Matty2sum Posted October 22, 2006 Share Posted October 22, 2006 I am looking for an option on my Laser Ruler. it an old idea that never made it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
insane_alien Posted October 22, 2006 Share Posted October 22, 2006 its a pretty cool idea pity it can only be used from a set distance though. be awesome if it was variable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5614 Posted October 22, 2006 Share Posted October 22, 2006 At first I misread this, I thought you wanted to point a laser at the wall and using the time taken for the last beam to come back you would calculate how far away the wall is. But that's not what you mean. It is a clever idea, however I see two immediate issues that may arise. Firstly as i_a said, it will only work at one set distance (unless those lens are variable*). For best accuracy you would need another ruler to measure the distance between the laser and the object you are projecting the ruler onto. And secondly how clear the ruler image is. You don't want the laser to diffract a lot as this would give the ruler a fuzzy edge. If the 1cm mark looked like this: then you would have a problem. *Of course theoretically you could get an automatically adjusting lens. You'd need to measure the distance and then use that information to change the shape of an electronically sensitive lens. However this would be very complex. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blike Posted October 22, 2006 Share Posted October 22, 2006 The biggest hurdle would be convincing people the laser ruler is better than a conventional 6" piece of plastic which is by far more durable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klaynos Posted October 22, 2006 Share Posted October 22, 2006 Wouldn't be too hard to create some nice optics to draw the line for a variable length, set on a dial, or more accurately a digital display... Nice idea, could probably build a little prototype using a laser level you can buy in diy stores... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dak Posted October 22, 2006 Share Posted October 22, 2006 ^ what klaynos said about variable optics. a few other problems, especially in a DIY use: it could only accurately be used on properly flat surfaces, as otherize the projection (and thus the measurement) would become distorted, and also it couldn't be used on planes of the same colour as the projection. also can't use it to draw a strait line Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padren Posted October 22, 2006 Share Posted October 22, 2006 Since you are rendering a rectangle image onto a plane, you would need it capable of measuring the distance to three contact points (and that still assuming the target is flat) and modifying the places the laser lines are drawn to account for distance and distortion. If you needed to manually set the distance it would be impossible to get the angle and distance accurate enough to work. If you *could* manually adjust how long the ruler was so it could work like a measuring tape - that would be very cool. If you had one dial for ruler length and another for setting a laser mark on a spot within it, you could easily compare lengths that should be similar or mark boards etc with it. The main drawback is with a ruler or tape measure you don't have to worry about the "0" mark sliding around, because its pressed up to something, but even a slightly shakey hand would cause havoc at any distance over a few inches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matty2sum Posted October 23, 2006 Author Share Posted October 23, 2006 yea my next idea gose to hightes bider JJ yea it hasz some flaws. i made a shoebox with a halogen light and a paper lens yea yea i know i was geting prity good resoults untill it cought fire lol. do you supose if you mixed a glow stick with bubbles= glowing-bubbles? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
science_nerd Posted December 3, 2008 Share Posted December 3, 2008 yea my next idea gose to hightes bider JJ yea it hasz some flaws. i made a shoebox with a halogen light and a paper lens yea yea i know i was geting prity good resoults untill it cought fire lol. do you supose if you mixed a glow stick with bubbles= glowing-bubbles? I would think so. If you mix up the glow sticks chemicals with some bubbles as long as the chemical content of the bubbles don't react with the stick chemicals, it would be glowing bubbles, but would probably with a little less glowing intensity as almost more water is added... As to glow sticks chemical content, I found them from this glow sticks online place under FAQ: 4 g Sodium Carbonate 0.2 g Luminol 0.5 g Ammonium Carbonate 0.4 g Copper Sulfate Pentahydrate approx. 1 litre of Distilled Water 50 ml of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide I would think you would be basically adding more water to the content. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrP Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 [quote=Dak;307315 also can't use it to draw a strait line That - and you wont be able to have play sword fights with it in maths classes when you get bored. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
npts2020 Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 That - and you wont be able to have play sword fights with it in maths classes when you get bored. "I'll have to get to work on a laser ruler right away." said the curmudgeonly schoolmaster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
insane_alien Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 That - and you wont be able to have play sword fights with it in maths classes when you get bored. light saber fights! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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