above 5 milliwatts 
output,
you must have a "variance" received from the FDA after filing particular
paperwork. 

To scan images and text you need a set of x-y scanners and control system;
and you need a computer system which can control the scanning and input
the specific drawings or text.  The most popular is Pangoln software.
http://www.pangolin.com  They have a lot of resources on their site.

We did laser shows here for many years and I was active in the
International Laser Display Association.  My son's company
out of Dallas now does a lot of laser work with large scale
events like concerts and civic events (4th of July for cities, etc).
He's just back from programing lasers for a concert tour by
Roger Waters where they are using 8 laser heads to produce
effects.  The lasers are all white-light (no red, blue or green lasers)
and most output 10 watts and two output 30 watts.  But such
things are not cheap and really do need to follow federal regulations.

The dance systems you mention, will, in some cases do low power
beam work.  Some I've seen will do a graphic or two.  Just don't
expect 10 watts or burning holes in things with them.
If you have more questions, e-mail me directly and I can
e-mail you some links as I still
maintain a number of contacts with laser companies.
It is pretty amazing what solid state can do these days
compared to 10 years ago when large multi-watt fullcolor lasers
had power supplies and chilling units the size of refrigerators.

-- 
Clear DARK Skies


Jack Dunn - at home account

***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]