50mw stainless steel 405 pen laser build

This is my new stainless steel water resistant laser, i machined the entire host on a lathe, it was hard. Then i put an brass screw ring into the hole, the brass screw ring comes from a cheap ebay green laser. It took me 2 days to machine the host. Then i pressed my module in, this was the hardest part, because i put an battery management circuit in there, the diode and lens holder must be isolated from the rube which holds 3 small circuit boards, took me 2 days to accomplish. Pressing it is was a nightmare as i cut my hand pretty deep numerous of time due to pushing the module in and out more then literary 30 times vecause the isolation barrier kept tearing. Now its together, i am happy as this was a horrible hard thing to do

Output is approximately 50mw
Diode is an SLD3232VF Sony diode
Battery management circuit and you can't turn it on by just pressing the tail button, because the battery circuit made it possible to make the isolated diode holder positive (diode is case negative), while the host is negative, this is why i need to isolate it from the host and tube from the aixiz module, as soon as the positive shorts to ground, the diode holder is negative therefore powering the laser. There is a dual gate transistor in there which is controlled by a microprocessor, the mosfet determines the output polarity on the aixiz diode holder case, a diode can'tturn on if both connections are anode.
And the laser turns if immediately at 2.80v, for battery protection
Current is set to 70mA


The laser isn't done yet, i will make it water resistant today. But it is an very advanced laser and can easily light matches and even firework at 1 meter distance. And due to the safety feature, i don't have to worry to burn my retina, or some jackass hijacking it and trying to laze as he has no idea how to turn it on

More pictures coming, and i will show my laser in the water

Looks like you really put some time into that build... I appreciate your hard work and the outcome. I generally don't build anything this small with any control circuits for the reason of major PITA!

Hope you enjoy the fruits of your labor!

Now that's a pretty build! If it needs a good home keep me in mind. Love to get my hands on it! ( him who loves small builds) thanks, edit-------- man that sure looks like a labor of love! Great job!

94Z28 said:

Looks like you really put some time into that build... I appreciate your hard work and the outcome. I generally don't build anything this small with any control circuits for the reason of major PITA!

Hope you enjoy the fruits of your labor!

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Hi, thanks! It is very hard, fitting 3 circuit board including a contact board, ld driver and BM system into a small 20mmx12mm tube wasn't easy, luckely i got this done back in june, getting it into the host was a painful experience.

However i'm happy with the outcome

BobMc said:

Now that's a pretty build! If it needs a good home keep me in mind. Love to get my hands on it! ( him who loves small builds) thanks, edit-------- man that sure looks like a labor of love! Great job!

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Hi, thanks! I might build another one, as it really takes a long time. Machining a host like this takes a couple hours, which are the most enjoyable part of the assembly, but getting everything to fit perfectly without tearing the isolator is hard and takes a longer time then machining the host. My previous small laser broke, so i only have two little pen lasers, this one and a green laser flashlight. They are build like a tank unlike most pen lasers, if i drop this steel laser from a 5 story building, i can almost asure you it will work. They are also watertight

BlackOps said:

Hi, thanks! I might build another one, as it really takes a long time. Machining a host like this takes a couple hours, which are the most enjoyable part of the assembly, but getting everything to fit perfectly without tearing the isolator is hard and takes a longer time then machining the host. My previous small laser broke, so i only have two little pen lasers, this one and a green laser flashlight. They are build like a tank unlike most pen lasers, if i drop this steel laser from a 5 story building, i can almost asure you it will work. They are also watertight

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Well, if you ever need a infusion of cash let me know, I would love to add one ( or two) of these to my collection ! Think their superb !

Hi, i will let you know, as soon as i have time to machine a host, i could make one for you. I can even help you making one, whereas i will machine the host for you, send it to you and help you.

Yesterday, a friend of mine had a old ebay shit laser, he wanted something as small as mine, so we had a copper pipe, decided to drill a 13mm hole 20mm deep for the module, 6mm hole on the side which aligned perefctly with the button, and the screw was pressed in. It was all done at the end of the day, but he wanted it to look nice as it was a copper pipe used for boilers and such, i told him it was risky, he didn't care, we took an lathe, after 3 shave offs, his laser exploded and all the diode pins except for LD anode where ripped out. The LM358 chip got crushed by the chuck claws, and the entire host we worked hard on was ripped apart, the lenses where all loose and the cutting tool dented the entire screw assembly in. It was a green laser

BlackOps said:

Hi, i will let you know, as soon as i have time to machine a host, i could make one for you. I can even help you making one, whereas i will machine the host for you, send it to you and help you.

Yesterday, a friend of mine had a old ebay shit laser, he wanted something as small as mine, so we had a copper pipe, decided to drill a 13mm hole 20mm deep for the module, 6mm hole on the side which aligned perefctly with the button, and the screw was pressed in. It was all done at the end of the day, but he wanted it to look nice as it was a copper pipe used for boilers and such, i told him it was risky, he didn't care, we took an lathe, after 3 shave offs, his laser exploded and all the diode pins except for LD anode where ripped out. The LM358 chip got crushed by the chuck claws, and the entire host we worked hard on was ripped apart, the lenses where all loose and the cutting tool dented the entire screw assembly in. It was a green laser

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I would prefer you build it ( don't trust myself on something this small yet) love the solid mini-builds. If you wanted to build one for me I would love to help pay your rent Heee. If so,pm me and we can work out a price. Thanks and take care ! Edit------ and ooooch on the destroyed unit that had to ruin his day! Mayor heart break !

BobMc said:

I would prefer you build it ( don't trust myself on something this small yet) love the solid mini-builds. If you wanted to build one for me I would love to help pay your rent Heee. If so,pm me and we can work out a price. Thanks and take care ! Edit------ and ooooch on the destroyed unit that had to ruin his day! Mayor heart break !

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Hi, i can build one for you, but keep in mind, the time i take for a laser can take long as i order parts overseas and sometimes have no time. But we are going to start with the host, i can make that for you. What are your desired demensions, like the diameter, lenght etc. i can build a host for you using stainless steel, maybe aluminum 7075 aircraft grade which i can get from the aviation maintainance section, but i think stainless steel is more for a solid build. Also brass and copper, but I don't recommend copper, see picture below, thats the destroyed laser i'm talking about.

Also, the guy wasn't happy with the end results of his laser, the lathe destroyed that thing and smashed it numerous of times against the cutting tool holder at 1750rpm. Crushing the driver, PVC pipe for battery space, the thread bus which got turned into a hearth form after a big impact against the tip of the cutter. The only thing that was still usable was probably the spring on the driver. See picture below for his laser, but it was a cheap ebay laser anyway, so he had nothing to loose as he deliberately destroyed his old newish style host for this copper host as it had dents everywhere. But that LM358 IC got crushed by the jaws, hilarious. And that trough pretty think copper and a plastic driver support, which was pretty thick too. Lathes are dangerous machines

Also, the force was so intense, that the columating lens of the laser, popped off inside the spindle barrel, and the module section was tightened at the chuck. It was also my fault for not putting that laser in the chuck far enough creating lavarage, but i had no choice, he wants it nice, not all oxidized and such. And the button was a big problem. We actually had to machine it before putting the electronics and structural/optical components in. All this happened in a split second.

BlackOps said:

Hi, i can build one for you, but keep in mind, the time i take for a laser can take long as i order parts overseas and sometimes have no time. But we are going to start with the host, i can make that for you. What are your desired demensions, like the diameter, lenght etc. i can build a host for you using stainless steel, maybe aluminum 7075 aircraft grade which i can get from the aviation maintainance section, but i think stainless steel is more for a solid build. Also brass and copper, but I don't recommend copper, see picture below, thats the destroyed laser i'm talking about.

Also, the guy wasn't happy with the end results of his laser, the lathe destroyed that thing and smashed it numerous of times against the cutting tool holder at 1750rpm. Crushing the driver, PVC pipe for battery space, the thread bus which got turned into a hearth form after a big impact against the tip of the cutter. The only thing that was still usable was probably the spring on the driver. See picture below for his laser, but it was a cheap ebay laser anyway, so he had nothing to loose as he deliberately destroyed his old newish style host for this copper host as it had dents everywhere. But that LM358 IC got crushed by the jaws, hilarious. And that trough pretty think copper and a plastic driver support, which was pretty thick too. Lathes are dangerous machines

Also, the force was so intense, that the columating lens of the laser, popped off inside the spindle barrel, and the module section was tightened at the chuck. It was also my fault for not putting that laser in the chuck far enough creating lavarage, but i had no choice, he wants it nice, not all oxidized and such. And the button was a big problem. We actually had to machine it before putting the electronics and structural/optical components in. All this happened in a split second.

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That's great! Was hoping for one just like your little 405 pen, kinda found a soft spot in my heart for that little guy. Stainless steel would be just fine. Was wondering if you could up the mw's to maybe 75 or 100? Would love to have a little edc 405 burner. I think "built like a tank and waterproof" would be super cool! I'm not in a hurry so how much time do you think you might need? Let me know? Now we need to discuss the price,I would prefer to handle the price via pm just for GP. if that's ok? sending you a pm to continue the conversation. thanks

Laser is done and completely watertight. It also packs some burning power, and lights a match withing2 seconds, lights firework easily and the beam is visible in the dark. I also used my little hdd precision lathe to polish is and to make the little grooves with a file, knife,fine sandpaper and lathe cutting bits

Edit: my small lathe could spin at 800rpm~15000rpm using an ESC and a servo tester. I will make a thread about it, as this thing is a perfect alternative for a full sized lathe, you can make grooves precisely and polish the host, you could also trim your host if necessary

Note, the oring and the nice edge at the thread bus where it seals. The laser before assembly, that little ring under the module is to defeat tolerance due to isolation barrier (2.2mm)

Laser weights 62 grams, that would be a little more as ineed my 3 element glass lens to arrive. It feels solid and great. Nothing ratles abd shakes even when tapping hard against something

Also, you could throw this thing off a 6 story flat and it would still work. Laser diode are structurally impossible to break when inside a module and host, but electrically and optically fragile. It takes tremendous amount of force to bump that diode window loose by throwing if, and yes i tested that with a 405nm diode which suffered from COD

That's some beautiful work there. She a beauty! Enjoy that laser! That's some pint size fun! Be proud of that guy!

BobMc said:

That's some beautiful work there. She a beauty! Enjoy that laser! That's some pint size fun! Be proud of that guy!

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Hi, thanks, i will definitely enjoy it. Hopefully this thing would still work after 5 years which definitely is possible. I'm proud of it!

Also, this would be my lighter for new years day as it lights firework within 3 seconds 50cm/1M away from the aperture. Better than a lighter which couldn't even turn on due to airflow. And 1 battery charge is enough for a whole night.

BobMc said:

That's some beautiful work there. She a beauty! Enjoy that laser! That's some pint size fun! Be proud of that guy!

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Hi, i'm done machining your custom host, PM me

Also, the last picture is how your laser will look like

Second last, mine laser compared to your host,
Last, how your laser will look like.

Host is 92mm x14mm in diameter

BlackOps said:

Hi, i'm done machining your custom host, PM me

Also, the last picture is how your laser will look like

Second last, mine laser compared to your host,
Last, how your laser will lwook like.

Host is 92mm x14mm in diameter

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Man that's a beauty! Gonna love that little guy. That is just coolness in a little host!! I'm gonna pop me some balloons !'!!