Parallel Laser Module Holder (Laser Rake) for Experiments with Optics
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This little box holds five small laser modules in parallel and an 18650 battery for optical experiments.
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Model information
- Source
- Printables
- Category
- Physics & Astronomy
- License
- Creative Commons — Attribution — Noncommercial
Motivation
I wanted to show my kid how basic lens shapes effect light beams. It's interesting with a single laser but much more fun with several in parallel as seen in the attached images. So, I found some inexpensive laser modules online (four red and a single central green laser) and built this little box for them.
Materials
- five laser modules - I used four red and one green. The green one I found was slightly larger in diameter than the others which is why the center hole is slightly larger than the others. I'll link them here but you can certainly find something better for less money.
- battery springs/contacts - if you decide to integrate the 18650 battery holder, you'll need the connectors
- wire - you'll need a bit of wire to connect the battery contacts to the laser modules
- switch - if you're really feeling fancy, maybe you'll add a switch.
- lenses - I opted for these optical glass lenses but honestly, something less transparent might be better because the beams would be more visible inside the lens. I have considered trying to print some lenses with transparent PETG but haven't got there yet.
Notes and Disclaimers
I tried to go for a friction fit but I missed the mark and wound up using hot glue to finalize the module position and lens rotation. These little modules need to be focused and when you do so by unscrewing the end of the module, they wind up loose. The hot glue was also used to keep the modules focused and oriented at desired.
This was one of my first models. It isn't the most beautiful thing I've ever done but it does the job and I do think it's cool enough to share.