Undergrad How do I stretch a laser from a beam into a sheet?

[DaveE]

The "Y" in "DIY" stands for yourself. We can't tell you the best way for you to solve the mechanical mounting problem with your tools, desires, and experience.

 

[sophiecentaur]

the best way for you to solve the mechanical mounting problem with your tools, desires, and experience

A totally personal choice, of course. For anyone to help you get to your goal you need to describe the problem exactly. The easiest solution would almost certainly to have been to buy a cheapo laserlevel. Now you have spent $40 on your posh lens, you are pretty well forced to use it. Also, a level is a level and useful in its own right.

 

[sbrothy]

I'm almost loathe to suggest it but you could formulate a detailed question for ChatGPT and ask the educated and intelligent people on here (which excludes me) bout the details that eludes you....

EDIT: I've had success with that MO before....

 

[sophiecentaur]

formulate a detailed question for ChatGPT

I'd bet that ChatGPT uses PF as a source for 'good ideas'. It has to get them somewhere as it has nothing of its own to give.

 

[sbrothy]

I'd bet that ChatGPT uses PF as a source for 'good ideas'. It has to get them somewhere as it has nothing of its own to give.

Yeah, in reality I'd be like searching PF and ask for elaboration on a particular subject.

EDIT: You *could* probably cut out ChatGPT but as I said when I formulated my questions in detail I was actually quite pleased with the answers. Except the parts I needed explained in more detail.

Here's an example (I knew I needed to profile the laser but I wanted ChatGPT to offer solutions, also with the lenses):

Please explain the demands, details and/or specifications of a 532 nanometer laser for use in a home build Raman spectrometer with a 2 lens setup. Specifically what, if anything, needs to be checked or done with regards to the laser for optimal focusing back and forth through the lens focusing the beam onto the sample in order to pick up the Raman backscattering.

EDIT: Or rather, I wanted it to point out to me which values were important to profile.
EDIT2: It "liked" my question("Nice project — fun and doable."? I wonder where these opinions come from? And what constitutes a stupid or inane question?) and I got a surprising amount of math back at me!

 

[sbrothy]

Here's the follow-up:

Please provide detailed instructions and specifications for building laser beam profilers for a 532 nanometer laser based on all techniques within DIY range. Specifically I want you to include the knife edge and camera techniques as well as any alternatives.

Also a lot of math. Obviously.

 

[sbrothy]

I'd bet that ChatGPT uses PF as a source for 'good ideas'. It has to get them somewhere as it has nothing of its own to give.

You might want to give this thread a look if you haven't already:

Thread 'Why have the number of questions declined over recent years?'

Dec 12, 2025

It's not just at Phsyics Forums, as for example, this graph of the monthly question rate at stack overflow:

• rcgldr
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• Forum: Feedback and Announcements

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[LightningInAJar]

I'm almost loathe to suggest it but you could formulate a detailed question for ChatGPT and ask the educated and intelligent people on here (which excludes me) bout the details that eludes you....

EDIT: I've had success with that MO before....

Chatgpt is the first place I went when asking about lenses. YouTube helped more.

 

[sbrothy]

Yeah well, I'm not much for videos. I like to read.

 

[sophiecentaur]

Chatgpt is the first place I went when asking about lenses. YouTube helped more.

You have the necessary info about the lens and the laser. What you need is practical advice for the 'under-tooled'. If you had some modest machine tools then you'd do this easily. But, as I have already pointed out, you haven't shown us the actual problem. I wonder why.

 

[sbrothy]

Undertooled?

EDIT: And this is a month-old picture.

 

[sbrothy]

Nah, my basic problem is that I'm not made of money and I need to buy the things I need step by step. And then I'm also not exactly great at math. I'll make it work but it'll take some time. Also I have other, way more serious stuff going on in my life.

 

[sbrothy]

I mean I know how to solve an ODE but, but luckily I'm teamed up with a civil engineer. I recently conspired with his wife to get him off the booze so we're getting there.

 

[sbrothy]

Undertooled?

View attachment 368258


EDIT: And this is a month-old picture.

Ah you meant perhaps in the qualification-department? Fair enough. Don't worry. I'll the there.

 

[LightningInAJar]

Just a cheap green laser pen about 2cm diameter. Less the 5mm laser beam. Roughly 8mm diameter Powell lens.