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Sci-Fi 501b - how to remove driver

joey79

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Apr 22, 2008
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My first laser from Sci-Fi died after less than 30 minutes of actual use. This laser was sent out as a replacement (after 5 fake tracking numbers). I received this one a few months ago, but I've been busy, and haven't really gotten around to looking at it until recently. The diode isn't centered in the module. I tried loosening the set screw on the side of the heatsink, but the wires aren't long enough to access the module this way. I need to remove the driver board, but I'm not sure how to go about doing that. Is it glued in?
 





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Mar 21, 2016
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My first laser from Sci-Fi died after less than 30 minutes of actual use. This laser was sent out as a replacement (after 5 fake tracking numbers). I received this one a few months ago, but I've been busy, and haven't really gotten around to looking at it until recently. The diode isn't centered in the module. I tried loosening the set screw on the side of the heatsink, but the wires aren't long enough to access the module this way. I need to remove the driver board, but I'm not sure how to go about doing that. Is it glued in?

A pic would be helpful, I wouldn't remove the driver unless I absolutely had to
 
Joined
Nov 4, 2014
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I second that, a pic would be helpful. If you mean how to remove the driver from the diode pins it will be soldered on. So you would need a soldering iron and flux. You may want to by a set of diode press's and extractor from FlaminPyro. They make getting a diode perfectly seated a breeze. You will also need access to a vice
If you don't have these tools and don't plan on building lasers in the future, a better cheaper option would be paying a trusted member here to do it for you. Soldering isn't rocket science but can be difficult if you have never done it before.
 

joey79

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I have everything needed to solder, as well as a vice. Here are some photos.
 

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Joined
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There's something really wrong with ths t module, ms the you should contact Pman, he's doing repairs on eitan' junk lasers. There's a thread about sci-fi repair.
Danny
 

joey79

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Thanks for the info, but I'm not really interested in spending even another dollar on this piece of junk. If I can't repair it myself, I'm probably just going to sell it as-is or scrap it.
 

Pman

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That's odd. Looks like the diode was pressed in crooked into the copper module. That's the first time I've seen a 9mm one that way. If that is pressed in rather than 2 halves screwed together you might ruin the diode trying to press it back out. You would be better off leaving it alone in my opinion from what I can see and selling it working than taking the chance of breaking something.
I can't tell with just that view how it is put together but I will say that if it is like the one I just repaired I was going to press out the module but it seemed to be glued in so I lengthened the diode wires a different way. That laser died because the batteries had been put in backwards and had nothing to do with the build. Luckily the driver just blew.
I can look at it if you want for nothing but shipping but if I had another view of how it was pressed in I might be able to help more. Would be a shame to break it even if the beam doesn't come out straight.
 
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I don't understand why these 501B hosts are being used for diodes that clearly need to dissipate more heat. I've used 501Bs before, but only for builds under 500mW. I once did one for another member with an M140 diode, but set the current on the driver for 1.4 amps and told the guy to use it only for short duty cycles. It was one f those deals where I got all the parts and had to make a laser out of it. I still believe that these hosts are only good for powers up to 500mW and no more.
 
Joined
Nov 4, 2014
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I don't understand why these 501B hosts are being used for diodes that clearly need to dissipate more heat. I've used 501Bs before, but only for builds under 500mW. I once did one for another member with an M140 diode, but set the current on the driver for 1.4 amps and told the guy to use it only for short duty cycles. It was one f those deals where I got all the parts and had to make a laser out of it. I still believe that these hosts are only good for powers up to 500mW and no more.

Hence my 2W 450nm only having a 45 sec duty cycle. they do have a pretty hefty heat sink though. His later work is beyond sloppy and rushed.
Eitan just sucks at life.
 

joey79

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The module on my laser is not glued in. If I loosen the set screw on the side of the heat sink, the module will move, but the wires are not long enough to remove it through the front of the heat sink. The only way I can remove the module is to remove the driver, correct?
 
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The module on my laser is not glued in. If I loosen the set screw on the side of the heat sink, the module will move, but the wires are not long enough to remove it through the front of the heat sink. The only way I can remove the module is to remove the driver, correct?

Unsolved the wires from the driver
 
Joined
Sep 20, 2013
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It really depends on whether your driver is the contact board or attached to the laser diode. If you take the lens out and are careful, you should be able to get it out through the contact board side. Is the contact board glued into place? If so, you will need to break the glue and then you can pull it out by pulling the contact bard out and the module should follow.
 




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