just something to occuppy my time plus i have some steel beems to cut and no money for coventional thinking. i have some conponants that i beleave will help me but need some more but done know the mechinics of building a funstional laser i have a weed eater engine some magifing glasses i'm thinking in need something to boost my power output what i'm not sure of but if yall have any postive info and not some bs about how i can't do this please respond to this
201342
ok...first off unles you have a degree in doing something like that I wouldnt... it can be very dangerous ....for your safety ..spend the cash ....
544472
The most powerful laser in the world right now is at Lawrence Livermore National Lab.  Its power is measured in terawatts and it is used to study nuclear fusion.  \n\nAfter that, the next most powerful types would be the chemical lasers being developed by the military as weapons.  One of these will be used for the Airborne Laser and its power is well into the megawatts (though the exact wattage is classified).  This is a Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser (COIL).  This and other similar lasers produce laser action by the reaction of two different chemicals.\n\nIn the civilian world, the laser that can generate the most power would be the carbon dioxide laser.  These were also used in the past for possible development into weapons but were soon surpassed in power and ease of operation by the chemical lasers.  Powers were well into megawatts, especially for the gas dynamic CO2 laser, which functioned more like a rocket engine than a typical gas laser. \n\n " The largest known laser for industrial use produces 120 kW continuous (for up to 1 hour at a time) - it's located at the San Francisco Naval Shipyard and is used for welding aircraft carrier hulls. It's capable of doing a full-penetration weld 12" deep at 100 IPM. This laser is also huge - about the size of a 3 bedroom house." (http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/laserco2.htm#co2ccy)\n\nAfter that you have solid-state lasers, which are gaining in power and (at least for use as weapons) are expected to one day be nearly as powerful as today's chemical lasers.  These are usually ND:YAG or ND:Glass lasers.\n\nAs for protection, technically you should have eye protection while using any laser over 5 milliwatts - that's the garden variety laser pointer.  Anything more powerful than that is capable of causing blindness, in some cases instantly.  Once you get into class 4 lasers (anything over a half a watt) you'll need skin as well as eye protection.
212975
Congrats on your buy.I would suggest taking a non-credit introductory course to learn the basics.Alot you can teach yourself by experimentation.Have fun!!
616939
I have several frames waiting to be hacked up, but no, I have not yet taken the plunge. But good resources are the discussion board on www.bentrider.com, or on the Atomic Zombie site (www.atomiczombie.com) - which has a really cool book. He shows you the down and dirty way to get started.\n\nWhat do you have in mind? LWB? SWB? USS? ASS? So many options...
385090
I'd just buy solid rocket fuel at hobby store. Blackpowder is just going to explode and really not burn.
504413
Every guy likes a cool gadget. Get him a Striker II USB Missile Launcher toy. It's cool, he can plug it into his computer at work, and shoot foam missiles at his workmates while controlling it with his computer. It just came out this year, and is the must have gadget for guys. I got one for my bro and it looks pretty cool.\n\nhttp://www.ninjagizmos.com/products/Cubicle/Striker_II_USB_Laser_Guided_Missile_Launcher
516069
The first step to energy independance is to reduce to an absolute minimum.  Having electric wires coming into our homes, we have become used to unlimited energy availability.  Find ways to maximize efficiency and minimize the amount of energy required.\n\nThe only reasonable budget I've seen from someone installing a full off grid system was in a house which was far from the existing power lines.  The cost to run poles and wires was on the order of $15000.  That immediately created an option for solar / wind and off grid independance.  The home owner installed solar panels for heat and battery charging.  A wind turbine supplemented the photovoltaic system.  He budgeted energy consumption and purchased very efficient appliances.  In the end his total energy created was just slightly over calculated requirements.\n\nIf you are entering this project with dreams of living forever with free unlimited electricity you will be sadly disappointed.  The equipment and installation is expensive.  The amount of energy being created is greatly limited and you will have to cut back greatly.  You will learn not to leave the television on with no one in the room.  No more lights on in every room either.\n\nIt is a very positive project, and absolutely worthwhile.  I'm working on a small wind turbine project.  It will consist of a 800 watt generator mounted on top of an 80 foot guyed tower.  Right now it's tied up in municipal permits and other nonsense.  In the end I hope to generate about 10% of my household electrical requirements.  Payback time, assuming no downtime, maintenance or repairs will be about 12 years.  Clearly it is not a money saving investment.  I view it as a hobby to learn with and explore.  I could blow an equal amount of money in a few months on cigarettes or beer and have nothing to show for it in the end.  My justification for the money spent is to have fun with it.\n\nHave a look at the project as it has proceeded so far.  I have the wiring diagram, charge controller circuit, pictures of foundations, and so on online.  Contact information is there as well.\n\nhttp://members.rennlist.org/warren/wind.html\n\nGood luck with your project!
623429
A motor is an electrical device that turns electrical energy into mechanical energy. I really don't think that is what you're after. You want to turn mechanical into electrical, right? Okay, in old cars, before they had alternators, they had generators. Snag one of these at a junk yard. It will charge a 12 volt DC battery. I have never done this, I am just theorizing as I type. Anywho, campers use 12 volt DC lighting as a back up. Heck even the fridges run on 12v, propane, NG, or AC. In theory, fabricate blades to this generator, with a voltage regulator and there you go. Actually, here is what I do. I used camping lighting that burns clean fuel and flashlights, but if you simply had an inverter, you could actually run a few things via you car. Another suggestion, a more serious one. Look at the way they make campers so self sufficient. 2 lighting systems, where one runs on AC and the other DC of 12 volt batteries. Not a bad idea for your house? They have there own battery charger, which you could put in your house, that keeps these batteries full whenever you are plugged into AC. Add a 12 volt light system to your storm center, add a camping stove with a small portable tank, vent the area. This stove could cook and serve as a source of heat. Get the fridge that runs on anything, what else do you need? Oh yeah, plans for a wind generator. Dragonfly Wind Generator. That's what you are in need of. Perfect for residential.
28271
Hey!  Glad to hear you're interested in robots! \nSince you're just starting out, I'd recommend the BOE-Bot (Radio Shack sells it for $150) from Parallax, Inc.  I built that when I was starting and it tought me a lot of the basics.  If that is a little above your budget, I'd recommend the Build Your Own Robot Kit.  It's pretty simple to build, and it has a socket to add a Parallax (first link) BASIC Stamp II, a programmable microcontroller.\n\nI'd recommend 2 good books that should help you get started;\nRobot Building for Dummies, by Roger Arrick\nRobot Building for Beginners, by David Cook\n\nYou should also consider joining the Robotics Club of Yahoo! (second link), they can answer pretty much any question you have regarding robotics. \n\nIf you would like more info, I'd be glad to help you... just e-mail me (my e-mail is my username, at yahoo.com)
506562
Um, not sure why you need a laser gun.  If it's to shoot things, a standard ballistic gun is more practical.  FYI, it's against international law to develop lasers weapons to shoot people.\n\nIf you mean a toy, you can always pick one up at the local toy store (see link).  You won't see the beam.  If you did, it would be dangerous.\n\nhttp://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-4/qid=1164226650/ref=sr_1_4/602-3152398-8374206?ie=UTF8&asin=B00023C3ZU\n\n\n\nNot a satisfying answer?  OK, you can always buy this:\n\nhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/03/handheld-laser-gun-available-for-purchase/
583578
Manufacturing companies build a lot of specialized equipment in order to produce their product(s). It must be designed to run at highspeeds, dependability, etc. You would be amazed at some of the machines I have worked on. I am a special equipment technician and some of the machines my fellow co-workers have engineered are totally mind blowing! I have also worked on many machines that I could have hunted the designer down and beat him half to death! All in all though, the job is very rewarding and the pay aint to bad either! I wish I would have followed my friends advice though. He and I started work together in the same field. The only difference was I stuck it out helping design, debug, and maintain such equipment for someone else. He got out after he learned the trade and started a small pick and place company and at the ripe old age of 40 ended up retired, in Florida, and pursues his motorhead hobby by building racing machines. The guy sits on millions!
383712
You don't say what sort of times you are looking for,If it is only an hour or two you could build one from the parts in "Hobbies Annual". If you are looking for days and weeks then get a timer from Ikea (two for a fiver) pull it apart and get yourself a 12 volt clock or instrument motor, Hobbies Annual again or perhaps your local Maplins, and a bit of finagling will do it.
454929
i recommend that you do more research work on that because it is not an easy business, you have to make feasibility study, and while you are doing that, surely you'll know and find out how you do it and who you can talk to.\nYou can ask people who has done that before just for guidance.
668175
It's my opinion that the light is a gimmick.\nThink about it this way... a dentist has to go through tons of training to be able to offer his services... why (and how could) someone just start selling some of that stuff to people... especially something like a "laser?"\nIt is just a gimmick to make a little more money... \nJust my opinion
190126
You need copper, and any sized battery. Then you need to do some playing around with it. Or you could just go here and do what they tell you.
370427
Unless you are playing with low voltage, please find some other project. 120 Volt or 220 volt is very dangerous.\n\nAny way you will need all the components in same voltage I say get every thing in under 9 volts to make things easy, they must operate in 6 to 8 volt range so you will have voltage to spare. You may not be able to find them readily.\n\nThis is how it works.\n\nClapping sound is picked up by micro phone.\n\nThis produces a signal, that will close an open circuit on a lamp(or any thing that you need to turn on like a bell).\n\nTo make a package, like the one you buy in the store, it took quite a few years to perfect it, and they had experts working on it.. \n\n1.  9 volt battery. few to operate the systems.\n2.  red and black wire.\n3.  9 volt lamp.\n4.   6 volt Micro phone.\n5.   Sound activated switch, 6 volt \n6.   Tapes electrical.\n7.    cardboard to mount every thing.\n8.    cutting tool to make connections.\n9.    Solder iron and silver solder wire.\n10.   Different types of connectors.\n11.   Glue to put components on the board. \n\nEdmund-scientific.com may have a kit, it is on Internet.\n\nBuy the kit and assemble it.
307232
A lathe, a drill press, and a milling machine would be a good start, although how you plan to use them when you don't even know the names for them is a bit of a mystery to me.  Try Harbor Freight or Northern Tools.\n\nhttp://www.harborfreight.com/\nhttp://www.northerntool.com/