DIY 1W 808nm lab build project, Help needed

no i use it as a block in a labby, i just hacksaw chunks off of a long bar of aluminium then drill a whole in it

hugo999999,
Actually not total beginner to lasers, just to building them. I have worked with hi-powered lasers in the lab, but the safety equipment was provided, I didn't have to find out what rating I needed. Thanks a million for the 4 OD recommendation, I'll prolly exceed it a bit (now if I can just find them).

I kinda expected advisement against the FlexDrive since they are that small, so I already had a parts list together with the LM350 (going to do some experiments in Electronics Workbench, then run a dummy load to fine tune the DDL).

As for the photodiode, according to the technical data on the 1W 808nm here: http://www.roithner-laser.com/All_Datasheets/datasheets/laserdiodes/ldm-0808-1000-93.pdf it has the photodiode built in, but I am assuming with a good current regulator such as the DDL, this connection is not needed. Amen on the eBay, I looked yesterday and must have not put in the right keywords. But today I looked, and found a killer deal from a guy with good stats ... pack of 4 for $76 (now that is more like it), ordered 2 packs about 2 hours ago. Here is the link if anyone else needs it, I believe he has several left: eBay Store - My Laser Store: 808nm laser diodes, 405nm diodes, glass lens, cases

As for the heat sink, I guess then the "Aixiz 12x30mm laser module" is not going to work (the guy on eBay has them too as well as the Aixiz Glass lens eBay Store - My Laser Store: 808nm laser diodes, 405nm diodes, glass lens, cases ) since it doesn't look as though it will allow for a large block heat sink.
Is there anyway you can provide a link to a visual of one set up so I can see what I am looking for as far as how a big heat sink and the adjustable lens will work together (I have only seen this in > $1,000+ equipment). I could find a block of aluminum and drill it out as you mentioned to slifer, but I don't see how I am going to get precision focusing on the end of it (and could you elaborate a bit on the FAC lens for focusing).
Thanks a million hugo999999, you have been a tremendous help! :thanks: :wave:

Blackfoot said:

As for the heat sink, I guess then the "Aixiz 12x30mm laser module" is not going to work (the guy on eBay has them too as well as the Aixiz Glass lens eBay Store - My Laser Store: 808nm laser diodes, 405nm diodes, glass lens, cases ) since it doesn't look as though it will allow for a large block heat sink.
Is there anyway you can provide a link to a visual of one set up so I can see what I am looking for as far as how a big heat sink and the adjustable lens will work together (I have only seen this in > $1,000+ equipment). I could find a block of aluminum and drill it out as you mentioned to slifer, but I don't see how I am going to get precision focusing on the end of it (and could you elaborate a bit on the FAC lens for focusing).
Thanks a million hugo999999, you have been a tremendous help! :thanks: :wave:

Click to expand...

not sure what you mean since it doesn't look as though it will allow for a large block heat sink.. the module simply goes inside the heatsink. anyway that module is for 5.6mm diodes not 9mm diodes such as the one you bought. try o-like they are very cheap and i recommend them. also i am not sure what you mean by how a big heat sink and the adjustable lens will work together . the module simply goes inside the heatsink block. as for FAC try the search button as i have not had much to do with them and they are quite expensive to use and hard to setup. basically with a multimode diode, if you want to be able to shine much further than a metre you will need a FAC lense and a normal focusing module. some people have multimode diodes without FAC but they can only burn plastics within 30cm

happy to help, Hugo.

p.s yes that store you bought the diodes from is great, i have bought a couple there and they always work as specified

mitbrown said:

edit: sorry, I definitely missed that information. Thanks for redirecting me

Click to expand...

no problem

hugo999999,
Thanks for letting me know those were the 5.6 mm, I was still waiting on his email to confirm that, so I am glad I didn't order them (just the diodes). Also didn't realize the lens/housing assy went inside the heat sink, was thinking the diode went directally in it ... that clears a lot up there. I also did some massive searching, and it seems that some of the diodes have these FAC (fast-axis collimation lens) built into them. Unlikely I am going to be that luicky with these though, and from what I read, it seems you have to take the diodes apart and do micro-miniture surgery on them to put the FACs in (like you do when putting the green crystals in to make a green laser) YUK. I used to solder wires the size of hairs in my early 20's under a microscope while I was in the Navy, but I am 50 now, it is not likely I am going to be able to do that fine of work these days. I hope there is another way around it, I actually wouldn't mind putting all 8 of my diodes in an array and using mirrors/lenses to possably direct it through ruby (or similar beam aligning) rod, or maybe glass fiber to get the photon alignment. Any ideas welcome, I start back to school monday, I'll run it past some of the physics professors and see if they have any ideas.
As a last note, I tried getting on the o-like site yesterday and it just kept saying the site was unreachable, can you verify the address for me?
Thanks again!

sorry cant post addresses on lpf

my o-like doesnt work either, but o-like sells on ebay too

As in address, I was actually referring to the URL, I should have been more specific ... I'll see if I can find them on eBay, thanks for the tip.

yes i understand what you mean, i am fairly sure that lpf doesnt let you post links (or is that somewhere else im thinking of? :undecided lol

Too bad these VHG-FAC lenses don't exist in the real world, tons of info on them, but not a single place in the world has them.

what will you be using the laser for? you may not need a FAC

Need a tight beam, preferably as far as 25-30 ft, the less the distance, the harder it is going to be to work it out. Basically need to cook some different particles to check reactions ... testing some bizarre theories I have in quantum mechanics that may be related to the quarks, leptons, and some of their force carriers.

well for 25-30 feet then yes you will definately need a FAC. maybe try starting a thread looking to buy some

IR diverges faster than other light too, so you will need a fairly good quality lense

Hope billlg519 sees this thread as he appears to be the IR expert, maybe he can at least direct me somewhere to at least see what a FAC for one of these looks like, so I can at least see what challenge is facing me. Would be nice to know what he has done to tackle this dilemma.

You need to add some optics. Have a look at the pic below to give you some ideas.

Using AR coated optics will swallow less of your final output.

Also, while figuring out your lenses, be sure to run the LD a pinch above threshold. Avoid running the LD above 10-15mW when lining things up, and GOGGLES!

A smoke machine in close proximity is a good idea as well as an IR sensitive cam. You will be able to observe the complete beam and see what needs to be adjusted.