This morning I decided to tear apart the leftover LPC-815 sled that I had already harvested the diodes from. Here's the goodies I discovered deep within the dark recesses of the sled:

First off, an assorted bunch of lenses and coated glass. The glass allows part of the light go through while reflecting part of it. They're all really small of course, but still pretty neat. You might be able to use some of the larger ones for some cool lab setups.




Next up is a pair of SMD style pots. I thought these were pretty cool because it seems you can only buy this style of micropot from Mouser if you get them in bulk.




Next up, two rare earth magnets. I don't know what material they are made from, but they are pretty strong. I think was probably the coolest thing that I found, and was definately a nice little surprise.




Finally, the sled itself after removing all the components. Does anyone know what these are made of? It's not magnetic. If it's aluminum I guess it would be worth a little money if you recycled it.


That's it besides some little screws and brackets. Let me know if I missed anything or if you have any uses for this stuff.

Hey Ghostchrome, I'm looking at your first pic, at the part dead center.

It's the one that's set in a piece of black plastic that looks sorta like a top view of NCC-1701D.

Anyway, if you bang a beam through that sucker you may find out that it's a transmission diffraction grating.

Let us know, ok?



-mega

Woah! Good call, man. It is a tiny little piece, but hey, works great.



So what would be the reason that these are used inside of a DVD burner sled?

+1 for you, Mega.

A diffraction grating splits the beam into a main beam and two (first order) side beams. (The higher order beams are not used). The diffraction grating is used to generate multiple beams, not for its more common function of splitting up light into its constituent colors. The side beams are used for tracking and straddle the track which is being read. The tracking servo maintains this centering by keeping the amplitude of the two return beams equalized.)

You've also got a polarizing mirror in there, a collimation lens, a quarter wave plate and a turning mirror... correct me if I've mislabelled them or missed any out.

Right on, thanks Misanthrop. +1

I maka your day-a betta yes?

Thanks for the +1 Ghost (and FTM, thanks to Misanthrop for the +1 the other day).

Misanthrop, which optics are the polarizing mirror and the λ/4 plate?

I'm thinking the λ/4 plate is the piece in the "squarish" mount just above the quarter. (just a guess).

Thanks for the info. +1 Misanthrop.


-mega


p.s.- great beam pic, Ghost.

The quarter wave plate is the big lens yes and the polarizing mirror is, I believe, top left.

Correct if wrong.

There most commonly an alloy of Neodymium, Iron and Boron.

According to styropyro in one of his videos, he asserts that some of the PHR sled is made of magnesium. Maybe the LPC could have some in it too?

Wouldnt't that be unstable? Plus doesn't magnesium deteriorate like lithium?

What I said was merely an assumption and therfore very weak. Magnesium does not react well with water, nothing really happens. But if you torch it....

And what I said was a question hence the question marks.

It wouldnt be unstable, its probably an alloy or oxide. I am unsure.

The angle piece that turned the beam(s) up towards the lens, acts just like a Red dichro, It'll pass green at 80-90% but reflect Red/UV/445 atround 80-90%.

Oh nice, thanks man!

NP, I actually mention it because I'm gonna try and use it and a PHR-803t pbs/sled block for a RGB portable...if I can even get around to learning to mil, and get the aluminum to make it.

Oh nice, great idea! Make sure you show us when it's done.