mW needed for specific application

[doombot]

I'm looking to cut red nylon twine (about the diameter of thin spagetti) from a distance of about 10 inches. The twine is supporting a light weight (~1 lb) and I'd like to cut the twine in about 10 seconds.

How many mW's would be needed to achive this goal?

 

[Tim71]

Since no one else responded, I'll take a stab at it. Cut through nylon twine in 10 seconds? I'm guessing for a green laser it would be somewhere near 1 watt.
Whatever the power output would end up being, it's probably not cost effective.
You would spend close to a grand, if not more, to cut some twine.

Hope that helps,

Tim

 

[HIMNL9]

It also depend from the color of the thing ..... if it's black, probably a 200mW of BR is enough for cut it also in less time, if correctly focused .....

 

[doombot]

Thanks for the replies. For this project, time is varible, but I'd say no more than 30 seconds. With that info, any hope 200mW would accomplish this?

 

[HIMNL9]

is it stable ?

I mean, if you have a moving collimated spot that try to cut a moving whire, it's hard ..... if the wire and the laser are stable, i think a 200mW BR can easily cut a red nylon wire in 30 seconds and less, overall if it hold a weight (nylon tend to melt and elongate when you heat it, anyway) ..... a GGW BR diode is enough, for get 200mW stable and safe with a good driver (just keep it heatsinked)

an 8X is ofcourse better and more quick, but also more high in cost .....

Oh, by the way, i suppose it's an operation that you don't do in a public place, with peoples around that can be hit from the beam, right ? .....