help with laser disco ball

[ronnoc1010]

hello

i am building a 32 sided globe with different colored lasers on each side.
the main problems i am having:
1. where do i get the lasers(preferably cheap)
2. How do i power them?
and
3. how do i wire them to light 1 color then the other then the other

am i going to need an arduino?
sorry for such beginner questions


thanks in advance

connor

 

[misterT]

Deal Extreme has all kinds of cheap laser products.
**broken link removed**

PS. I wouldn't use that kind of "disco ball" anywhere near people. It is a hazard for peoples eyesight. And will look crappier than a regular mirrorball+spotlights.

 

[Sceadwian]

The only cheap lasers you're going to find are red, that's it. Green lasers are expensive because they're actually frequency multiplied optical lasers using a diode as the starting point. Blue lasers are even more expensive. A red laser module will probably only set you back a few dollars, A blue/violet laser or a green one will cost around 25 bucks, a true blue one will set you back 50-100 or more, each.
As misterT said this is extremely hazardous to anyone they're pointed at, lasers have to be treated with care.

 

[Torben]

You can get red laser diodes for a buck a pop (plus often a white LED, a few button cells, and a microswitch) from a $1 laser pointer at the local dollar store. Bit of a pain to open them up sometimes but not too bad.

Also this is probably the least dangerous route. You want really weak lasers.

Note I said "least dangerous", not "safest". I wouldn't be walking into a room if I knew it had a ball like that in it. I kinda like being able to see.


Torben