Violet Violence - Raygun

A visual history of the Raygun that I finished Fall 2009 

The gun features a 150mW Violet Laser the kind of laser emitter you find inside a Blu-Ray Player, a Uranium Glass Emitter Array (powered by UV LEDs), and a Purple Heart Wood grip.


My original inspiration, A pencil holder found at a thrift store for $1


My initial designs, note that it was stubbier, I had not yet realized that it would want the cooling fins.


The first assembly to check the look, make sure that everything fit before trying to braise the handle and trigger guard together. 

The first braising on the project. 

At this point I realized I was missing something, and needed to add the cooling fins on the front of the weapon, these are both visually appealing and most likely functional (in a small way) as the laser is 150mW and requires heat dissipation so as not to burn out.  

The first assembly of the Cooling Fins, I have small files stuck through them to hold them together for this picture. Note that the switch in the back of the gun is not the toggle switch I use currently. 

Close up of the assembled Cooling Fins, Note the holes on either side of the laser shaft, these will be used to house the Uranium Glass Marbles.

Initial tests to determine how the marbles should be configured, and how well they glow. 


 In order to attach the Cooling Fins, I braised it to a sled that slides in and is bolted through into the handle. 

At this point, for the first time, the raygun feels like a real thing, I am able to bolt it all together and it stays in once piece. Note: that it still has the push button on the back, and the Uranium Glass emitter arrays are still missing.

The first successful test firing, as the blindingly bright (literally) beam is fired into butcher paper. 

Purple Heart Wood, I selected this hardwood as the handle grips to be bolted onto the existing copper frame, This is a scrap piece that I got from my father.

 The wood was perfect size, it was already the exact width of the handle before being cut, I just had to cut off the end to use to carve the cap, and two strips to make the sides. 

At this point I have just completed all the external work, the Uranium Glass emitter arrays are installed.

This is the wiring it takes to make this thing functional, Note that the red plugs are there so that the whole then can be unpluged and taken apart for repairs. 


The toggle on the back of the gun turns the Uranium Glass emitter array on and off.


Fully completed test firing, the beam is bright enough to be seen at night, even though its harder to see than a green beam being violet on black. 

Fully assembled and working as you can see it in person. I am in the middle of working on a holster for it, and I might add a scope to the Raygun at some point in the future.