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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

My first attempt and some questions

Joined
Jan 10, 2013
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Heres a few pictures of me playing around with an experimental build. It's more me just trying to learn and figure out things for myself. I machined a heatsink to fit into a small mag light housing and I made the focusing adjustment and lens holder. I did learn a lot playing around. This wasnt a serious attempt at building but more learning. I have a couple questions if someone here can be kind enough to answer. If you look at the beam dot there is a weird line going across it. I'm not sure what it causing it. It's not in the lens. I'm thinking maybe it's a reflection from inside the focusing adapter mits made from bronze. Second question. I'm using a diode from a DVD burner. I cannot get it ant more powerful with my test driver (lm317). I cannot see the beam and the dot doesn't put out any heat. At least none that I can feel. Am I not supplying enough current? Either way im enjoying working on it. I'm kinda of a DIY person so if I can machine the parts and make any of it myself I do so because i enjoy it. And it saves me lots of money.
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Feb 5, 2008
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The red diode "wings" as they came to be called, are perfectly normal occurence.

They are absent in some rare types of red diodes, and all other colors. Nothing wrong with your setup.
 
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A red laser won't burn your skin if you're Caucasian, unless you aim it at a tattoo, freckle, or mole.
Does it burn black items like plastic?

The only time you're going to see the beam is at night, and even then it won't be that visible...
 
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^^ as always listen to Moh
arm and knuckle hairs are a nice little test too :p
 
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I wish KipKay could see that there actually can be a heatsink for those Mini Maglite's! Nice dirty build! The color blue also burns very well with red lasers.
 
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Joined
Jan 10, 2013
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The red diode "wings" as they came to be called, are perfectly normal occurence.

They are absent in some rare types of red diodes, and all other colors. Nothing wrong with your setup.

A red laser won't burn your skin if you're Caucasian, unless you aim it at a tattoo, freckle, or mole.
Does it burn black items like plastic?

The only time you're going to see the beam is at night, and even then it won't be that visible...

Thank you for clearing that up for me. The red wings were driving me crazy. I'll just let it be now.

Mohrenberg.....
Thanks. I'll test it out tonight. It's seems odd you can't feel any heat but it can still burn something. That's so odd and hard to grasp in my head. But kinda cool still. Now I'm anxious to try it out.
 
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Well I tested it and it does burn plastic and will light a match colored black. I'm shocked that it does because against the hand I feel no heat at all. But you can't argue with real data. Thanks to all for your help and comments now to think about a real build.



I wish KipKay could see that there actually can be a heatsink for those Mini Maglite's! Nice dirty build! The color blue also burns very well with red lasers.

Thank you. Yea it wasn't a serious build but more of a learning tool for me. I learned that the diode I'm using is a tough little sob. The first heatsink I made the hole too big and the diode fell out while I was messing with the driver. I saw the diode go dim and figured I burnt it up. Having a moment of stupidity I picked the diode up and it burnt me pretty bad. After it cooled down I tried it and it still worked just fine. I guess I got lucky.
 
Joined
Jun 26, 2010
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The 'red laser wavelength' (~650nm) is not nearly as visible to the human eye as a 'green wavelength' (~532nm). The beam will be slightly visible in the dark, but will require concentration to see.
 
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