Build Your Own Laser

By popsci Posted 05.22.2006 at 1:12 pm 2 Comments

I love my job, but something tells me How 2.0 would have been even more fun to run 40 years ago. Witness this 1964 PopSci article—with actual schematics—on building your own"ruby ray" laser. The best part is the sell: "The incredible ruby ray is one of the hottest scientific discoveries of the decade but practical uses are still scarce. Here's your chance to join the search." There's some advice we don't see enough of today: "Here, build some experiemental high-power stuff in your basement and let us know if you find something interesting to do with it."

Link via Makezine.com. —Mike Haney

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2 Comments

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popsci

12/03/06 at 4:06 am

In 1967 I built the ruby laser from the design published in the November, 1964 issue of Popular Science Magazine. I still have it and it still works and my son is going to use it for a science project. I am trying to obtain a copy of the Supplemental Data Sheet referenced at the end of the PS article. I originally sent for it and received it from PS, but is has been misplaced over the years. It contains important information including a specific procedure for reconditioning the 4 large e-caps used in the xenon flash tube trigger circuit, which is what I must do now since it has not been used for a long time. If you have a copy of the Data Sheet, I would greatly appreciate your
sharing it. If you know where I can obtain a copy, please let me know where and how.

I have contacted the PS customer service department, but they have come up empty so far. All they have offerred is a copy of the article, which I already have and which is readily available on line. I would be grateful for any assistance or suggestions in this regard. Thank you!

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popsci

09/25/07 at 8:53 am

I'm looking for the data sheet as well. Has anyone found their old copy? :) robbak11@hotmail.com