Sonar Blu-ray laser pen is made out of gutted players

There's no question that the guys over at Wicked Lasers are completely laser obsessed, and their most recent laser-based endeavor -- extracting the Blue laser from a Blu-ray player to create what they call the "Sonar laser" -- is a testament to this fact. Apparently the supply of the Blu-ray diode is so short (we wonder why) that their team of laser engineers were driven to ripping apart a retail Blu-ray player in order to extract its most valuable component. Presumably this extreme method is the justification behind the $1999.99 price tag that Wicked Lasers has placed on the Sonar laser, although we wouldn't bet on them getting every diode this way. Personally, we're left wondering why Wicked Lasers didn't up the exclusivity factor by using gutted PS3s. That way they could've charged $2599.98, geddit?

[Matt @ Nov 27th 2006 12:29AM]

They should do that to some ps3s except with a hammer like they did on smash my ps3.

[Matt @ Nov 27th 2006 12:30AM]

ohhh i missed that line

[... @ Nov 27th 2006 12:33AM]

Why don't they use the $200 xbox360 hddvd drive?

I was thinking of buying one just to salvage the laser out (being a laser nut myself) but decided $200 was a little steep for a laser pointer...

[F13ND @ Nov 27th 2006 1:20AM]

the xbox hd dvd drive is umm hd-dvd

not blu-ray

it wouldnt quite be the same dontcha think?

[spyder91 @ Nov 27th 2006 9:46AM]

HD-DVD also uses blue lasers... just because it's not stated in the title doesn't mean you should assume.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_DVD

[akijikan @ Nov 27th 2006 12:56AM]

I'm beginning to think this place should be renamed "stories from slashdot days or weeks later"

[Porsche 911 @ Nov 27th 2006 1:28AM]

HD-DVD also uses blue laser, just like Blu-Ray and Xbox360�s HD-DVD player is cheap and useless. Blu-Ray is the future and a HD-DVD player without a HDMI input is useless.

[Jayson @ Nov 27th 2006 1:21AM]

I asked this over on Gizmodo when I read the article two days ago but here goes again, since no one replied. Why would you use a $999 piece of kit to do this rather than a $650-$750 Blu-ray drive like the Sony BWU100A? Is there any reason why this would not work just as well? I would also say grab a $500 20GB PS3 but those are just too darn difficult to get right now.

[Mike @ Nov 27th 2006 3:44AM]

HD-DVD uses a 405 nm wavelength which if I recall correctly would give it a blue to violet apperance.

Who wants a purple laser?

[Robert @ Nov 27th 2006 5:16AM]

I tried using the Xbox360 HD-DVD drive and it was useless for making a pointer as the diode is read only and barely a couple mW. In other words, not worth the time at all.

The PS3, I assume will have the same weak diode problem as its not a burner either.

The BWU100A is a good donor and helped me make my own 405nM laser.

http://photonlexicon.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=797

To Michael: The "condoms" on his fingers are actually nitrile/latex finger cots. They are used when gloves are too bulky and dexterous hand movements are a requirement. They also double as a pretty good static shield. If you plan on doing this, you better get used to them.

[kdmaster @ Nov 27th 2006 6:39AM]

they can then sell the (empty) case on EBAY!

works better with ps3s

[fearless_fx @ Dec 5th 2006 12:00AM]

Who cares about the laser, where can i get some of those finger condoms?