I understand with fiber optic cable you usually place it so the light source just shows out the end. I was wondering what would happened if you scuffed a cable up a bit along the whole length, would it light up along the whole length? Or would just it ruin it?
Fiberoptics takes light you input from one end and by using some funky (my word when I cannot remember the correct terminology)index of refraction properties, has it repeatedly reflect itself along the length of the cable. The result is that you get the light on the other end with very little loss. By scuffing or damaging the length of the cable, you are defeating the whole purpose of the fiberoptics. If you want a light that glows along it's length get some el-glow wires or glow in the dark string or something. I am not an expert or anything so someone correct me if I am wrong. BTW, I guess it would "work". You would damage the F.O. and allow light to escape. But that is an odd way to do it.
"total internal reflection" is the name u were looking for means that past a certain angle light will no longer leave the glass, it will reflect along the length of it instead. CaRRiT
Welcome to the boards, syzygy. Seems that CheeseMan bestowed his cheesy wisdom on this subject, let's see... ah yes: http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1622 How could I forget that thread?
Thank you for the welcome Linear. I have been itching to join for a while. You might recognize me from the lcdforums.
would it not be as bright though if you scuffed up the edges, as light would be lost as its not be internaly refracted inside but insead just being refracted.
Thx, lin, that thread and this one came to the same conclusion I did, I was just asking to "make sure." Yeah, I was thinking these would be cool as ultra-thin EL-wires, but it sounds like it is too tough to get them uniform. My dad works a Tyco Electronics in the fiber optic division though...hmmm, maybe I should see what he can find out. Something "top-secret" no doubt, lol.
It done *breaks out utility knife* cut cut slice slice ow F*****! now that i've had the time to cut myself before working on this concept.... lets see what we get damn its hard to sand optical cable (oops broke the little piece)... lets try again ahh there we go this is what they look like forgive the crappy pics... my webcam sucks :rofl: note in first picture one on left is scuffed cable, faint little blue dot on right is normal optical cable... second picture is of just scuffed cable
