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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Hi from NY, 1 laser SO FAR; see video; Excited to learn and experiment

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Mar 28, 2010
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Hi my name is Don, I am very excited about finding this forum. I have always had a thing for lasers. However I recently had the urge to build a higher powered one. I only really have one laser pointer, it is nothing special it is 5mw green pointer, I recently came across a bunch of optical mirrors and made this video.

YouTube - Green Laser and lots of mirrors

My goal over spring break was to build a laser, however the more I read and the more research I did, I realized that I have a lot to learn. There is so much that I did not know.

I ordered a phr diode from kendall at hightechdealz.com, not realizing it would have been worth the extra couple of bucks for him to install the diode in the houseing for me. I also ordered some sure modules from him. Then I learned that I needed a driver, lol. So now I have a rkcstr driver on the way. I also have to learn how to solder. I have been spending hours on these forums, there is so much information to take in. Luckily I have been off this week from school and I have had some extra time on my hands. I also need to learn how to set the current on the driver. So much to learn, its ok though, I have given up on completing a laser this week and accepted the fact that much more research is going to be needed to be done in order for me to finish my first build.

Anyway I just wanted to say hello, I attached an image of the mirrors I used to make that video, I built holders for them out of legos, it was the quickest cheapest way I could think to mount the mirrors to prevent them from getting damaged.
 

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Welcome to the Forum! I love how you used legos for the mirrors. You will fit in just fine here ;)

Wait until you get yourself a 200mw green laser. And Blu-Ray (405nm) is just amazing.

Good to see a fellow New Yorker
 
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Jun 24, 2009
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Welcome!

Good to see you're willing to learn the basics before diving into a laser build!

For soldering techniques, just head down to this site:
Soldering Tips and Solder Techniques | Video Soldering Tips from BEST
It shows with very informative Youtube clips every soldering techniques in the book with great detail, even surface mount components.

Then you might want to take a look at a website in China called Deal Extreme where you'll be able to get hard to find stuff like soldering paste, flux, various tools and components at very reasonable prices:
DealExtreme: Professional Tools (Page 1)

Plus also all of the information you can find on LPF itself, I guess you're all set!

Welcome to the hobby and enjoy!

Robert
 
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Welcome to the forum.
Very nice video. Getting all those mirrors set right is a b!tch, isn't it.
I have been wanting to do something similar, except have the beams going in both directions, IE: form a "grid" pattern. It's a lot of tedious alignment work.

Good Luck with your build!!
 
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Welcome from a fellow New York state resident.

Don't want to say NY resident, the city is four hours away on the other side of the state. ;)
 
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Welcome to the forum! You are onto a good strategy in not rushing your first DIY build. Yes, there is a lot of ground to cover, but there is loads of useful info here to guide you. Soldering is a critical skill. Practice on old wire and scrap components until you know you can solder properly. The forum has a sticky on soldering, you've probably found it already ... Do not solder your driver or diode until you are confident. You should have a low wattage iron with a fine tip, thin (less than 1mm) flux-core solder, and extra flux. The flux-core and flux must be for electronics, a tub of plumber flux from Home Depot will not do. Setting driver current is not hard, you need a DMM. You don't need a test load, unless you decide to use a boost driver such as a lavadrive. For your rkcstr you can just put a DMM set on amps across the output (no LD yet!) and turn the pot until you get the desired current on the DMM. Before soldering the LD in place, remember to discharge the output cap on your driver. Failing to discharge this cap will destroy your diode. Best of luck, and post pics when you succeed!
 
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I built a few lasers out of legos, check them out in the media section look for red Lego lab laser
 




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