Inverness teenager builds sci-fi laser gun using 3D printer
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A teenager who invented a laser gun from parts he bought on eBay says it could blind someone in a millisecond.
Gabriel MacFarlane (15) from Inverness shared his invention on social media platform Reddit before uploading videos of his potentially harmful weapon.
The youngster, who has almost 80,000 online followers, said he fashioned components for the Star Wars-like laser shooting gun on a 3D printer.
In videos posted by the schoolboy, his futuristic laser can be seen destroying balloons with a blue and purple stream of light.
Gabriel, who is home schooled, said it took him a year to make and he got most of the components online.
He told the Inverness Courier: “I have always been interested in science – I’ve been doing electronics for about two years.
“To make the laser I’ve watched videos, read books and talked to electrical engineers.
“Plus, the amount of precautions I have taken is insane. It has two safety switches, I never have it on without my laser goggles and I never fire it 90 degrees perpendicular to where I am facing, and I only shoot it on very specific surfaces.
“You cannot show someone the laser who doesn’t have laser goggles on.
“If you hit yourself for less than a millisecond your retina will be completely destroyed, rendering you blind forever.”
Gabriel has uploaded videos of himself shooting the laser at balloons on his dining room table, and holding the gun in front of himself.
He said: “I was originally thinking to fire it at a time frequency to give a stroboscopic effect and it would give the illusion of it being like a Star Wars blaster.”
Although Gabriel insists the weapon would not kill anyone, he admitted it could “give three-degree burns, hurt a lot and completely blind you”.
The laser was the first project of many he wants to attempt as he’s keen “to focus on a different project, like a Tesla coil or some more robots”.
Some fans of Gabriel’s work said he should be awarded with an honorary degree, while others are worried his project could be potentially life threatening, or law breaking in some parts of the world.
“I enjoyed inventing my laser,” the added.
“I hope to get into university in Edinburgh or Cambridge to study electronics.”
