Another Day...Another PHR build

Hey Guys, Well, I finally got the parts to build a DDL Driver for my PHR I got from a friend. pressed into an Aixiz supplied by Morgan. (Thanks!!)
I used a 13 OHM resistor to regulate current at around 100mA I believe. I also have a 10OHM resistor.
I set it all up on some breadboard, as it seemed to make more sense than using stripboard. I can easily move components around. And also to save soldering to much, I had to solder the switch, as it was to big to fit in the board. and tin a couple of wires.

One thing I DID forget, was to make sure the diode was recessed in the module, so it wont focus to infinity. :/ but Im very happy it works! Dont know if i want to mess about with it any more than I have to.....

One other small issue, they only has 2 1n4001 diodes at maplins, so I couldn't test the circut for mA. But as I'm using a fixed resistor it wasn't vital.

So, onto the pics....









Thanks for looking!!
Comments very welcome.

The journey has only just begun......
Si

Nice. Remember to keep your duty cycles short. You're going to need a heatsink for your aixiz module too.

Hey Cold. I'm keeping the duty cycle low, 30s or less. I will look into a heatsink at some point soon, I may try and get hold of an old PC heatsink or something.

Si

Hi Si,

Nice first light. Glad you got it up and running!

Focusing to infinity? I always thought it was the close up stuff that was affected by the non-recessing but you learn something new every day! Thanks for that one.

You don't actually need any diodes for a power measurement with a DDL. As it's a linear driver, the input current will closely match the output current. (negligable current drawn by the driver itself). Check out this post: http://laserpointerforums.com/f44/why-we-using-test-loads-linear-drivers-45610.html It gets a bit heated in places but the info is buried in there somewhere. Still takes me a while to get my head around it but each time I think about it, a little more sticks!

As to duty cycle. It's always good to have it in the back of your mind but I've not had any problems with my PHRs without a heatsink, when run at sensible powers like you are doing. As you move on to higher powers this becomes essential though. (No offence ColdStl. Not conradicting your great advice, just don't want Si to become obsessive about it too soon!)

It gives a warm glow when you see that special wavelength for the first time doesn't it! (not the warm glow of frying retinas of course because you've remembered to buy googles?!?!?! )

Have fun and remember...

... your next build will be better!

M

Thanks Morgan.Im so happy I didnt fry the diode whih my sketchy soldering!

as for the focusing to infinity, as the lense gets closer to the diode, the focus point moves further away, eventually uncrossing to give the strieght beam. but the silver focus ring hits the Aixiz housing before it reaches this point leaving the focus about 2' from the laser. to work around this, I unscrewed the silver ring reom the lense. I put a couple of crinkly washers inbetween the silver ring, and the lense housing allowing the lense to get a little closer to the diode. Now it goes just beyond the infinity point before reaching the housing. (I hope this makes sense) Its an alternative to recessing the diode, which didn't work for me. and works a charm!

I'm not THAT critical about duty cycle but dont leave it on for minutes at a time, 30 seconds max usually. the LM317 get warmer than the Aixiz!!
s
I acually have a 10mW blu-ray focusable from O-like, so I've been playing with 405nm for a couple of months now, and LOVE it!!! gets waaaaay more use than my Dx green.

But firing it up and seeing the pretty light gave me that warm glow!!
I have been eyeing up the aquarious 5 from the CNI GB. there really sparking my intrest. but a lot of cash......

Si

Nice job! If you need a heat sink for that let me know.:yh:

Can this burn anything yet? Also, it's always fun to add a pot in series with the resistor so you have a dimmer for your pointer, future reference Oh sorry, I just noticed you said its a 10mW! Nice job getting it to work though I burned out my first X_X Reasons why I bought a flex driver for good run times

Ehgemus said:

Nice job! If you need a heat sink for that let me know.:yh:

Click to expand...

Thanks Ehgemus! Its not near what people like yourself can put together, but for my first custom build, I'm verry happy. I probably won't need a heatsink for this build, but when I uprade to a x6 + I will be.

Can this burn anything yet? Also, it's always fun to add a pot in series with the resistor so you have a dimmer for your pointer, future reference Oh sorry, I just noticed you said its a 10mW! Nice job getting it to work though I burned out my first X_X Reasons why I bought a flex driver for good run times

Click to expand...

Yes, it cuts PVC tape with ease. The reasom I didn't add a pot was so I know what current I'm giving the diode. (10ohm =125mA) I dont really want to 'dim' it. 125mA should give me around 100mW, maybe a lttle more. When I get a chance, I'm gonna meter all my lasers.

Perhaps you want to make your driver a little bit more permanent...
As in soldered to a PCB.

With this setup, you cannot insure proper contact, if a diode happens to disconnect only by a milisecond , it will fry as the capacitor discharges over it.

Etching your own boards is one of most simplest things out there, it does not need to look good or anything as long as it performs as it should.
You will get to neat lookin' PCBs when they are needed. Right now, what is needed is insurance that your diode does not suddenly dim to faint glow after you only touched the wire.

As it happens, I have soldered the circut to to some stripboard I picked up today. (perks of working in a high grade electronics production environment!)Not only for the reason you said, but also to make it a lot smaller. its now about 1/6th the size it was. The whole thing is temporeraly housed in a tupperware tub. But I'm gonna get a small box for it this weekend. I also put a small heatsink on the LM317 as it seems to get a little warm.
Thanks for the heads up Eud!!

Pictures to come tonight, along with my 'washer mod' for the lack of recess of the diode in the Aixis Module.

Si

Eudaimonium said:

Perhaps you want to make your driver a little bit more permanent...
As in soldered to a PCB.

With this setup, you cannot insure proper contact, if a diode happens to disconnect only by a milisecond , it will fry as the capacitor discharges over it.

Etching your own boards is one of most simplest things out there, it does not need to look good or anything as long as it performs as it should.
You will get to neat lookin' PCBs when they are needed. Right now, what is needed is insurance that your diode does not suddenly dim to faint glow after you only touched the wire.

Click to expand...

IceNoise said:

As it happens, I have soldered the circut to to some stripboard I picked up today. (perks of working in a high grade electronics production environment!)Not only for the reason you said, but also to make it a lot smaller. its now about 1/6th the size it was. The whole thing is temporeraly housed in a tupperware tub. But I'm gonna get a small box for it this weekend. I also put a small heatsink on the LM317 as it seems to get a little warm.
Thanks for the heads up Eud!!

Pictures to come tonight, along with my 'washer mod' for the lack of recess of the diode in the Aixis Module.

Si

Click to expand...

Hey no problem my man.

You might also want to get to SMD components and drivers when you can, it will make the driver further more smaller, and easy to install in flashlight hosts and such.

Let us see some pictures! This forum loves pictures!

I don't know If I'm gonna go woth SMT. we have the facilities at work, but I think it would make more sense to by Rckstr/flexdrives. The primary reason I built the circut was so I can say I built it completely from scratch. And to see how easy/difficult it was.

Though I see where your comming from, Ive had a look at your driver project, and Its looking real good! Congratulations! I'll see how it goes, and I may look into it.... When I get made permanent here, I may approach them about helping to produce SMT drivers. But we shall see.....
Si

IceNoise said:

I don't know If I'm gonna go woth SMT. we have the facilities at work, but I think it would make more sense to by Rckstr/flexdrives. The primary reason I built the circut was so I can say I built it completely from scratch. And to see how easy/difficult it was.

Though I see where your comming from, Ive had a look at your driver project, and Its looking real good! Congratulations! I'll see how it goes, and I may look into it.... When I get made permanent here, I may approach them about helping to produce SMT drivers. But we shall see.....
Si

Click to expand...

Hey thanks, appreciate it ! :thanks:

SMD are a way to go, especially in lasers. You are sparing every milimeter of space you have in a host for laser, to make it simpler and more effective.

LM3410X and LM1117 drivers are very easy to make, and SMD components are widely available through any distribution company.

Sorry I didn't mean to rush you or anything , it is totally cool to try out things to see how they 'breathe', moving on to next level comes with time and experience.

Whole forum is here for everyone to gain knowledge, hence experience

As promised a couple of pics.
The old 'host.'



THe obligitory beam shot with extra splash.


My Washer mod


Pics of the new. more compact host to come soon....

Si

Eudaimonium said:

SMD are a way to go, especially in lasers. You are sparing every milimeter of space you have in a host for laser, to make it simpler and more effective.

LM3410X and LM1117 drivers are very easy to make, and SMD components are widely available through any distribution company.

Click to expand...

One downside of SMD is that you cannot prototype using a breadboard, you must make solder connections even for test circuits. Obviously you can keep things like resistors and capacitors in both variants, and use little conversion boards from SMD to DIP for IC's, but its not always practical.

SMT is nice if you want to cram a driver in a very small space like some flashlight hosts or even in the aixiz module itself. But if you are a novice in electronics and soldering, stick with ordinary PTH components - less error prone, and easier to correct a wiring mistake if you make one.

Benm said:

One downside of SMD is that you cannot prototype using a breadboard, you must make solder connections even for test circuits. Obviously you can keep things like resistors and capacitors in both variants, and use little conversion boards from SMD to DIP for IC's, but its not always practical.

SMT is nice if you want to cram a driver in a very small space like some flashlight hosts or even in the aixiz module itself. But if you are a novice in electronics and soldering, stick with ordinary PTH components - less error prone, and easier to correct a wiring mistake if you make one.

Click to expand...

Yes, exactly.
I am not aware of soldering skill of people , I just always reccomend SMD components as they are much more practical, besides once you get to work with SMD, you won't even need to prototype your designs, at least not these simple ones.

Well, as I always say: Baby steps first.
No need to get frustrated over difficulties in SMD soldering, main this is you get the laser to work properly.

Installing and mounting in a host with different smaller drivers will come eventually.