Make Anything a Laser Pointer

thingiverse

This is a cookie-cutter negative, which, when subtracted from any solid model of a gun (or really anything with a vaguely gun-like outline) makes that object into a laser pointer, with the trigger of the "gun" activating the laser! Designed to work with the model of laser pointer that I got from the Dollar store, but it should work with other types of laser pointers as well (if not, the tolerances are forgiving enough that this model should be able to be sized up and down easily to accommodate other sizes of laser pointers). Align the barrel of your chosen gun with the long tube of this model, such that the tube runs inside the barrel of the gun. Align the trigger with the second box (the back-most box underneath the design, the one furthest from the barrel-tube, the one with a flat roof) such that the edges of the box cut around (but not through) the trigger. Make sure the shape is high enough on the gun model that the four side-joints have enough material to cut through, so that there's enough material to support the joints. Then, do a cut or boolean difference, or whatever the software you're using calls it, and your model will be ready to print. It should be divided into three pieces if you've done it correctly, so make sure you re-combine the three pieces back into one model, so that it can print in one piece. Finally, make sure that you set your printer NOT to print supports inside the barrel of the "gun." The barrel is designed to print without supports, but my slicing software tried to put supports in, so yours might too. After printing, you can simply slide your Dollar Store laser pointer down the barrel, lining up the buttons on the pointer with the groove along the bottom of the barrel. It's designed such that the pointer should simply slide down and stop at the correct place (but you may have to use something long and thin to gently coerce it if it doesn't slide on its own), and should be held in place by friction after that. If the trigger activates the flashlight instead of the laser, it needs to be pushed just a bit further. A few hard shakes should be enough to get it back out. If you're using a different model laser pointer, you may have to adjust the length of the tube at the back, and I've included the Fusion file so that this can be done. Included are files for two "ray guns" from Animorphs, as examples that are ready to print. A Dracon beam and a Shredder. Have fun making laser guns out of everything! EDIT: I modified my old Soul Edge design (I thickened it from side to side and cut a notch to make a trigger) and made a laser out of it, too. Just to demonstrate that you can make lasers out of things besides guns.