Collimate your collimator the easy way!

[cajen2]

Do you doubt the accuracy of your laser collimator? Are your woodworking skills as bad as mine? Instead of measuring and cutting bits of wood, why not use Lego? 😄 It's an ideal substance as it's absolutely uniform. Here's my test bed:

The V-shaped bricks allow the tube to settle at exactly the same height and make it easy to turn.

For anyone unfamiliar with the process, aim the laser at a distant white wall and rotate it in the jig. If the spot doesn't move, it's collimated. If the spot rotates too, it needs adjusting with the little screws. Simples! 😉

[cajen2]

For interest, mine turned out to be exactly right! 👍 Spot on, you might say....😉

Edited October 5, 2022 by cajen2

[Ouroboros]

Excellent idea, @cajen2.   Just one suggestion. It needs a little Lego man with hard hat supervising proceedings. 

[cajen2]

How's that?

[Ouroboros]

@cajen2.  Excellent. 😃

[cajen2]

The mobile version:

Warning! This is not quite as stable! 😄

[sorrimen]

Love it. I raise you two bottles of wine 😁 Once the bottles are finished the lego makes for a good activity! 

[cajen2]

Also a good idea....if the bottles are identical. If you then drink both of them, you'll stop caring whether your collimator is correct! 😉😄

[Giles_B]

Great idea - I never cease to be amazed at the adaptability of Lego - Lego seems particularly likely to be useful for testing the Baader LaserColli mk2, which is a really awkward shape.

Now as for the uses for a bottle or two of wine....

[wimvb]

7 hours ago, cajen2 said:

How's that?

He doesn't have safety goggles

[Guest]

This is actually a good reminder to check my laser and make sure it is still reasonably close 

[Ouroboros]

10 hours ago, wimvb said:

He doesn't have safety goggles

 It’s OK. The laser will be Class I so considered eye safe for normal use.  He’ll have done the risk assessment paperwork anyway I’m sure. 

[Guest]

On 05/10/2022 at 08:23, cajen2 said:

The mobile version:

Warning! This is not quite as stable! 😄

Needs wings and ground effects. 

[cajen2]

Could do, Mike, could do.....but the biggest problems are its lack of brakes and narrow track. Think I'll stick with the static version....😄

[Guest]

1 hour ago, cajen2 said:

Could do, Mike, could do.....but the biggest problems are its lack of brakes and narrow track. Think I'll stick with the static version....😄

Where is your sense of adventure 

[Mr Spock]

No Lego here, but, I tested mine in a similar way. Spot on here too 

[cajen2]

3 minutes ago, Mr Spock said:

No Lego here, but, I tested mine in a similar way. Spot on here too 

What did you use?

[Mr Spock]

1 minute ago, cajen2 said:

What did you use?

Wood 

[cajen2]

Naah....far too much trouble. Lego bricks are all standard and it took me two minutes to make! 😉