Another DIY Red

Hey, im new to the forum and lasers and for my first post i would like to show you my DIY Red in the making the reason it is not finished is because i kind of destroyed my dvd burner diode so i need a new one :'( if any body knows where to get a cheap diode of any kind or colour as long as it will burn (preferably over 100mW) please let me know the main reason why i created this post is to ask for peoples opinions on using a driver with my soon to be DVD burner and weather i need one and if so why and apart from diode life whats the advantages ?  

http://the-final-frontier.piczo.com/?g=46093249&cr=7

   Thanks Jamie

BTW- if any body is wondering why the springs are in a wierd place it is because i am using a CR123A battery lol

Hey, welcome to the forum
If you don't care about color, go for these, theyre cheap and powerful, but collimation is bad and they are nearly invisible (IR):
http://stonetek.org/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=220
Or you can get these, which are red diodes and are capable of over 100mW:
http://stonetek.org/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=180

You may even be able to get a PHR 803T diode from somebody here, which is a bluray diode capable of well over 100mW.
Do a search for Daedal's driver or you can get the rckstr driver or Dr. Lava Flex drive.
Good luck!

BTW, I see you stole my avatar that I made ;D
It's ok. I don't mind.

lol sorry i didnt know you had made it i saw it on a few peoples lol and thanks for the help "much appreciated"  

BTW how did you make it i would like to make one when i finish my laser, is it just a few similar pics in a slide show ?

Also i have alredy looked at the links and the IR one said in the description "a great replacement if you have a lower powered green laser that the diode has died on you" but also said they was IR so i couldnt make my mind up to what kind of diode it was lol, im a noob i know lol

And i think i have scratched the acrylic lense on my AixiZ module, will it make a difference and would anyone recomend a glass lense i have herd they can increase power and they can be sold seperatley lol

I would also love a PHR 803T diode but how much would one of these cost ? and where or who to get them from ?

BTW What class would a DVD burner laser be ?

Thanks Jamie

I've always liked your av, RA. What laser is that?

Lol, i am sorry but the pic is not mine i borrowed it for the time being until me DIY Red is finished. and im sorry but i dont know what av and RA stand for im a noob lmao

Gooey: Thanks, my avatar is my X105.

Jamie: I just got a few similar pictures and made an animated GIF out of them in photoshop, but you can record video and upload them to a few different sites that will convert the video to an animated GIF.

av stands for avatar, and RA is just an acronym I use for my username. ;D

Anyway... The IR diode is 808nm, which is NIR (near-infrared) so its a dull, dark red color to the human eye. That is why IR is dangerous, because it is a LOT more powerful than it appears to us.
The description says it can replace the diode in a green laser because green lasers use a 808nm diode to "pump" a set of crystals to produce green light. It's called DPSS (diode pumped solid state). So the diode isn't green.
If you want a lot of power for a low price, Infrared is the way to go, but it does not collimate easily so you may only be able to burn up to a couple feet. Also, safety goggles are recommended for IR lasers (or any high powered laser).

The advantage of the red diodes is that they yield high power, are more visible and can collimate much better for longer distance burning.

You can check the Buy Sell Trade section to see if anyone is selling any bluray diodes.

Glass lenses are better, they don't scratch as easily and are good for more power. Aixiz sells them (www.mfgcn.com) or you can check SenKat's site that I referred to you (http://stonetek.org/shop) He also sells the rckstr driver if you want to use that.

Thanks for the help it is very much apperciated

BTW you said something about green diodes not being green, does this mean when you take it out of the module that the beam or light it gives off will be invisible? because i have a green diode that i thaught was dead so i took it out of the housing and played with it but i thaught it was totally dead because i couldnt even get the "LED Effect" could i be wrong and its an IR diode ?

Thanks jamie

ohh ok thanks

jamie.91 said:

Thanks for the help it is very much apperciated

BTW you said something about green diodes not being green, does this mean when you take it out of the module that the beam or light it gives off will be invisible? because i have a green diode that i thaught was dead so i took it out of the housing and played with it but i thaught it was totally dead because i couldnt even get the "LED Effect" could i be wrong and its an IR diode ?

Thanks jamie

Click to expand...

No problem

Yes... "Green diodes" are really IR diodes. This is how a green laser works: http://an.hitchcock.org/repairfaq/sam/glpmca1.gif
But the 808nm diodes aren't completely invisible. They are more like a deep, dim red.

well i have an IR diode that may work if i cant see it how do i know if it works ?

jamie.91 said:

well i have an IR diode that may work if i cant see it how do i know if it works ?

Click to expand...

If it works it will emit a dim red light, but do not look into it directly. IR is also visible to most digital cameras and camera phones. If you can see a purplish light on the camera that means it is lasing. But if it came from a broken green laser it is probably dead. And if you hook up a diode to batteries without a driver it will kill the diode.

If its 3V why would it kill the diode ( i know stupid question ) but i am making a DIY Red and i wasnt going to use a driver because there are so many types for different ( nm ) which i dont understand so i was going to wait till my next laser which i was hoping was goin to be a DIY Bluray which i thaught i best use a driver with but my DIY Red is going to be hooked up to a CR123A battery which i thaught was 3v the same as the diode right ?

also i have seen a lot of discussion about blue, violet and bluray diodes do you know the difference ?

Thanks Jamie

jamie.91 said:

If its 3V why would it kill the diode ( i know stupid question ) but i am making a DIY Red and i wasnt going to use a driver because there are so many types for different ( nm ) which i dont understand so i was going to wait till my next laser which i was hoping was goin to be a DIY Bluray which i thaught i best use a driver with but my DIY Red is going to be hooked up to a CR123A battery which i thaught was 3v the same as the diode right ?

also i have seen a lot of discussion about blue, violet and bluray diodes do you know the difference ?

Thanks Jamie

Click to expand...

YOU MUST USE A DRIVER if you want your laser to last. The driver controls the current gong to the diode. Excess current going to a diode that can kill it.

"Blu-ray" lasers are "violet" light (405nm). They are NOT blue although some things will fluoresce blue when you shine it on them. Blu-ray lasers are from a 405nm diode (usually taken from a blu-ray DVD burner).

"Blue" lasers are 473nm. Blue lasers are from an IR pump diode pushing light through crystals to make it blue. You will NOT be able to make one of these, unless you decide to study this for a long time.

Peace,
dave

Yes, too much current will kill a diode, even if it is at 3V. Different diodes need different drivers because not all diodes require the same current to run (safely).

you guys are great thanks for all your help

Could you please recomend a driver for a DVD burner diode ?

Thanks again Jamie

You can buy the rckstr from stonetek or you can build this: http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1185701612
Another popular option is the flex drive by Dr. Lava (as I stated earlier):
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1209418066/0
The DDL lm317 driver and flex drive must be assembled yourself, but the rckstr has the option to be purchased pre-made (but for a little extra $$$).