Lasers could replace spark plugs in car engines.

That's Funny,
But i have to interject!! But these lasers are no more powerful then a over glorified UV laser pointer!!
The focal length of these laser look to be in the millimeters, so any malfunction would be more along the lines of misfiring. This is a UV wavelength and they are creating is a plasma arc. (breaking down O2)
I know I know TMI!!

 

I work at a Laser company called Photon Machines.
We make mostly Geological based laser, but have some machining ones as well.
www.photon-machines.com

 

I got this a few months ago, and ..... well.... I burned a hole in an old tire with it. Its fun to play with, but scary as well.

 

Yeah dude, i cannot believe that people are using these as toys. Wicked laser.com also sell a bunch of these lasers. They are so freaking dangerous. One reflection and you are blind for life period direct or indirect. (That includes your dog, cat and fish, or anything else with eyeballs.) There is no recovering from these lasers. That being said i have six of them at work for development all different wavelengths. If they came with laser safety glasses, i highly recommend you wear them.
Pointing them at people should be an assault charge, as scattered light can also cause eye and skin damage.

 

i want one! to bad they cost arm+leg

 

or worse yet........"That is how it's supposed to work".

 

we originally got it to help align the dishes for our point to point (25-30 miles) and it worked great. (glasses on both ends of course). When it was foggy and cloudy you could see the beam almost the whole distance.

 

op , sorry for the hijack

 

Cool application!
Here is a article i found for that beast you have there!

WickedLasers has released a new laser that can blind instantly, cause cancer if it touches skin, and could possibly set things on fire.
Sometimes the responsible and careful progression of technology just has to take a backset to the “what the hell” approach of developing things just because you can. Such seems to be the case with the WickedLaser S3 Spyder Arctic laser, a blue light laser that might be just a few years (and a couple million dollars of research money) away from becoming a long-overdue laser rifle that many of us have been waiting for ever since we were kids. Possible Jedi applications could be a realistic goal as well. It even kind of looks like a lightsaber.
The S3 Spyder uses the world’s first 445nm direct blue diode portable laser, with an ultra high power 1W beam. If those words mean nothing to you, to put it in perspective, this laser can easily generate more than 1000-times the light that sunlight delivers to your skin. In other words, if you held it on someone for long enough, they would probably catch fire. Seriously. It would take some time, but it is doable. If they were lucky, the victim/test subject might just escape with a nasty burn and a potential battle with cancer waiting for them down the road. This laser is powerful enough that it could instantly blind you if you looked right at it. Even wearing protective glasses and just glimpsing the direct beam could cost you the color green for 4-6 months.
The S3 Spyder is 4000-percent brighter than WikedLaser’s previous model, the Sonar, and it costs a mere $200 once you sign the lengthy and spine chilling form that confirms that you have read the company’s page long warnings. According to the website, “This laser possesses the most burning capabilities of any portable laser in existence. That’s why it’s also the most dangerous laser ever created.”
So what is this beast for? What highly technical procedures is this laser recommended for- a laser so powerful that given the right circumstances it could literally kill someone?
Fun.
After all, who can’t think of a few awesome things to do with a laser that is 1000-times more powerful than sunlight. It is recommended for people with product familiarity in using Class 4 lasers, although anyone can purchase one online.
But before you run off to buy your prototype imperial blaster though, be sure to read the warnings page, which offers such helpful tips as not to point it at an aircraft, and never use it to play with your pets. Because you might make them explode (the explode part wasn’t actually in the warnings, but it was inferred).
The laser might not be ready for the Death Star just yet, but proceed with caution, and for the love of God, keep your kids away from this at all costs. Unless of course they are super villains, then this will make the perfect Christmas gift!

 

Oh yeah sorry back on track!

 

There fun as hell, and sometimes very frustrating, as it is some what of a black art. But when they work, lots and lots of fun.

I have a 50watt liquid cooled CO2 laser that will burn straight through a cinder block in less than a few minutes. Now that is a wicked laser!!
Laser spot at the focal point is 150micron.

 

I have heard that a flame will burn the fuel mix a lot better than a spark.
I know nothing about a laser, but the limits of gas engines is the fact that it is hard to completely burn the mix better than we get now a days.

When fuel is introduced to the combustion process it is liquid and does not burn as efficently as if it was vapor.
Smokey Yunick developed a " Hot Cycle Vapor Engine" By heating the gas to vapor before it went into the combustion chamber. Pretty much doubled the MPG and power.
Simply burning the fuel more completely to achieve a higher level of performance.

 

i dont think it was the arctic laser, but my buddy bought one (i think it was a green laser) that does the same thing. it was $200. they've since gone up in price. it bothers me that they are available to the public. they are dangerous as hell but people treat them like toys.

 

you're not serious are you? i was raised to respect firearms. when i pick one up i dont point it at anyone or treat it like a toy. if i didn't know what this was, or what it was capable of, and saw it sitting around, i'd prolly pick it up and start shining it at stuff. the only reason i wouldn't is because i've read about them online. one stupid mistake like that is all it takes to blind someone or yourself. its just not smart to sell these to anyone with a credit card.

 

But not everyone was raised to respect firearms. I myself was never around them growing up, first thing we did when we were 15 and found my buddies dad's farm rifle was start shooting random shit on the farm.

 

Shall me make a new thread just for laser talk

 

explain the new garage door to the wife....

 

do you belive everything you read on the internet? jkjk