Genesis Project: my RGB White Rainbow - Proof of Concept build.

This will be my on going build thread for my micro RGB Laser module from OPT Lasers.
If you haven't seen it yet, there's been a long discussion in the thread below:

{Link} - http://laserpointerforums.com/f51/help-white-laser-99017.html

I've already started gathering some parts that I need to build a portable handheld RGB White Laser.

The host is obviously a very tricky part of the project since it needs to house everything, including the driver, three slider potentiometers and a circuit board to split the battery voltage into both 12v and 5v.
To this end, I've sourced a Diving CREE XHP70 LED Scuba Waterproof Flashlight which takes three 18650/26650 batteries, giving me a voltage source of 12.6v from ebay.

It arrived and is very solidly built and water sealed completely.
Even the lens was difficult to smash with a hammer and I had to resort to a nail punch to pierce the glass in order to remove it.



The Flashlight head isn't going to be quite big enough to house the unit since the brass sink is quite bulky.
So I'm planning to get a 3D Printed cylinder made up to screw into the front which will give me the extra room I need to fit everything into the host.



Fortunately the Flashlight also had a nice push button switch which on the outside looked like a momentary switch but when I powered it up the switch acted as a toggle for each mode.
This was perplexing at first because when I pulled it apart the switch only consisted of a tiny spring behind the button and no wires whatsoever to indicate it was electrically connected to the driver.
In fact the cavity was completely sealed.
Then I realised that there was a tiny magnet behind the switch and that this sent a magnetic pulse each time you pushed it and was picked up by the LED driver behind the switch.
Awesome, so the cavity is ideal for me to fit 3 micro 2k pot sliders that I bought for the project.
Hopefully I can squeeze the three onto a circuit board and into the switch cavity.




So there you have it.
The start of the Genesis Project, my portable RGB White laser.
400mW of beautiful White laser light that's capable of producing a variety of Rainbow combinations.

Cheers
RB

:beer:

Looking forward to seeing the results!

Wow, you are doing what I wanted to do someday, so this is of particular interest to me, good looking host for it.

That promises to be an awesome build! Looking forward to the build pics! And best wishes for the finished product. Gonna be awesome!

I'm shocked on how well the alignment of the diodes are on the module. Amazing quality, can't wait to see more on the build. Beautiful job :beer:

Same, can't wait to see this when it is finished. Nice job so far. :beer:

Was that module really over 400.00? All I could find on their website was one that seemed really expensive.

Thanks guys, I'm hoping I haven't bitten off more than I can chew because this will be my second build and its mounting up to be a fairly complex.

ElectricPlasma, they are perfectly aligned, I was shocked too.
Before I bought it I had asked OPT Lasers if they are adjustable and they said yes but there won't be a need to adjust.
They were right !

Trendkilla254, it's the one that's $399 but it's out of stock ATM.
It's 400mW combined.

{link} - 400mW micro RGB laser module - Opt Lasers

They do have a 4W version but that's around $1099

Cheers
RB

Verde In Ta Resting !!! Indeed !! Opt Laser is a really good company !!

400 mW of white....and so small...really !!! I must watch this build !!

White hey....do they offer Black ?? hahahaha :san:

The slide control is slick !!!

Hmmmmm....This may end up costing me $$$$

39mm x 44mm size...That is small !!!! And he used the LD's that I would have predicted !! Most powerful single mode available....YES !!



Good luck !!!! Keep pushing the envelope of our hobby !!

CDBEAM

Oh yeah, I didn't even pay attention to the slide control, glad to see you got that figured out!

CDBEAM, think of the possibilities PBS combining two of these modules to make a double power unit

Nice host you have chosen Andrew!
Really looking forward to see this build when finished op:

Nice looking module

That's a daunting looking project to take on. I'm impressed and I'll be following your progress. Good luck.

Ed

Are all 3 diodes single mode here?

If this mount can be sold separately it would also work with BDR-209 instead of 450nm I suppose, or is this mount not for 3.8mm diodes?

And the most powerful red single mode LD (maybe not not brightest) - I thought it was 650nm, not 638nm, do not remember now how was the name...

Oh the pressure, the pressure.....
hehehe, I'm sweating bricks fellas, what's the bet I stuff this up. :crackup:
It will take time but I hope I won't disappoint you all so please bear with me.

I've arranged for someone interstate to 3D print the front Bezel/Compartment for me.
I'll be shipping the Torch head to him and he'll 3D print the part so it will screw into the front.
It will house the module and driver board.
The front will be solid and I'll drill a suitable hole for the aperture.

Also looking for a 5v regulated PCB to drive the three Slider Pots, picking the voltage off the 3 batteries.

As you know the micro RGB unit needs a 12v and a 5v supply.
So since I'll be using 3x 18650 this will give me the 12v and I'll need a 5v regulator to step down to 5v as well.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a tiny 5v regulator PCB
Ideally I'd love to find a Dual voltage regulator which will give me both a 12v and 5v dual output from one 12.5v input.

Is it possible?

Does anyone have a circuit that I can work off so I can build my own dual voltage regulator to give me both 5v and 12v?
Needs to be as small as possible.
I haven't measured the current that this module draws, I'll do that next time I set it up again for testing.

Cheers
RB