First Timer Questions

So I am working on my first laser project and have been looking on eBay and googling a LOT as I know very little about lasers I admit.

My project is a PCB exposing machine. I recently took apart a laser printer and discovered how the octagon mirror and sycnonized laser can create one "scan line" at a time. I am going to reverse engineer that same concept and expose UV treated PCB's.

I can only buy MC Chemicals boards in Canada (HERE)

The UV light that comes with the package is a Globe F15T8D 6300K color with "no UV filter" apparently but I can't tell as the lamp has no marking stating that.

From seeing other projects many people use the diods from blu-ray players (450nm) but I have no idea if this is actually the best wavelength or not. Also I have no idea how much power I will be needing as some people use overpowered 5mW and some use 1W diodes.

Theirs a heck of a price jump from <500mW to >500mW so if I don't need 1W I can save some money and get good safety glasses too.

Any advice for me? Thanks!

Blu-Ray is 405nm, and the best choice if you are looking for a laser to do the work. Any 5mW 405nm laser will work fine.

If you want to be goggle free I'd buy a UV flashlight.

Would a simple 5mW module really be enough? I suspected 1W was overkill but not quite by that margin...

I was reading around the forum and found a user that has a module store HERE

I was looking at a the 445nm M140 Diode In Copper Module With Leads
& Three Element Glass Lens for $60.

I know laser diodes like to fry under voltage spikes. Can I simply put a series pass transistor between the power source and the current regulator and use that as my TTL control? Can the drivers like the Microboost and X-Drive be driven safely that way?


*I was going to get goggles either way, but the $12 goggles compared to the $40 ones I'm inclined to spend a bit more lol