My first project

Hello everyone!

I recently got my hands on a broken down BR drive, and i thought i'd take it apart just for fun. I decided to google the laser diode, and boy was i in for a surprise - I never knew they were this powerful

I have been fascinated by lasers ever since the pointers first arrived as mainstream products, but the lack of power and price range did not convince me back then. After that we got some silly laws limiting laser pointers to 20mW for sale&import, so it is impossible to buy anything decent over here.

Needless to say - my attitude has now changed as i came to understand the potential for self-built lasers. These are not kids toys anymore, but seriously cool state-of-the-art technology. Talk about projecting energy!

I started building a driver for the BR diode, but decided to invest in an adjustable up to 300mA driver off eBay for some euros.

What i want to ask you, or confirm, is that i have understood correctly these laser diodes. Do i need anything else than current regulation to use these correctly? I am capable of building a current regulator from the components in my basement, but the laser driver from ebay had many more components. What are they all about?

Why i am asking this is because next thursday i will be getting a pair of those OH-SO-SWEET 1W 445nm casio projector diodes :drool: and i have started to design current regulation for these puppies. Is there anything special i should take into consideration, or is it just a matter of simply limiting the maximum current?

I will post some info&pics on my projects once i get them fully going if anyone is interested.

what player/drive is it?

It is a xbox360 drive.

Ah. A PHR sled. They'll do around 110-120mw output at around 120-130ma drive. More than that and your looking at noticably decreased diode life.

as far as the 445 diodes. keep them below 1.5A and cool them properly and you should be ok.

You DO own proper goggles for 405-445 right? If not, this is something you should buy before anything else.

^ No. The Xbox 360 sled does not contain the PHR 803T laser diode, the HD DVD drive
add on that was sold seperately from the Xbox 360 has the diode in it. The drive in
the Xbox 360 contains only a simple low powered red and ir laser diode

I have no goggles, and i know of the risks. The diode will be mounted to a lab bench during building, so it is safely aimed at all times. I will order goggles, when i have hope i will reach a working portable-stage. Currently my goal is to get the electronics working

Goggle recommendations always welcome.

Gryphon said:

^ No. The Xbox 360 sled does not contain the PHR 803T laser diode, the HD DVD drive
add on that was sold seperately from the Xbox 360 has the diode in it. The drive in
the Xbox 360 contains only a simple low powered red and ir laser diode

Click to expand...

Ah. Well. I never owned an xbox and never planned too, so there you go heh. I had always assumed since they were marketed as HDDVD players, they had the capabilities without buying extra crap.. well. Guess that would be against the microsoft way though...

Hmm, if all it has is 650 & 780, just being a reader, usually that's not enough power to go to the hassle of extracting the diode. The visible red diode in readers is usually 50mw max, isn't it?

^ No problem. The add on didn't sell for too long once HD DVD lost out to Blu Ray

reivanen said:

I have no goggles, and i know of the risks. The diode will be mounted to a lab bench during building, so it is safely aimed at all times. I will order goggles, when i have hope i will reach a working portable-stage. Currently my goal is to get the electronics working

Goggle recommendations always welcome.

Click to expand...

You will also need a module, (aixiz, Meredith, etc...), to mount your 5.6mm diode in and a lens to focus it. Any, 'high', powers should also include heatsinking into the planning.

Sorry if you already know this but I didn't see these mentioned anywhere in the thread.

Good luck and we look forward to your success.

M

I have ordered aixiz host and a glass lense for it. Hopefully the glass lense is of quality optics. The drive is phr and should contain a 100mW 405 laser.

reivanen said:

Goggle recommendations always welcome.

Click to expand...

Personally, I like the goggles from dragonlasers, They were recommended to me by another LPF member. They are under $30/ea and have an OD rating of >4.
Laser Glasses - Red laser beam protection 600-740nm :: Laser Safety :: Dragon Lasers
Laser Glasses - UV to Green Lasers Protection 190-548nm :: Laser Safety :: Dragon Lasers

reivanen said:

I have ordered aixiz host and a glass lense for it. Hopefully the glass lense is of quality optics. The drive is phr and should contain a 100mW 405 laser.

Click to expand...

Just a point of nomenclature here. An Aixiz is a module not a host. The module houses the diode, and lens, (sometimes the driver if you're using the back end of it); the host houses the module. Easy mistake to make but you'll get accustomed to the lingo in no time.

M

I have a problem with the setup testing.

I am using the "Laser Diode Driver Board 20-300mA, TTL Control" from ebay, and i cannot get the casio diode to start lasing properly. It only glows like a faint led with upto 200mA @5V input. At one point (between min and max) in the current control resistor the current draw spikes and the diode starts lasing. The problem is it draws 600mA at 5V so it seems it is not even regulating in this specific position.

What am i doing wrong here? I have halted testing since i am afraid running it at >3,5W will fry it pretty fast

edit: the voltage to the diode seems to be 3,4V so i assume my laser driver is not suitable for this casio diode?

reivanen said:

I have a problem with the setup testing.

I am using the "Laser Diode Driver Board 20-300mA, TTL Control" from ebay, and i cannot get the casio diode to start lasing properly. It only glows like a faint led with upto 200mA @5V input. At one point (between min and max) in the current control resistor the current draw spikes and the diode starts lasing. The problem is it draws 600mA at 5V so it seems it is not even regulating in this specific position.

What am i doing wrong here? I have halted testing since i am afraid running it at >3,5W will fry it pretty fast

edit: the voltage to the diode seems to be 3,4V so i assume my laser driver is not suitable for this casio diode?

Click to expand...

No. This driver isn't suitable. For one the diode would only barely be lasing even at the driver's maximum current, plus if it's only getting 3.4v that's another problem. Sounds like that driver is made for relatively low power reds.

I suggest a microboost driver for the 445 diode.

yeah you cant just go buy whatever driver you see first lol. plenty of driver info here. laser specific drivers are recommended. boost drive is fine for this, but for your 445nm project you may want a flex drive. flex drive is good for this too. plenty of info round here if you look.

I have a 5,5v 200mW driver for the bluray diode.

I shall look into the microboost one for 445nm. I ordered already a 6V 300mA driver from ebay. Isn't this suitable, even though it says it is a driver for high powered red lasers?

Or am i confusing something here? 6V@300mA = 1,8W

And yes, i have read these forums, hour after hour. There is tons of information, i wish i had the time and patience to read through it all.