Optics Accessories

Lasers were once the stuff of science fiction, but today it is possible to build a laser that, while functioning on a much lesser scale, works exactly like the one NASA used to bounce a beam off...

Green laser pointers have become very popular due to the fact that they are inexpensive and the human eye is much more sensitive to the green laser light than red laser light pointers. The...

Digital clocks often take batteries known as L44 batteries, or LR44 batteries. These small 1.5 volt batteries are commonly used in digital clocks, wristwatches, and LED flashlights. They are...

The AixiZ laser is very popular for use in science projects because the laser diode in the housing is not soldered onto the laser mechanism. This makes it easy to remove and replace with a...

The price of a laser pointer is determined by the intensity of the laser light it emits. Inexpensive laser pointers use diodes which are very weak. Replacing this laser diode with the laser diode...

A metal mini-flashlight can be made into a laser flashlight by removing the incandescent bulb and replacing it with a laser diode. This laser diode can be taken out of a broken or unused computer...

Oh! No, the lights have gone out. This looks like a job for a light bulb changer such as yourself. Following the directions in this article shall make you a professional light bulb changer.

Red lasers are used for many things in many places across the world. "Laser" is an acronym that stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.

Lasers come in many different colors and are used worldwide for many different purposes. Red and green are only two of those colors, and as can be found through further research, "red" and "green"...

A laser pointer projects a laser beam through a lens that can be seen from a great distance. The intensity of the laser is controlled by a potentiometer on a circuit board inside the laser...

Green laser pointers are inexpensive and readily available in hobby stores and electronics shops. Hacking a green laser pointer is done by destroying the circuit board limiter that keeps the laser...

Building a powerful burning laser pointer doesn't require spending a lot of money because the mechanism found in an inexpensive green laser pointer is the same. The difference is that the green...

Spy cameras are used by corporations and individuals to invade our privacy every day. We don't see them because they are so small, and they're hard to find even if you know that one is there. The...

As our world gets more and more populated, our energy demands are getting higher and higher. Because of this, using low-energy solutions going forward will become more and more important....

A laser pointer uses a small lens to focus the laser light as it exits the barrel of the pointer. A dirty or cracked lens inhibits the laser light and renders the laser pointer useless. Replacing...

I would say the green laser pointer is most wonderful gadget i have seen ever before. From the very beginning of development of laser technology until today, the green laser pointer has become the...

Typically, a laser beam will only go in a completely straight path. While this is useful for most cases, there may come a time when you need to bend the laser so that it reaches another area that...

A digital scale is a great way to get an accurate measurement of an item's weight. Most digital scales give results in two decimal places, making it automatically more accurate than a standard...

A micrometer is a device most often used by engineers to precisely measure machines and other industrial instruments. Although the device originated as an analog system where you read the markings...

Motion detector security lights can be used in a variety of ways, including in garages or basements for automatic lighting, outside for security lighting to help deter burglars or even for scaring...

Polarizing filters block or reduce light reflected at certain angles from smooth, non-metallic surfaces such as glass or water.

Neodymium YAG is a type of crystal used as the primary lasing medium for certain high-power lasers. A lasing medium is the material through which a normal beam of light passes; as the beam exits...

Infrared is light that has a wavelength longer than visible red light. The ranges of infrared include near infrared, mid infrared and far infrared, spanning wavelengths from about 710 nanometers...

There are many different types of light bulbs available, so many that it can be confusing to choose the right light bulb for the job. However, the kind of bulb that is used can make a noticeable...

Valve trains are devices that are used to control the flow of air or liquid in and out of a closed system. Pressure regulators are a self-controlling form of valve train that control the flow of...

Fluorescent light bulbs are becoming more popular because they use less energy and last longer than incandescent bulbs. However, the negative effects of fluorescent bulbs must be understood...

Goniometer is an instrument that measures angles and allows for objects to be rotated to a particular angular position. In 1669, Niels Stensen identified a very important characteristic of...

8mm projectors have not been made for many years, and so those still in use have suffered from neglect and lack of care. This can make them work erratically when turned on and can damage the film...

As the world becomes increasingly concerned about energy resources, new and more energy-efficient technology is being developed and enhanced. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are an example. Lowering...

First, the laser diode is constructed. This is the portion which will actually radiate light once activated. A rectangular length of clean, inert plastic is prepared. Atop it is laid a series of...

The letters LED stand for Light Emitting Diode. The important thing to remember about LEDs is that they produce light when a current flows through them in only one direction. They do not work the...

Generated from the constructive interference of scattered light, holograms are three-dimensional representations of physical objects. To holographically capture an object, shine a primary light...

LED is an acronym for light emitting diode. LED lights are used in many modern-day electronics, from flashlights to computers and many other items. These lights have become less expensive to...

Flashlights are designed to be portable sources of light for use both in the home and on the go. The bulbs used in flashlights vary, and there are three primary types of bulbs, including...

Alkaline is the adjectival form of the noun alkali and it refers to elements that have an oxidation number (the charge on the central atom) of +2. Alkali is an ionic, basic salt of an alkaline...

NiMH batteries can be recharged and used multiple times. These batteries are easy to charge at home with an NiMH battery charger. Learning to use the charger is simple and can be done in just a...

Digital watches can help you keep track of time, and additional features commonly found on digital watches, like alarms and chronographs, make digital watches all the more helpful. Learning to...

For years, pundits have used the rise of portable computing to predict the death of the written book. However, the high price of these so-called readers coupled with a lack of compatible reading...

Light radiates from its source randomly and equally in electromagnetic waves. Light polarization most often occurs because of reflection. Polarizing filters are used in photography and science to...

A diamond tester of several years' age is no match for today's variety of diamond simulants and synthetics, especially since those simulants have all the chemical properties of a real diamond. A...

Magnetism is a force that is created when objects are attracted or repelled by one another. A magnetic field is the area around a magnet. The larger the magnet and the closer an object is to the...

Barcodes are an easy way to track packages, manage inventory and define prices for thousands of items. Barcodes also provide a way to set up an automatic sorting system for businesses.

Those extra bright, blue hued headlights heading toward you on the highway are xenon bulbs. While far more expensive than regular halogen lamps, xenon headlamps in autos last up to three times...

Wavelets are mathematical functions that are used to focus data into different frequency components, based on space and scaling. Essentially, it is the study of analysis according to scale. They...

A laser pointer is a small device that shines a distinct spot of light onto the surface of an aimed-at point. It is usually small enough to fit on a key chain. Sometimes a laser pointer has the...

There are a number of factors that will affect the lifespan of batteries in a flashlight. These include what type of batteries they are (whether they're A, AA, AAA, or 9 volt), how big the...

Laser pointers that fit on your keychain are usually small and pack a low punch in nanometers, which is the distance you would be able to see the laser clearly in complete darkness. The average...

A flashlight's shaft houses its circuitry and power source. Batteries, both rechargeable and disposable, are used to power the flashlight's bulb. Power travels from the batteries, along a series...

An LED is a light emitting diode that rests on a semiconductor material (aluminum gallium arsenide). The LED bulb has no filament, so it won't burn out like an incandescent light bulb. The...

Sony Vegas 6 is the sixth version of the company's popular video editing program. Vegas is used by both consumers for home movies as well as small companies and videographers who need an...