Greetings! To begin searches for your query, I used the phrase "laser
pointer custom graphic sticker" and discovered a report that explains
different ways you might acheive your desired effect.
From "Sam's Laser FAQ" Copyright © 1994-2001 by Samuel M. Goldwasser,
he explains about laser pointers that produce patterns. In the
report, he explains "Templates (stamped or photographically generated)
in the form of the pattern - basically a micro-sized slide" and tells
of a couple of problems with this type, but that basically "almost any
graphic can be produced equally well (or poorly depending on your
perspective)." About 1/3 of the way down the page, you will find a
sub-heading titled "Laser Pointers that Produce Multiple Patterns."
This is the area where the information is located.
He also explains " Diffractive optics (also called a Holographic
Optical Element or HOE)" and offers info on suppliers. However, when
I clicked the link for suppliers, it produced no page, so I have
emailed him to see if he can give me various suppliers for that
process, as well as suppliers/explanation for the templates.
I then searched a variety of terms:
optical element design for laser pointer
laser pointer light design
custom graphic laser pointer
laser pointer light custom
laser pointer custom light graphic
These searches returned various company names. From reading the
sites, I located six possible companies that could custom make a
graphic application for your laser pointers. I have emailed all those
companies with your original query and one company, LDS
(http://www.lightdesignsystems.com/products.htm), has already returned
a reply that they can have these made for you but they need some
additional information. They queried:
1) Is there a site where the graphic can be viewed?
2) Do you have a size needed for the attachable element, or do you
need the laser pointers, too?
The gentleman at LDS that I have been communicating with indicated he
could better help with this custom order if phone conversation could
be initiated. From the web site their phone number is (905) 509-0331
if you wish to call them at this time.
I believe LDS will be able to meet your needs but I will also be
adding to your answer as I receive the other information from my email
queries. I appreciate your patience as my personally contacting
companies is essential to providing you with a detailed answer.
I will post additional information as I receive it and ask that you
refrain from rating my answer until I have heard from the various
companies. Also, please clarifiy the above questions and feel free to
include additional information that may be helpful in my queries to
the manufacturers. |
Clarification of Answer by
journalist-ga
on
30 Oct 2002 17:38 PST
I have received replies from three possibilities:
Mr. Goldwasser, author of the FAQ page on lasers, suggested using a
green laser because green is more visible. He also suggested that you
may be looking for a "custom transparent diffractive optic mounted in
line with a laser beam" and he recommended Creative Technology
(http://www.laser66.com/), among others, as a possible source.
I contacted them by email and the owner, Will Roberts, replied "We
will be glad to help you. We talk laser! Not just sales, but we are
engineers. It will be best to talk on the phone. Can you call us at
925.674.1562 Thanks."
Since I do not have your exact specs on the custom request, I suggest
you phone him to explain your needs or post them here in a
clarification so that I may send them on to him via email.
Another firm I had found, Industrial Fiber Optics, Inc.
(http://www.i-fiberoptics.com/) replied that the element is really two
parts - "One is the part that fits onto the laser pointer and the
other is the optical element." Randy Dahl said their interest in
making your order would depend on expectations of cost. Their contact
info from their web site is:
Industrial Fiber Optics, Inc.
627 South 48th Street, Suite 100
Tempe, AZ 85281
Phone: 480-804-1227
Email: INDFO@i-fiberoptics.com
I will post other replies as they arrive and I thank you for your
continued patience.
|
Request for Answer Clarification by
nigelfrancisburke-ga
on
31 Oct 2002 04:07 PST
Thank you for your answer. It is going well. In case this helps you:
I do think that the optical elements are 'diffractive elements.' The
ones I have seen in existing laser pointers are circles of thin,
cloudy-looking plastic about three millimeters across. I believe they
are etched with a pattern to modify the laser beam, but the pattern
projected is not visible on or within the element. It's a more subtle
thing than slide-projection.
My intention would be to retro-fit my custom elements to a stock of
purchased laser pointers, but in practice it may well be cheaper to
order them already fitted into laser pointers if the manuacturing
company is set up to do that.
With regard to the 'two-piece' nature of the element, yes, the plastic
optical bits come cemented into a simple metal bevel that screws onto
the body of the laser pointer. There are a few alternative
arrangements, but that's the most common.
best regards,
Nigel
|
Clarification of Answer by
journalist-ga
on
31 Oct 2002 08:13 PST
I am delighted you are pleased with my results so far. I hope to hear
from the other firms today. In addition, Mr. Goldwasser provided me
with some search terms of which I wasn't aware - more industry
specific. I'll be searching those today and may discover additional
contacts for you.
I'll continue to post contact information as I receive it.
|
Clarification of Answer by
journalist-ga
on
31 Oct 2002 14:07 PST
CALPAC LASERS has answered and states "We can certainly manufacture a
custom filter that will project your client's company logo from a
laser pointer" and "we require a minimum commitment of 2,000 units for
custom filter orders. Lead time is roughly 5-6 weeks." They stated
their most popular model is the CP-TI-333-9 keychain laser pointer and
may be viewed at http://www.calpaclasers.com/keychain_lasers.html.
They estimated (rough estimate, they said) for 2,000 units will be
$30,000 and stated that 10,000 units of the CP-TI-333-9 engraved and
projecting a custom logo is approximately $90,000. They said that
included the tooling cost and they would need detailed information
from you.
CONTACT:
Chris Gander
CALPAC LASERS
1-800-975-1575
1-970-879-2225
1-970-879-8526 fax
http://www.calpaclasers.com
email: sales@calpaclasers.com
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