YouTuber and student Drake Anthony has crafted a dangerous 40 watt “laser shotgun” capable of melting through paper and wood. Military lasers can reach tens of kilowatts, but this is still an impressive DIY project, and one that even spooked Anthony: “I just built something so crazy that even I’m afraid to use it.”
The core of the gun is a 40-watt blue laser diode array, which combines eight 5-watt lasers. It also includes a heat sink, a lithium-polymer battery pack, and 24 LM317 drivers.
Anthony became a viral hit last year with a video of a “lightsaber” he built using less powerful versions of the same laser technology.
Homemade ‘Laser Shotgun’ Lays Waste to Household Items
The military may be testing laser guns, but it’s a little early to get one of your own — unless you build it yourself. That’s what DIY laser enthusiast and Southern Illinois University student Drake Anthony has done, creating what he calls a “laser shotgun,”which combines the fury of eight 5-watt lasers …
