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Diffraction
Gratings are an easy to use and inexpensive way of increasing the
number of effects a laser show can produce. A diffraction Grating
is an optical component that splits a laser beam into multiple beams.
Many different types of gratings are available and they can be used
on their own, or combined to creative a virtually endless range
of effects
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What
is a Diffraction Grating?
• A
diffraction grating can be thought of as an optical component that
has tiny grooves cut into it. The grooves are cut so small that
their measurements approach the wave length of light. A laser beam
hitting the grooved surface is split and multiplied by the grooves,
creating an amazing optical effect.
• There are two main types of gratings available: TRANSMISSION
(where the laser passes through the optical component) or REFLECTIVE
(where the laser bounces off the effect - like a mirror).
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What
effects are produced?
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Common effects include LINE, GRID, CIRCLE, SOLID LINE and SOLID
CROSS, all with varying angles and densities. Please visit our Gallery
for pictures of some of the effects. |
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What
about Mounting the Gratings?
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REFLECTIVE gratings should be mounted to allow free movement in all axis
for flexibility in aiming and positioning
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TRANSMISSION gratings can be attached directly to a motor or gear. Smaller
gratings can be attached to solenoids and switched into the beam.
The larger round gratings can even be shuffled in and out of special
rotators in front of the xy scanner output. |
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What
Gratings are available?
To simplify
the ordering and production of Diffraction Gratings, a system has
been devised of accurately describing the effects that the gratings
produce. |
DIFFRACTION
GRATING ORDERING CODE
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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PATTERN
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ANGLE
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TYPE
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DENSITY
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SIZE
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SHAPE
*
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L
(line)
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N
(narrow)
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T
(transmission)
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1
(low density)
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20 mm
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C
(circle)
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G
(grid)
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W
(wide)
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R
(reflective)
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2
(high density)
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50
mm
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S
(square)
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DG
(double grid)
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X
(not applicable)
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100
mm
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C
(circle)
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200
mm
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S
(square)
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SL
(solid line)
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SC
(solid cross)
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For
example: GWR-1-20S
defines a grid - wide-angle
- reflective - Low
Density - 20 mm - square
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* SHAPE: Circle not available
in 20mm size grating - only square
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Multiple Gratings
In addition to the
single grating effects listed above, there are also multiple effects on
a single substrate, creating amazing effects for your audience:
| THE
POLY-6-TRACK GRATING |
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| 6
different effects on one glass disc |
| Size |
round
100mm diameter |
| Effects
code possible |
GN1,
CX2, LN1, LN2, DN2 and DGN2 |
| THE
POLY-4-SECTOR GRATING |
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| 4
different effects on one glass disc |
| Size |
round
50mm diameter or 100mm diameter |
| Effects
code possible |
LW2,
GW2, GW1 and DGN2 |
| THE
POLY-20-SECTOR GRATING |
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| 20
different effects on one glass disc |
| Size |
round
50mm diameter |
| Effects
code possible |
LW3,
LW2, LW1, LWD5, LN2, LN1, GW2, GW1, GN3, GN2, GN1, CX2, CX1, SX2,
SX1, DGW2, DGW1, Cosmos SCW & LW4 |
For example's of
the effects of the POLY-20-SECTOR grating, including moving images of
rotation, please visit the Poly20 Grating
page. To get the best from the POLY20 attach to our Stepper
Motor Driver, this enables the POLY20 to be rotated at 7 different
speeds or manually adjusted to 10 different positions of the 20 effects!
The
MACHADO EFFECT (20mm Square Transmission Grating)
A unique effect that
produces an amazing 180° fan of laser beams from one laser beam, as
shown in the following diagram:
Diffraction
Gratings - Technical Details:
| Holographic
Relief |
State
of the art UV holographic Photopolymer |
| Relief
Thickness / Resolution |
10
- 100 Micron depending on effect type / 4,000 - 12,000 lines/mm |
| Operating
Conditions |
-5
... +80°C measured at laser exposed area CW relative humidity
up to 100%, resistive to condensation, most solvents and light acids |
| Cleaning |
Isopropylalcohol
with fine tissues. Avoid high tension or scratches during cleaning
procedure. You may use: Methanol, Athanol, standard glass cleaner
- with attention to additional ingredients (colour etc..) Do not
use: aceton, petroleum or trichloraethylen.
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