3D Printed laser alignment stand

[L Gebhardt]

A while ago I released the STL for a simple stand that holds a laser sight for a gun. I wrote about this at https://www.trippingthroughthedark.com/laser-alignment-tool/ and today I created a simple video for someone asking how to set it up and use it at

This is also useful for aligning camera copy and scanning setups, just don't let the laser hit the sensor on a digital camera.

 

[Xylo]

This reminds me a lot of the collimating tools for Newton/Dobson reflector telescopes.
The only difference is that they have a target on them that makes gauging the laser's position a bit easier.

 

[titrisol]

I 3d printed one of those but bought a laser with a + pattern for this

 

[L Gebhardt]

I 3d printed one of those but bought a laser with a + pattern for this

Can you share the details for the laser?

 

[titrisol]

Sure, when I 3d printed this I ordered bot the dot and the cross from Amazon

 

[L Gebhardt]

Sure, when I 3d printed this I ordered bot the dot and the cross from Amazon

Do you find the cross useful over the dot?

 

[titrisol]

I think so, you can see in 1 shot which way the enlarger is misaligned (L/R or F/B) by checking the dispersion of the arms and/or distorsion
In mine 1 corner has higher , when I rotated the + it became and X and it became painfully obvious

 

[Fatih Ayoglu]

I have tried actually your STL but then what I found was, the lasers I have bought from Amazon were not straight, so diodes in the casings were always at an angle. I wish I could find a straight one

 

[L Gebhardt]

I have tried actually your STL but then what I found was, the lasers I have bought from Amazon were not straight, so diodes in the casings were always at an angle. I wish I could find a straight one

That is why I use the laser sights. They have x-y adjustments. In the linked video I show how to aim them so they are perfectly perpendicular to the base. It's really as simple as pointing it at a mirror roughly parallel to the base and rotating the stand. The reflected spot will scribe a circle/oval if the laser isn't aligned perpendicular to the base. Note the bounds of the circle and use the allen screws to bring the dot into the center and repeat until the rotating stand just has a reflected dot (or very small circle) next to it. Then use it to align the enlarger until the spot returns to the beam's origin. Test that it doesn't move as you rotate the stand.

I assume you bought a laser sight since you tried my STL, but in case you taped a non adjustable diode to it I know this one works (Pinty Compact Tactical Red Laser Sight with Picatinny Mount Alan Wrenches for Hunting - Easy and Bright). As long as they clamp to a picatinny rail and have windage and elevation adjustments they should work. The dimmer the better in my experience, which is nice since they are cheaper that way. Stick with red too in case you hit your eye with it.