Needing some help with my first laser build!

An Elderly Woman · Jan 7, 2016

This is my first laser build I'm currently working on, and everything seems to work, my only issue is that the laser is very dim, and DEFINITELY not burning. I'm trying to build my own laser to use with a DIY CNC machine project I've had in the works. My goal is to make this capable of burning patterns or cutting very thin materials, and speed at which it burns is not necessarily high on my list of requirements as long as it is reasonable.

Here are the parts I've gotten:
Driver: Adjustable Current Laser Diode Driver 80 500mA w TTL Blue Board | eBay

Diode: SALE405NM 150mW Blu Ray Burning UV Ultraviolet Laser Diode US Seller Fast SHIP | eBay

Housing: Aixiz Laser Module 5 6mm to 18 Diode Housing US Seller Fast SHIP | eBay

I have been powering this off of both a regulated 5V power supply, and then I have tried a new 9v battery, which worked a little bit better, but not as well as I had hoped. I have tried adjusting the POT but it basically just changes from off to dim.

Any idea what I may be doing wrong?

Isaac Clarke · Jan 7, 2016

your set up have 4 potential problems:
-for 405nm diode of any power they will always appear dim because our eyes are not that sensitive to it.
-the cheap driver you bought from ebay are mass produces driver primary aims for Leds but advertise as for laser.
- the housing it self is not enough to disperse the heat generated by the diode.
-and you talked about adjusting the pots you might have killed the diode by giving it too much current.....500ma is A lot for a 150mw diode.

My advice is scrap the whole thing.... and buy from DTR laser.. buy bdr 209 405nm 16x diode in a module with g2 lens and driver. also you need safety goggle as well so buy a certified eagle pair from survival laser. for battery buy it from member LaryDFW or Garoq. https://sites.google.com/site/dtrlpf/home/diodes/bdr-209-405nm-16x-diodes

OVNI · Jan 7, 2016

An Elderly Woman said:
I have been powering this off of both a regulated 5V power supply, and then I have tried a new 9v battery, which worked a little bit better, but not as well as I had hoped. I have tried adjusting the POT but it basically just changes from off to dim.

If the power supply is CURRENT regulated, most are not, then OK. But if it was a typical power supply advertised as regulated, it is probably VOLTAGE regulated thus you may have blown your diode. Same thing goes for using a battery.

Since every part might be damaged, trying to salvage any into another build without proper testing may cause you problems later. I agree with the previous post, may be time to start over.

An Elderly Woman · Jan 7, 2016

The power supply and battery were both feeding into the driver circuit, Would that still possibly be a problem? This is my first build, so I'm sure that scrapping parts is part of the growing pains. Is it reasonable to build something that will be able to burn or cut very thin wood for under $60? Quite honestly youtube made it look easy and cheap, when it seems I know less than I thought I did.

diachi · Jan 7, 2016

An Elderly Woman said:
The power supply and battery were both feeding into the driver circuit, Would that still possibly be a problem? This is my first build, so I'm sure that scrapping parts is part of the growing pains. Is it reasonable to build something that will be able to burn or cut very thin wood for under $60? Quite honestly youtube made it look easy and cheap, when it seems I know less than I thought I did.

Wait ... you had a PSU and a battery hooked up to the driver? Some pictures of how you have things hooked up might help us troubleshoot the issue!

An Elderly Woman · Jan 7, 2016

These were not both hooked up at the same time, it was a small breadboard 5v power supply feeding 5v into the driver, and when that wasn't bright enough I disconnected and attached the 9v battery. I'll post a picture as soon as possible.

Pi R Squared · Jan 7, 2016

5V definitely won't work, I think all of those 405nm need more than that, I think they need 6V or more, and that is not a boost driver you're using, and the 9V battery probably can't supply enough current. You need a better power supply or use two 3.7V Li-Ion batteries. If you didn't set the current correctly on the driver then you killed the diode. Also that diode is too low power for your purpose.

Alan

An Elderly Woman · Jan 8, 2016

If I'm looking for the ability to do this burning or cutting, is there a color I should choose over the 405nm for cost to power? To be fully honest I went with a bluray diode because I thought it was decently powerful, but I am willing to change wavelength for more power per dollar.

Isaac Clarke · Jan 8, 2016

your aim was for engraving so you have to go with precision so the smaller divergence is better. since blu-ray diodes are single mode so more energy is being focus into 1 small dots.
there are many others higher power diodes out there but they have bad divergence and they require a lot more power and heat sinking...... for power per dollar bluray diodes is your friend.( 1000mw of 405nm burns better than my 3500mw 445nm!!!)

An Elderly Woman · Jan 8, 2016

I see, I'm so glad I came across this forum, because I had no idea how much I didn't know. I'm looking at the link you sent earlier FUBeaches, and I was wondering what the difference is between the three element and the g2 lenses are? I didn't even know that you couldn't use the acrylic lenses for certain lasers until I checked out that store page.

Isaac Clarke · Jan 8, 2016

it's very complicate to explain the differences between the 2 so i'll keep it short.
Just Use the g2.

when you get into the hobby and start building your own handheld laser then i'll explain it to you latter. ( it involve lots of math and physic formula in order to understand then lens fully).

An Elderly Woman · Jan 8, 2016

Haha, I can appreciate that for sure, plus I don't mind researching it. With the laser setup you reccommended, do you think I'd be able to cut through thin balsa wood and similar with my home made cnc machine?

Isaac Clarke · Jan 8, 2016

hmmm what is the measurement? or give me an estimate.....(like paper thin)?

the setup i recommended don't just cut things, it even capable of popping bloons,light sparkler, ignite white papper cutting tape melt plastic causing stuff to glow. and will leave mark on almost anything you point it at when it is focus!!!!
oh and i hope you have proper safety goggle for this...... (don't use sunglasses, welding mask or use those thing from ebay). if you need a goggle buy a pair from survival laser.

RedCowboy · Jan 8, 2016

The rear focal length of the G2 is 2.39 mm and the rear focal length of the 3 element is 5.3 mm.

So the 3 element will produce a smaller dot at longer distances, but it has more glass and consumes more power that's converted to heat, however that's not the main cause of energy loss.

The real loss with the 3 element is with Multi mode diodes that have a wide divergence on one axis and some 30% of that axis can be clipped and never enter the back of the lens.

Some 405 diodes diverge rapidly on both axis and again clipping becomes the main issue, otherwise the longer focal length would produce a more energy dense spot.

olympus mons · Jan 8, 2016

Sorry. Maybe I'm just a bitter F but I'm calling bs on this thread.

Isaac Clarke · Jan 8, 2016

how come? can you elaborate your point? if you don't want to say it in public you can pm me Olypmpus Mons.

Needing some help with my first laser build!

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