diode mounting hardware

Anyone know of a source for hardware to mount a diode that screws in, instead of press-fit - like what comes in the cheap green pointers? That is, the diode goes into the hole and a screw-in holds it there. I'd like to be able to swap out a LD (toasted or not) without disassembling the front end.

All the cheap red modules I've seen are press-fits... and I don't want to pay DX $16 each for what I want (even though they come with green laser attached ) unless that's the cheapest way to get it.

I did a search around LPF, but didn't find any.

DanQ

AixiZ are pretty common here, there is a plastic alternative to it, i think it may be close to what you want. the maker of these i think starts with a W. sorry i dont remember it. if i run across it ill come back

bcroft said:

AixiZ are pretty common here, there is a plastic alternative to it, i think it may be close to what you want. the maker of these i think starts with a W. sorry i dont remember it. if i run across it ill come back

Click to expand...

Thanks - but aren't Aixiz all press-fit?

DanQ

What your looking for is a spanner wrench.

Kenom said:

What your looking for is a spanner wrench.

Click to expand...

[smiley=tongue.gif]
no, no... you've got the wrong end!
:
not that a spanner wouldn't come in handy for that end...

but, my focus is already screwed - I want to be able to screw in my diode too... I mean, I want to mount it by screwing in something.

straight now?

interested as well!
by now i can remove the diodes (the original ones, for example) from those aixiz modules without smashing them. but still i need to (totally) disassemble the laser to get hold of it..
plastic would mean easy and potentially deadly overheat of the diode. but then i dont know how good or poor the current thermal transfer with press-fit modules is.. probably no issue with <1w electrical input though.

if you find something, let us know!
alternatively, a thread-maker for (i think) 11mm and 0,5mm mounting would be cool. build your own housing, with screwing-action, make a thread in it, and install the normal black plastic-lenses commonly used!
well, the lens itself can be clear and glass as well, you get the idea.. ;-)
couldnt find any image on google..

manuel

I have fitted red LD's into old green modules, you cannot put them in at the back where the IR LD was though. It is too far away from the lens and you cannot focus it.

I did try the idea of taking the middle part of the module out and just using the two ends, trouble is the threads are different believe it or not! (same diameter, different pitch).

Regards rog8811

Rog, I've done the same with the greenies - that's an expensive and as you said not very effective route... a kludge can be done by moving around the lense and spacers in some, but... it would be nice to just have a new set of components that just fit together right!

Krutz - I suppose do-it-yourself thread tapping makes sense, I may have to check that out. Didn't want to learn another trade and make a new career out of this though

The search continues...

DanQ

making threads is easy! drill a hole with exactly the right diameter, then make the thread itself by hand in less than a minute. you will get it right after the second try i would say.
i remembered it wrong, the thread on those lenses is "M9 x 0,5", means 9mm diameter and 0,5mm pitch.
of course we could as well use normal thread-drills, with a regular 1mm pitch. it wouldnt be as precise though, like only half of the turning of the lens to change its distance to the LD.
but then.. i had a look at roithner, their M9 lenses arent cheap!
(GS-7020-H) 2,95$ with AR acryl, f is 6.3mm, plastic
(lens 20) 15,63$ glass AR, 3 lenses, back-f is 1.5mm, aluminum
(lens 27) 35$ glass AR, f is 3,6mm, aluminum

the second one reads great! but then, 16$ is quite tough for diy, and i dont think it will make *that* much of a visible change! well, at that short focallength, the beam would perhaps only be 2mm wide? they write "effective f-length is 8mm", and "2mrad". which both doesnt really make sense to me?
we could buy cheap plastic M9 threaded collimators, remove the original lens, and install some glass lens, or perhaps the pickup-lens from dvd drives. those are AR coated and have a *really* short f! that with a massive chunk of metal with own thrad, and we have a nicely cooled LD with narrow beam and decent focussing.. we could even machine the case with a flat side for a TEC..

any other idea where to get threaded lenses from? did anyone play with those pickup-lenses already? (my tries werent all successfull..)

manuel