Fiber optic cables direct light straight to fan leaves.

[Red eyed c]

It's like they knew I was coming... this focuses seven led's into a single beam for fiber optic transmission. And it's not the only one they sell... I have options to experiment with.

http://www.luxeonstar.com/Polymer-Optics-7-LED-Cluster-Concentrator-Optic-p/263.htm

I feel like Agent Mulder, thinking the truth is out there, but instead of aliens, I'm looking for a better grow light.

The funny thing is this is all just for weed. I mean, I can license the tech to NASA so they can grow tomatoes on mars, but personally... I'm just going to grow some monster cannabis.

It even looks sexy. Looks like you could propose to someone with it. Will you be my cannabis? And the hell of it was I was having trouble mixing the light from each different led so it comes out homogenized instead of each FO bundle carrying a different part of the spectrum. Now it all gets mixed properly. One less thing to worry about, I suppose.

That is a sweet piece of kit mate,so allowing 7 LEDs into 1 beam means you could run a full specrum in 1 beam? If so thats awesome :smokebuds:

 

[gradolabs]

That's a double edged sword that I'm currently thinking through. On one hand, during flowering you could switch from a multistrand cable covering the canopy to a thick solid core fiber with a focused lens and point that straight at a developing cola, but you'd need additional units to cover the rest of the foliage. I have no problem with people needing more than one; that suits me well, but I have to incorporate that into the rest of the package. Definitely a work in progress.

 

[gradolabs]

The latest prototype design.

All the components are available over the counter, with the exception of the case which I'm capable of machining myself, but hopefully when and if I'm offered the opportunity to work with companies like this: http://www.gsoptics.com/competenciesGA.asp#proto to design custom lenses for various stages of growth, I can and will innovate further. Also the prototype's light package will recieve a substantial upgrade to 5w chips once the design is well established. Should I share my idea for the name of the product?

 

[gradolabs]

If the idea doesn't pan out I'll just go to work in the interior design industry... and keep the cannabis thing between you guys and me.

Here's the prototype multistrand fiber optic array. For the time being I was going to use thick guage wire ziptied to the fiber to keep it pointed where you want it. Most of us are used to tying stuff down anyways... funny you might be doing that with your grow light soon. Screen of Light - ScroL!

 

[gradolabs]

Flash forward five years and we'll be seeing grow journals entitled "DP AutoMelon ScroG under 180w MaxPAR FOLED ScroL."

That's the name I was thinking of. PAR being photosynthetic blah blah blah and max being I want to be the name in indoor photosynthesis.

Who's bloody with me?

 

[gradolabs]

 

[gradolabs]

Does anyone have experience with venture capitalists? I know this isn't an entrepeneurial forum, but if anyone knows someone with a startup company and they're willing to share their story it would be immensely appreciated.

 

[gradolabs]

I was looking around for teardrop shaped light cones and this was the closest and quickest visualization I could find. Since the majority of plants are larger and bushier lower on the plant, I'd illuminate that with more intensity, though to be honest custom optics are going to be needed. Anythings possible... just thout I'd share todays optical engineering progress.

p.s. Another option for lens design collaboration...
http://aseoptics.com/aseopticalservices/opticalengineering/

 

[gradolabs]

In a hundred years, we'll be holographically projecting light onto the surface of our plants, matching the spectral output and light cone to the structure of the leaf. Maybe I can get a jump start on that.

I know I'm getting light years ahead of myself (get it? ) but a kid can dream, right?

I should write science fiction.

 

[gradolabs]

Have you ever wanted to analyse how efficient your light is in terms of producing PAR? Drop US $720 and know for sure.

http://www.amazonsupply.com/micropt...CZ1E/ref=sr_1_11_child?sr=1-11&qid=1357503606