Very cheap unique wavelength light for using with Optical Flats... Using a 532nm. 50mw LED laser

[@gettingpast4391]

This is great. I'd never tested flats, and I just purchased a bunch of glass which included some test flats. This really encouraged me to grind some secondary mirrors because I never realized how easy testing them was until now.

[@pierresgarage2687]

Hi, not sure about making glass surfaces this isn't something I know much about, but, fun thing in life is trying new and challenging stuff.... 👍🙂

[@billshiff2060]

I have a proper mono chromatic light but I found that I can also get a laptop screen to be full of 1 color and it works too. You can even change colors to get different wave lengths if you want. I just find a photo that has a patch of the color I want and zoom in till it fills the screen.

[@pierresgarage2687]

Haven't tought about that, that's a great idea, It's possible to use a simple draw program and change the color of a rectangle that is full screen.... Thanks for the proposal.... 🙂🙂👍👍

[@billshiff2060]

@@pierresgarage2687 yeah exactly. It's not as bright but it does work.

[@brucewilliams6292]

Hi Peirre, I was using my light that I made from your idea to check out a new depth micrometer and thought about you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

[@pierresgarage2687]

Nice of you to use some of the content I published.... And, best wishes for you and your loves ones for the Holyday Season... 🙂

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Very well done. Good adaptation of the laser.

[@pierresgarage2687]

When I get a momnet I'lll try to ge a decent enclosure to make a functionnal lighting fixture, but, at least I know it works great for cheap... ;)

[@pierresgarage2687]

BTW, keep an eye on your mailbox... ;)

[@kentvandervelden]

Recently I learned about optical flats in an old inspection manual from 1942 or so. A little history was ~1915 gage blocks were used to standardize measurements between fabrication plants and optical flats were used to inspect gage blocks. Like their creativity, I love yours too: laser + ping-pong ball :)

[@pierresgarage2687]

Getting flatness in the level of those optical flats is all of a serious project, making decent gauge blocks is much more difficult than it may look... Even in the early 20th century, some people were ingenious enough to make pretty accurate measuring devices... Thanks for your input, Pierre

[@kentvandervelden]

It was a book from DoAll that I was reading, Quality Control. Indeed, it was fascinating to see how very accurate measurements were made before expensive electronic micrometers and CMMs. There was a lot of cool new physics being mixed in. Even stuff like a gage block holder to build up multiple references in one devices and vernier blocks were new to me, having come to this hobby/profession in the time of computers, so I've been telling everyone about this little gem. Best wishes to you Pierre, love your videos.

[@johnridgeway6718]

Thank you

[@pierresgarage2687]

You're welcome and thanks for your comment...

[@zephyrold2478]

Hi Pierre, nice demonstration, a good old handmade thumbs up. Atb.

[@pierresgarage2687]

Always a pleasure to have someone visiting and leaving a nice comment, Pierre

[@leghunter9201]

Hi I need one of these in the field. How can I power it? Can it be done with batteries? Much appreciate your advice.

[@pierresgarage2687]

No problem using a battery, just use the prescribed voltage required by the LED you have on hand. This doesn't draw very much current so you will have a decent autonomy in the field... Thanks for watching and for your inquiry. 🙂🙂

[@stephenwagar2663]

Now I See You Are A Man Of Many Hats , My Complements Sir ...

[@pierresgarage2687]

Hi Stephen, I had to wear a couple of those hats during my lifetime, that's a nice way to broaden the experiences... ;) Thanks for the nice comment, Pierre

[@ROBRENZ]

Enjoyed Pierre! ATB, Robin

[@pierresgarage2687]

Hi Robin, Thanks for visiting, ATB, Pierre

[@xmachine7003]

Pierre's light solution works well. Don't you think? He explained it well also.

[@tinkermouse-scottrussell3738]

Elliot Lake, Ont. Enjoyed watching this one Pierre thanks for sharing.

[@pierresgarage2687]

Hi Scott, Eliot Lake is quite remote area, sure it's pretty nice place to be... Glad you enjoyed and thanks for taking the time to leave a comment, Pierre

[@bcbloc02]

Doubt I will be getting into this level of measurement but good to know means to do it affordably.

[@pierresgarage2687]

Those tools are great to check about your precision tools, this brings you to a superior level whenever needed, but I agree with you that this a rare occurence in our kinda shops...

[@jeffryblackmon4846]

Same with me, as a hobbyist.

[@Tristoo]

could also have taken sandpaper to a small piece of glass and put it in front of the tube, would have been simpler, more directional, and I imagine more efficient as the plastic likely absorbs a fair bit of that light

[@pierresgarage2687]

You have a point, in my case the ball is to make a more diffused light in order to illuminate a broader area. Cheers, Pierre

[@EverettsWorkshop]

That is so cool! Thanks, Pierre - I've never seen how optical flats are used. Seen surplus Soviet flats like you're using advertised on eBay before, but wasn't aware of how they were used.

[@pierresgarage2687]

Hi Everett, If you had to purchase those flats over here brand new, there is no way to do so without taking a second mortgage on your house... lol those surplus from Russia or Eastern countries are quite good products, most are dated from the 80's. Don't forget you need a pretty reflective surface in order to use them or it won't work... Cheers, Pierre

[@docpedersen7582]

Yeah... remember ordering a monochromatic light for a calibration lab back in early 80s.... as I recall was over $1000 US. But my favorite was a "functional check" of an optical spectrum analyzer... heavy on IR end. So took out my BIC and held it in front of input. Yup! Detects IR!

[@pierresgarage2687]

Did you mean a BIC pen...??? You really worked in the high end tools... ;)

[@docpedersen7582]

BIC lighter. Flame was big -quick- IR source. Was "optical" spectrum analyzer.

[@pierresgarage2687]

Since I'm a non smoker, for me a BIC relates more to a pen than a lighter, should have asked Philippe before making a fool of myself... lol

[@fatihdurmaz9826]

hehe

[@bad_metaphor]

There is some bowing of the lines when you are showing only 5-6 lines. The most obvious bowing is near the top of the bar. When you're making flats for a telescope (like a telescope diagonal), you want to keep working until you have "jailbar straight lines". :)

[@bigyabbies]

I enjoyed this, thanks for sharing

[@pierresgarage2687]

Glad you liked and thanks for your comment, Pierre

[@DrHarryT]

A tool for making an observational study of the flatness of objects.

[@skiptracer8703]

Thanks Pierre for the education and demo. I have one of those optical glasses but really not sure of the use until I saw Tom Lipton's and your Videos. Thanks for the links to Banggood Jim

[@pierresgarage2687]

When you need to sue those tolerances, you're quite high in the quality level... That little Laser does a great job and supplies ample amount of light... Thanks for comment, Pierre

[@alext8828]

Is a low-pressure sodium lamp (589nm) a good choice?

[@pierresgarage2687]

If the frequency band is narrow enough , there is no reason why it wouldn't work, can't be sure it would work since I haven't tried this source myself, though... Ifr you ever hear it works or try it yourself, please let me know, that would add to my knowledge... Thanks.

[@douro20]

Yes, they will work. These types of lamps were originally used as laboratory sources and their emission is very monochromatic, with two lines at 589nm and 589.6nm, the so-called sodium doublet. Some commercial monochromatic light sources like those made by Kemet use such lamps.

[@pierresgarage2687]

@@douro20 Nice of you to comment on this, I'll get my hands on one and give it a try, though, most commercial units are quite high wattage and spread lots of calories...

[@bambumbambu]

what lens are those?

[@pierresgarage2687]

Those are lenses where both surfaces are in the sub-micron tolerance for their parallel surfaces, we use them to measure how plane is a worked surface, we use a monochromatic light with a known wavelength to measure the deviation from plane on a part to be controlled. The surface to be measured has to be near polished or better. Cheers....

[@ChrisB257]

Interesting stuff Pierre, although must admit, beyond anything I'd probably get into! Sure is great proof of concept. :)

[@pierresgarage2687]

Hi Chris, Machining to the tolerances of those optical flats is a BIG Challenge, those are very close to real flat... At least the set-up won't be too costly for someone that wants to check their latest precision tools purchases. Cheers, Pierre

[@TKC_]

I can’t help but wonder if dirt cheap monochromatic leds would do the same job. You can get pretty bright leds for 10 cents a pop. Not that the laser is all bad. Just the safety issues before diffusing a laser that strong are not great. I think I’m going to give it a try I have tons of leds I know the wavelength of so I have no excuse not to.

[@TKC_]

Tried it. Red leds worked better than green in my case. Maybe they were a narrower wavelength for what I had on hand. I had a 5mw green laser and the results were similar to my red leds. I’ll probably stack like 10 leds or so into a diffuser to use as a permanent source. If anyone ever sees this and cares I used Digi-Key part 1830-1000-ND which is 632nm 3mm diameter red leds

[@MrMa1981]

Pretty amazing!! Optical lens (and light source) are soo fascinating. But, I don't understand how they totally works, yet. About the concept of the "curvature" I got it, but I'm not able to estimate the flatness. For example: with Fowler Jo block I count 11 straight lines. So 532 nm wavelenght and 11 lines. What else we need or check? And what's your sentence about this flatness? 7:10

[@xenonram]

Magic Rojava Watch Tom Lipton's videos about it. He goes into it.

[@pierresgarage2687]

The number of lines isn't the way to get a measure of the flatness, it's the bow in the lines that has to be measured, the number of lines can vary due mainly to the pressure and will determine the thickness of the thin gap of air that will be left between the optical flat and the block, this gap is needed in order to create the reflection and diffraction that will generate those interference lines. If you look at the part where the optical flat is resting on a hard disk platter, you'll see those linesare quite bowed, knowing that the distance is half 532nm. between the peaks you can determine how much deviation from the straigth line there is, this result is the out of flatness on the surface of the hard disk platter.

[@pierresgarage2687]

I only find the video from Tom about showing the optical flats, not the one where he explains the theory behind it... Probably not looking at the right place, or, the video isn't there anymore...???

[@MrMa1981]

Now it's more cleare!! And so about the hard disk platter, how much out of flatness is? On Jo block I can't see any bows. There are many more lines on expensive gage becouse is more flat and so the gap of air is more thin? We have to consider even how flat the lens is?

[@MrMa1981]

Thanks, I saw a lot, but in a video fluently and well spoken english, I can understand the meaning of a sentence, but not all the little details.

[@ayeroxor]

Neat, thanks!

[@pierresgarage2687]

Thanks for your comment.... 🌈👍

[@deanharris7149]

Just bought some optical flats, what was the brand name of the towels you prefer?

[@pierresgarage2687]

You can look at this type of wipes on Google and find a local distributor, be sure to use lens tissues for optics or even micro-fibers cloths. Be aware that ordinary paper tissues are really abrasive for optics and will remove some of the coatings and scratch the glass. Kimwipes Lint-Free Wipers made by Kimberly-Clark, look for all their products you'll most likely find what you need. Thanks for viewing, Pierre

[@xenonram]

I love Pierre's Britney Spears pop star style mic.

[@pierresgarage2687]

Hi Andrew, Wish I was as popular as she is..... Uhmmm.... Maybe not after all... lol

[@xmachine7003]

@@pierresgarage2687 😂😂😂more money too😊

[@ЮрийПономарёв-р8у]

Приятно увидеть Советский знак качества на другом континенте ! ============= Лозунг: Советское - значит отличное!

[@pierresgarage2687]

Не уверен, как это будет переводиться, но есть много умелых людей во всех уголках мира, Россия не исключение ...;) Translation from Google translate: C: It's nice to see the Soviet quality mark on another continent! ============= The slogan: Soviet - it means excellent! A: Not sure how this will translate, but, there are lots of skillful people in every parts of the world, Russia is no exception... ;)

[@guliwer1713]

@@pierresgarage2687 у нас умелых больше skillful people in Russia BIG (больше ;-) )

[@pierresgarage2687]

@@guliwer1713 Skillful people world wide.... Mankind is gifted, let's use our gift for the well being of all of us... 🙂🙂

[@guliwer1713]

@@pierresgarage2687 welcome Saint Petersburg :)

[@pierresgarage2687]

@@guliwer1713 This is a 17 hours flight from Montreal Canada, quite a distance...!!! Salutation to you... 🌈👍

[@EmmaRitson]

well thats very cool. thanks for the video Mr Pierre. something useful from Bangood lol

[@pierresgarage2687]

Hi Emma, As I get up in the morning, you relax at night watching videos... ;) Banggood or any other is a good way to shop and save gas, plus cutting the middleman... We need to use our judgement since there are good deals to be mande as well as "not so good deals" . Take good care, Pierre

[@coldformer1]

overkill for the home shop ?

[@pierresgarage2687]

Hi Jerry, Depends what type of results you're expecting, if you only need regular machined parts, then, it's overkill... If you're serious about a very flat referenc,e it's a great tool, and this way you don't need to have a second mortgage on the house... ;) Thanks for comment, Pierre

[@barrygerbracht5077]

Interesting to see the patterns, but I have no idea how you use that to measure anything. I don't think this is a tool going on my shopping list as it is probably used for things like Robin Renzeti does, not what I'll be doing, i.e. micron level accuracy machining.

[@pierresgarage2687]

Hi Barry, Maybe you won't machine to those tolerances, but, to chech your measuring instruments like gauge blocks, flat surfaces, etc... Won't cost you thousand of $$$$$... Lapping a surface to meet those tolerances of flatness is quite a challenge... ;) Cheers, Pierre

[@OldIronShops]

need to snag some of this gear lol so many tools so little $$$

[@pierresgarage2687]

Hi Chris,About tooling a machine shop, there a tille somewhere that says: "The neverending Story" ;) Take care, Pierre

[@OldIronShops]

Pierre's Garage my buddy says you're never be done buying tools lol he's 80

[@xmachine7003]

@@OldIronShops true.😉😂

[@outsidescrewball]

Enjoyed....but beyond my pay grade....lol

[@pierresgarage2687]

+outsidescrewball You need an upgrade lol Cheers, Pierre

[@plasmahead2]

First optical flat that had a price tag on google, $12,600...

[@pierresgarage2687]

Best to look somewhere like eBay, presently there are a lot offererings at prices like $100 and less... Russian ones like the ones I got are pretty good quality and Shipping from Ukarine or Russia is quite reasonnable... :)

[@plasmahead2]

After recovering from the shock I noticed the size, something about 12" diameter or so... I'm just a welder but I pass info like this onto the actual machinists I work with :)

[@xmachine7003]

@@pierresgarage2687 Tom Lipton was using one of the Russian optical flats like yours. Testing it for someone. Those flats with the markings,such as yours are very good quality. I found them on e-bay,$100 dollars or less.

[@billschoenbeck4536]

Hi Pierre, I love your channel, you always have some interesting things to share like this laser pointer used as a monochromatic light source with optical flats. I second Richard Kinch's comments about Surplus Shed being a source of affordable flats. I have purchased several from them in years past. Anyway in regards to the green DPSS laser pointer you are using, I was surfing YT and found this video on the unknown risks with this type of laser. See kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4OUfKhrmdOVfpo I am not trying to be the laser safety Nazi here but this vid pointed out things i did not know about DPSS lasers and the potential for eye injury esp from invisible infrared radiation that MAY be present in these lasers. Brainiac75 points out some potential issues and a way to determine if those issues are present with these Banggood laser modules. Being Chinese in origin the lasers may or may not adhere strictly to the power output requirements suggested by the class label as well as adding sufficient filters to eliminate the IR or reduce it to acceptable levels. I hope you and your subs read this as the PSA it is intended to be and not trashing your idea (I have purchased two of these lasers myself and as they are quite bright plan to avoid accidental reflections from the polished surfaces of the flats i will use them with). At least until I can get the filters mentioned in Brainiac75's vid to see for myself. Thanks and keep up the great channel. Too bad you didn't make it to the 2018 Bash at Stan's I would have liked to meet you.

[@pierresgarage2687]

Hoope to make it to the Bash in a naer future, meeting with the nice bunch of people that are present there is a real treat, sorry I missed you, hop we could catch up in the future. Right about the lasers available, it's difficult to determine exactly what we're dealing with. When I install the ping-pong ball dome it pretty well cuts the destructive rays emited by the laser, if my memory is right we're dealing with 50mw, this can cause dammage to vision in a short period of time, so, safety is a must. Thanks for the reminder, when publishing future videos, I'll insist more about those issues. ATB and thanks again for the kind words, Pierre

[@somebodyelse6673]

Can this kind of thing be applied to scraping surfaces? Even if not, could you show what it looks like on a scraped surface? ...50mW? Isn't that well into "permanent eye damage if you're unlucky" range? According to the 3b classification, direct or even reflected exposure must be avoided. Your diffusing setup is pretty safe, but for God's sake, don't power that up without the diffuser on it! www.lasersafetyfacts.com/laserclasses.html

[@pierresgarage2687]

No way it would work on a scraped surface, it realy requires a near mirro finish to work... You're right about the class III laser if it's focussed, once diffused into a wide surface beam it's safer, but even there I won't look into the tube itsel at the source, way too risky. Thanks for the advice

[@notamouse5630]

This is exactly right, collimated is dangerous, diverging is fine. A to-18 package laser diode is typically not sufficiently collimated to be dangerous, buy a pair of inexpensive laser glasses just to be sure or use an auto darkening welding hood. An auto darkener will be fast enough for a bright but divergent source. If one wishes to make their own of these, get a high power

[@nefton001]

ахахах знак качества ссср )

[@michaelluchesi6296]

Dam parts made in CHINA, no way.

[@pierresgarage2687]

With a few rare exceptions, all corporations, large and small, have the majority of their components manufactured in countries where labor is cheap. Where do you imagine Apple has its iPhones manufactured? And so on.... We would be much better off coming up with new ideas and new concepts than beating down on trying to compete to make items in droves and at ridiculous prices. Here all workers want to have high wages and working conditions, this is incompatible with mass production, it will be necessary to implement automation at all levels to compete with these practices. There are already tendencies on the part of certain companies to repatriate some of their productions. The important thing is to arrive at an acceptable balance for all ... 🌈👍

[@michaelluchesi6296]

@@pierresgarage2687 I spend many a time in Asia and have seen the abuse that is all over Asia that is done to workers, so don't try to lecture me on products made there and justify them. There is no balance for all when people are abused who make these products, go there and look at how a facorty worker lives.Mass product is done all the time in developed countries at a reasonable price its only greedy compaines abusing these poor people that want there products made in China, profit, profit, greedy companies.

[@pierresgarage2687]

@@michaelluchesi6296 I don't see Apple and many others pulling out of Asia and loose money, guess it's up to the consumers to start helping them balance the economy and be less greedy... Still got to get goods from Asia, if their economy colapses. it's not gonna do us any good on the medium term, it's our duty to require better conditions from the factories that we get our supplies from. BTW, Foxcom that manufactures the Apple products are REALLY bad with employees, and Apple, Samsung, etc... are well awares of this....

[@xmachine7003]

@@pierresgarage2687 good answer. Don't buy their products. Be part of the solution,not the problem.