Quickstart¶
To get started with working on (or making your own build of) Project Elara's laser, please follow these steps.
Read this before proceeding further!
Please be aware that the laser should be built and operated with care, due to the inherent dangers associated with electron guns (which emit ionizing radiation and are powered by high-voltage DC sources) and UV light sources for photoillumination (which are also ionizing and potentially carcinogenic). For more information, see our safety documentation.
Getting the parts¶
You will need a variety of parts to build the laser, which are detailed on the parts list. Have these on hand before building the laser.
Info
We have tried to use reasonably-affordable parts, but the combined cost is around $1000 (USD). To save money, avoid buying any of the non-essential parts and work together with several other people to pool money and resources.
Getting the equipment¶
Having access to a 3D printer, an Arduino, some generic electronic parts, and a vacuum pump/chamber are the main requirements. Most equipment used in making and/or testing the laser should be available in a well-equipped community/school makerspace, with the exception of some specialized equipment. A full list of all the equipment that we use can be found on our tools and equipment page. Bear in mind that you may not need all of them if you are just planning on building the laser itself; however, if you want to do experimental testing and customize the laser, you may want to have the optional equipment as well.
Cloning our repositories¶
Make sure that you have Git installed and take the time to familiarize yourself with Git; if you have not used Git before or need a refresher, please read our Git basics tutorial. Assuming that you have Git installed, open a terminal and run the following command (please run each line separately):
You will now be able to see all the source files for the laser, as well as CAD files, circuit diagrams, and microcontroller code for the laser's built-in computer. We detail how to assemble the hardware and run the software in the subsequent pages of these docs.
Optional: join Project Elara!¶
If you want firsthand experience building the laser with a team of open-source contributors, please consider joining Project Elara! Our main team is based in Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in upstate New York, but our members come from all over the world. It's completely free and we welcome everyone!