DIY MiniMag Mod Guide

Hello all.

Quite simply, this is one of the easiest and simplest mods to make. This would actually work for any 2 AA/AAA flashlight because the batteries provide 3V of power, which is enough to power up most laser diodes.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS MOD CONNECTS THE DIODE DIRECTLY TO THE BATTERIES! YOU COULD POSSIBLY BURN OUT THE DIODE AT ANY MOMENT, POSSIBLY INSTANTLY!!

Requirements:

1. Minimag OBVIOUSLY! ;D
2. Laser Diode of choice... preferably one you do not mind killing...
3. AixiZ chrome module. You will only need the top part of this module (LD holder and lens) and you do not need the cover that goes on top of the collimating lens.
4. Grommet I.D. 9 or 10 mm, O.D around 15 mm with a groove O.D. of 13 to 14 mm.

This is very simplistic... All you need to do is open up the MiniMag into little parts and take out the plastic lens and light bulb that comes in it. Keep the batteries and the back cover on and identify the positive and negative terminals in the openings for the light pins. Identify the positive and negative pins on your laser diode. On laser diodes ripped out of a DVD burner, you simply solder on 2 pins that you get from any regular LED (see picture below). On OEM laser diodes the pins will be long enough such that you can just stick them into the pin socket. Attach the laser diode into the AixiZ module and adjust the pins such that they are as far apart as the openings on the MiniMag. Attach the collimating optic onto the AixiZ module. Place the laser diode into the pins, and if the batteries are in place, the laser should be operational at this point.

The convenience of the fact that the pin base on the MiniMag is free-rotating makes it very easy for the grommet to work flawlessly. The grommet's outside diameter should be large enough but small enough to fit in the MiniMag head, and with a groove that allows it to be tightly fit on the little groove that was made to hold the original plastic lens in place. The grommet's internal diameter should be smaller than the chrome module's diameter, but larger than the plastic collimator's diameter as to not turn the lens and take the laser out of focus when you turn it on and off. The way I personally went about doing this is to get a grommet with an inside diameter just large enough to fit the collimating lens and shaved a little of it off with an exacto knife. The good thing about this is that you allow for the maximum possible hold on the chrome module so the grommet doesn't slip past the module and let the laser arbitrarily turn on

If you have done all these parts properly, or even remotely correctly, this mod would be a success. This is a very easy and very simple mod. Another reason I like it very much is that you can always take the laser diode out and snap in the light bulb that is hidden in the cap and you Mag is back into action

Now for the pictures...

Good luck all and ask questions;
DDL

The pins are taken from a diode as such. These can be soldered right to the diode itself. If the pins are too long you can trim them.

The LD that I am using is a 9mm OEM diode. This diode came with long enough pins. I cut off the photodiode pin and bent the ground pin to make it fit into the pin socket.

Three views of the grommet used, with it inside the head and the groove in the grommet itself.

Notice that the grommet has been shaved a bit to make it fit exactly right.

The grommet on the Mag head placed on the LD module.

Another shot of the module in place and the grommet on the side...

The laser on without the top on...

The laser on with the top on...

You can always pull the light from the tail cap and put it in the mag head and get some kind of a usable light in cases where it is needed...

Style and a logical use... how cool is that?

Hope you all enjoyed it.

Good luck and don't hesitate to ask questions and leave comments;
DDL

Thank you Tallaxo. I hope they are stickied too

--DDL

DDL I removed my post. it was in the middle of your guide , sorry. great stuff there bro, a lot of thought and work put into this. many thanks, and I hope they are stickied.

Jase

err..I just un screwed mine and at the top where the AAA and all words are written won't screw back on. The lens and the little funnel thing are in it. Also, what type of heatsink/duty cycle should be used? thanks for the tutorial!

RobTheVIP said:

err..I just un screwed mine and at the top where the AAA and all words are written won't screw back on. The lens and the little funnel thing are in it. Also, what type of heatsink/duty cycle should be used? thanks for the tutorial!

Click to expand...

Bummer! Well... about the duty cycle... this again is a common sense issue. You can easily see that there is no major reputable heat sinking present besides the little bit of AixiZ module. I would suggest something around 30 seconds on, 30 off... perhaps... Again, this is all dependent on your personal preference and how much you want to overload your diode. I have personally left this diode on for about 3 minutes nonstop and it still works like a charm!

GL;
DDL

This mod was recently posted on digg through a short tutorial video, I was curious if this mod is able to be done with a blu-ray player diode, probably one from a ps3.. any chance of me getting one of those inside a minimag?

I really don't think so, especially considering the fact that the supply is 2 x AA batteries, thus 3V. BluRay lasers require between 4.5 and 5 V to work, plus they are very sensitive and running them unprotected from a battery like this is fatal to the diode!

GL;
DDL

Will the GB 16x diodes work with a minimag?

I mean, with the driver and all, but just using the minimag instead of the flashlight you used for the latter torch.