When simple solutions elude you... keep thinking simple till they don't

I've got a winch. Winches are great. They already take AC, they run in forward and reverse (it's probably just AC rectified into a DC motor), and they're even geared down.


But they only have a cable, so I assumed I'd have to build a good-and-complex threaded rod system because the cable would be either in the center and in the way or I'd have to split it with a complex pulley system to get it to pull on both sides of the table.








I failed to realize till this weekend that really it's acceptable to mount the cable in the front, as long as it doesn't block this specific shelf. It can block all the other shelves it wants, just not this one. And each shelf will probably only be 12" or so tall. So all I really need is some posts.

Given this simplification. I think I'm ready to buy steel for the final table. I'll also need to start thinking about the electronics. Or rather I should have already been thinking about the electronics and now I'm going to get around to that.

Lasers: Trying to be more intelligent about it

People like the laser. It looks flashy, it's very easy to use, and I might even be willing to bring it to a combat situation. So how can I make it even more kick-ass? How can I set myself up for making even bigger and badder lasers? I'll have to do this one right, no more trial and error.




I'm going to buy lenses, not just salvage them. ThorLabs seems to have a good selection and they even have special coatings for the different frequencies of light you're using (~430nm in my case).

Of course, real nice laser lenses are expensive. I don't want to buy a $3k kit of all the possible lenses and then play more trial and error. For now, let's focus on getting the right lenses, we'll deal with getting them in the perfect position later.

A normal convex lens can take an expanding beam of light and columnate it. However, with the dimensions of beam that I'm dealing with I can't find a single lens that has a focal point closer than it's diameter, which is what I need if the beam is coming out of a 1" lens and hitting a point 1" away. The best I've got there is a 12mm focal length with a 9mm diameter lens.

Instead, I'll use a concave lens to make the angle of beam more acute. It should then expand out after the focal point more slowly such that I can then use a lens to columnate it.

We'll find out.

ME: The shelf V1 is done.

Remember all those 3D pics of how the shelf will work? Well I've actually built it. I've got about 1mm tolerances on everything. Special shout out to my L-shaped ruler for helping me get all the angles straight. I'll also say the hardest part of any of this is getting things in just the right position before you weld them. Will have to get a bunch of additional clamps when the house is done.

Now I better go double check all the dimensions and record them so I don't forget. :)

I got a box!

You can't call it a gun till you have a pelican case for it.

Laser gun by Fail Train Industrial Division

Photon Blaster I by Fail Train Industrial Division

I've decided to rename it. It's now the Photon Blaster Version 1. Produced by the same people that brought you water cannons and the MA-10; Fail Train Industrial Division. Also, there are new pics of it courtesy of LYTFYRE

Fully functioning laser pistol

24W of blue laser ass kicking. I've never run down the battery but it should run for a full 20 minutes on a battery charge. If you want one, I'll make you one for $2k.