- Joined
- May 10, 2014
- Messages
- 5
- Points
- 0
I want to get into some beginner laser work. I am a physics and EE major so i have some experience with circuits but i never built any projects of my own really.
I want to start out small, build a 30mW or so laser (in purple preferably but other colors are fine) which can burn paper and pop balloons. Is 30mW high enough for purple lasers to do this? I chose purple not only cause i like the color but it has a higher photon energy than any other visible laser so i would assume it can achieve burning with less current.
How exactly do you adjust the beam on a laser? Is the glass lens bendable somehow? How do i make the beam thicker or thinner?
After that I think it would be cool to make a TriColor laser but i'm not sure how to combine the beams. Anyway i think that may be a question for later.
My first questions are whether or not i can trust these lasers:
405nm 30mW Violet Laser Diode Module DIY Lab Astronomy | eBay
I just searched ebay for "405nm Laser module," and i am not sure if that has a driver circuit on it or not, it looks like it does since it has some PCB attached but im not 100% sure. If i wanted to build my own driver circuit where would i go to learn how to do that? and are all driver circuits used for all wavelengths? I assume since all the driver circuit does is regulate the current it can be used on any diode.
second, how exactly can i verify the power output of my laser without a 100+ dollar tool.
I want to start out small, build a 30mW or so laser (in purple preferably but other colors are fine) which can burn paper and pop balloons. Is 30mW high enough for purple lasers to do this? I chose purple not only cause i like the color but it has a higher photon energy than any other visible laser so i would assume it can achieve burning with less current.
How exactly do you adjust the beam on a laser? Is the glass lens bendable somehow? How do i make the beam thicker or thinner?
After that I think it would be cool to make a TriColor laser but i'm not sure how to combine the beams. Anyway i think that may be a question for later.
My first questions are whether or not i can trust these lasers:
405nm 30mW Violet Laser Diode Module DIY Lab Astronomy | eBay
I just searched ebay for "405nm Laser module," and i am not sure if that has a driver circuit on it or not, it looks like it does since it has some PCB attached but im not 100% sure. If i wanted to build my own driver circuit where would i go to learn how to do that? and are all driver circuits used for all wavelengths? I assume since all the driver circuit does is regulate the current it can be used on any diode.
second, how exactly can i verify the power output of my laser without a 100+ dollar tool.
Last edited: