Visible red lasers for inside the PC case?

[Izlude]

I googled around for visible red lasers that connect via Molex connectors in the PC, but all I came up with were cheap red diodes that aren't lasers at all.  I want to put a red laser in the PC and let it bounce off a few mirrors to give it this effect:

 

Now I'm not sure if it's viable, do lasers tend to fade and die pretty quickly if left on?  I'd treat it like my plasma globe, only on once in a while or when there are guests. I've got one of those clear acrylic cases and I said farewell to my old UV tube lights ages ago.  Time for something fresh.  What do you think?

More importantly, would it hurt the eyes even though the beam isn't even pointing anywhere near you? I mean just looking at it as it is in that photo, (from the observable angle).  See how the laser kinda glares (far left) is that something to be cautious about?

[TAZMINATOR]

Not good idea.

 

Use LED instead.

 

Because lasers are not safe for eyes when looking at the lasers.

 

You can put LED at the edge of the glass and the light will glow through the glass.

[Shiranui]

You are going to need Class 4 lasers. I don't know if I would want one of those in my case to accidentally blind someone.

Come to think of it, it would be a good anti-theft measure :)

 

It's quite alarming how easy it is to get hold of powerful lasers these days.

The sites that sell them stress that they are not toys, then they give them features called "LightSaber mode" and design them to look like this.....

[zhangm Supervisor]

Now I'm not sure if it's viable, do lasers tend to fade and die pretty quickly if left on? I'd treat it like my plasma globe, only on once in a while or when there are guests. I've got one of those clear acrylic cases and I said farewell to my old UV tube lights ages ago. Time for something fresh. What do you think?

More importantly, would it hurt the eyes even though the beam isn't even pointing anywhere near you? I mean just looking at it as it is in that photo, (from the observable angle). See how the laser kinda glares (far left) is that something to be cautious about?

Yes, I work with diodes that are powered on for hours each day and have lasted years. These are lab-grade laser modules, with stable power supplies and adequate thermal dissipation. If the optical path is isolated within your case, then there is little cause for concern unless you've gotten something more powerful than a class IIIB laser (in which diffuse reflections still contain enough power to damage vision with short exposure).

The problem is that you need a powerful laser to create a beam visible from the side to the naked eye in plain air. A 30 mW green laser pointer, for example, is barely visible to the eye from the side in a dark room. You could make the beam much more obvious by passing it through a more scattering medium: smoke (no-no in the case), or maybe a plastic or glass panel.

Edit: Red is harder to see than green. I'm almost certain that a red laser beam plainly visible from the side would be significantly dangerous.

[Izlude]

Hey do you think something like this could work?   Construct a plexi box that has an ionizer (input) to force mist into the box, and an exhaust to let it out into some other area away from the PC?

It's the same ionizer used in those magic mist fountains people get at gift stores. Then I could use a regular old laser from the dollar store, which reflects on the mirrors in the box to make the pattern.  Seem practical? :P

[TAZMINATOR]

If you think it seems practical, then go for it.  I wouldn't do that way.

 

If I were you, I'd put led strip at the edge (bottom, top, or either side) of the glass and the light will glow  and you can even put a 'frost' type design on the glass such as logo, your name, etc..

[zhangm Supervisor]

Hey do you think something like this could work?   Construct a plexi box that has an ionizer (input) to force mist into the box, and an exhaust to let it out into some other area away from the PC?

It's the same ionizer used in those magic mist fountains people get at gift stores. Then I could use a regular old laser from the dollar store, which reflects on the mirrors in the box to make the pattern.  Seem practical? :p

 

 

Yes, if you have particles that scatter, then you'll see the beam. Try to stay flexible with the fog density, since if you have too much scattering, you'll lose the beam noticeably over its total path.

[Dot Matrix]

You are going to need Class 4 lasers. I don't know if I would want one of those in my case to accidentally blind someone.

Come to think of it, it would be a good anti-theft measure :)

 

It's quite alarming how easy it is to get hold of powerful lasers these days.

The sites that sell them stress that they are not toys, then they give them features called "LightSaber mode" and design them to look like this.....

Lol are those picatinny rails?

[n_K]

You are going to need Class 4 lasers. I don't know if I would want one of those in my case to accidentally blind someone.

Come to think of it, it would be a good anti-theft measure :)

 

It's quite alarming how easy it is to get hold of powerful lasers these days.

The sites that sell them stress that they are not toys, then they give them features called "LightSaber mode" and design them to look like this.....

Would absolutely not use a class IV laser for anything like this, they're for burning through things and etching