I'm surprised someone will let me to play with lasers now

[Griveton]

Right now, I'm in chicago, a nice city with buildings that are much, much bigger than I'm accustomed to. Being in chicago isn't such a great feat, I know, since around three million people manage to do it every single day of their lives, and that number is growing. Although that puts me in a select 0.05% of the world's population, I'm not celebrating the fact that I'm in chicago.

Thing is, Chicago is a place around 1400 miles north of the place I usually am referring to when I say "home". Again, this isn't a particularly big event either, since millions of people are that far (or farther) from their homes at any time. While this also puts me in a very select percentage of the population... I'm not celebrating this at all, either.

What I'm celebrating, for the two of you who actually read to this point without dying of boredom, is the reason why I'm in chicago. I just finished (and have a nice paper with signatures and stamps and nicely printed characters certifying this) a Level 2 Laser manufacturing course. What this means is, I'm now certified to not only use huge, hulking machines that cut huge, hulking pieces of metal into less huge, less hulking pieces of metal using lasers, but to troubleshoot, optimize and configure these things.

I'm not only celebrating the fact that I did get this certification, but also the fact that there are people in the world with such a great lack of judgement to allow me to play with these things. :D

[Kuragari]

So I guess I'm one of the two who read this through. :p

Congrats on finishing the course. I'm so glad I'm in the other hemisphere to you when you play with those lasers. :D

[sohryu]

Nice, Grive! I'm sure you'll be a super master at those lasers soon. Let me know when you can use them to completely undress a gaggle of coeds in mere seconds. We can test it out or something. :3

[soundchazer]

Right now, I'm in chicago, a nice city with buildings that are much, much bigger than I'm accustomed to. Being in chicago isn't such a great feat, I know, since around three million people manage to do it every single day of their lives, and that number is growing. Although that puts me in a select 0.05% of the world's population, I'm not celebrating the fact that I'm in chicago.

Thing is, Chicago is a place around 1400 miles north of the place I usually am referring to when I say "home". Again, this isn't a particularly big event either, since millions of people are that far (or farther) from their homes at any time. While this also puts me in a very select percentage of the population... I'm not celebrating this at all, either.

What I'm celebrating, for the two of you who actually read to this point without dying of boredom, is the reason why I'm in chicago. I just finished (and have a nice paper with signatures and stamps and nicely printed characters certifying this) a Level 2 Laser manufacturing course. What this means is, I'm now certified to not only use huge, hulking machines that cut huge, hulking pieces of metal into less huge, less hulking pieces of metal using lasers, but to troubleshoot, optimize and configure these things.

I'm not only celebrating the fact that I did get this certification, but also the fact that there are people in the world with such a great lack of judgement to allow me to play with these things. :D

Grive, have you ever watched the movie "Real Genius"? If not, I suggest you do. Somehow when I read your post, the image of a young Val Kilmer popped in my head.

Congrats by the way. Maybe you can come up with a homemade blueray reader that we can buy cheap.

[animanic_critic]

Congratulations on getting the chance to use every boy's dream weapon. But seriously, I would love to use it someday sometime, but being ceritifed to full operate it is undeniably a huge feat. Once again, congratulations...

[General Suburbia]

Wtf? play with lasers? What does he mean by that?
Guess you're not one of the two who read all the way?

Congrats, and hopefully you can help me develop laser guns like Star Wars. Where the lasers travel slower than bullets.

[Dtortot]

And that is why I sent you with what I sent you with, Grive.

[Tamanegi Sensei]

Plug! While your there, stop by the Rosemont Theatre while your learning how to control lasers. Have fun learnin how ot play with lights.

[Nakamura.Kazuma]

lol awsome!, i want to play with lasers......-shoots laser pointer at wall- ahh, i got nothin

[Tyrdium]

Congratulations, Grive! Try not to burn your retinas out. ;)

(And in the spirit of really cool tech stuff, enjoy (http://www.powerlabs.org/)!)

[Kyou sohma]

darnit people always correct me for not reading everything i need to stop doing this!!! Why do i do this!!!

[Neo-Hunter]

congrats Grive, you officaly make more money than me with this certification course!

[Two-twenty]

"So what does everyone do for their job?"
Tom: "I am a receptionist."
Dick: "I am an IT consultant."
Harry: "I am a bank manager."
Grive: "I cut things with mutha-f*ckin' laser beams!"

You now officially have the most awesome job ever. :yes:

[Kei]

Grive, have you ever watched the movie "Real Genius"? If not, I suggest you do. Somehow when I read your post, the image of a young Val Kilmer popped in my head.


But instead of using the lazer to make popcorn, he will use it to make tacos. Or something!


Grats Grive!


~Kei

[Griveton]

But instead of using the lazer to make popcorn, he will use it to make tacos. Or something!


Grats Grive!


~Kei

Hmm... interesting concept you have here. I could laser-cut tortillas to the perfect shape!

Congratulations, Grive! Try not to burn your retinas out. ;)

(And in the spirit of really cool tech stuff, enjoy (http://www.powerlabs.org/)!)

You know, the laser part is pretty much what I just finished my training to do. Of course, he's using a homemade laser system that can only sustain 40W of power for a couple minutes (which is quite good, considering it's a homemade system. Top of the line laser systems will run you into the millions of dollars, so he's got quite an impressive system with him). The usual industrial lasers are made to work at 4000W pretty much 23/7 (It needs an hour every day to replenish it's gases, and the very occasional cleaning and adjusting once a month or so).

Once I return home I'll try to post a vid of a laser cut of something.

[Kitsurai]

:lightsabe
You know your mission, young padawan.

[Liegenschonheit]

* Liegenschonheit configures Grive's laser

[animanic_critic]

darnit people always correct me for not reading everything i need to stop doing this!!! Why do i do this!!!

WORDS OF WISDOM: It's wonderful what one can learn by reading the first post.

Seriously, even I would gloat if I get my hands on a bada** weapon like that. Griveton, you make me feel like :bcuss1: ...!

[Dtortot]

* Liegenschonheit configures Grive's laserThat has to be the sexiest thing he has hears ever!

[Yodatsubato]

That has to be the sexiest thing he has hears ever!
Laser fetish? That's a new one on me.

Just be sure you're careful with that thing, Grive. You wouldn't want to confuse your laser with the one a doctor uses for laser eye surgery.

Though that would make for an awesome prank.

[Smitty]

"So what does everyone do for their job?"
Tom: "I am a receptionist."
Dick: "I am an IT consultant."
Harry: "I am a bank manager."
Grive: "I cut things with mutha-f*ckin' laser beams!"

You now officially have the most awesome job ever. :yes:

Eloquently stated, sir.

Chi-town is my beloved home city - enjoy the culture, big buildings and city vibes you'd get in NYC without the smell and outrageous crowds!

P.S. Where in Chicago are you staying? (I'm not stalking, I'm just curious.)