combining two 20x dvd diodes

I've finally got around to dismanting my expensive dmx laser show.
It was scary, but I learnt a lot about how to combine 2 red laser diodes
to make a mega powerful burner that some peeps on the red laser
section of the forum will be interested in.

Here's the link......

http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1209752020

I found out that combining two 20x DVD red diodes to make one 500mw+++
isn't all that hard to do. Look at the link above and you will find out that combining
2 red beams doesn't require a lot of hardware. Just dismantle a dvd writer or 3.
Then spend a bit of time to get things aligned properly.

I'm going to spend the next few weeks on my first dvd burner and try to make it a really good one.
I've always been brought up to aim high, and if you suceed, then you achieved far more
than most who limit their abilities by expecting to fail at a more simple task. :-*

Neat.

Is there a limit to how many beams you can merge together? I mean, with 4 diodes, there could be 1 Watt. 8 diodes, 2 watts

Sure, it would be a complicated array of electronics and optics, but it seems that this would be the cheapest way to make a really high powered laser

I was thinking of doing the same thing as another project.
I know you can't do it with cubes, as the red laser beams are polarised, so trying to combine more than two causes problems. Also there are a lot of light lost when you pass the beams through dichro mirrors.
On my RGY scanner the underside of the alumnium plate that everything is mounted on, there are about 30 adjustment screws, so I can imagine that just to align 3 beams is a nightmare.

When I do my twin diode burner, I'm going to leave some space in the case for a third 300mw green.
Won't be cheap lol. But I should then get around 900mw of yellow.
Busy making the case for it this weekend. It's built from a computer power supply and the metalwork from 2 dvd burners. Once I have the holes cut and drilled, it will be masked off inside, then powdercoated next week in blue.

Heidi said:

I was thinking of doing the same thing as another project.
I know you can't do it with cubes, as the red laser beams are polarised, so trying to combine more than two causes problems.

Click to expand...

Well, easy solution. Get 4 diodes, pair them up and combine the beams so you have a pair of beams, each made from two diodes. Then combine those two beams together. Then repeat for however many diodes you have

I would certainly love to attempt a project like this... but... I won't be able to have access to my tools until at least November. And it may even end up being for 2-3 years... so... no chance

It may seem like that at first glance, but the cubes are polarized. One laser is X-axis polarized and the other is on Y-axis. More than two doesn't really work.

And then what ends up happening is if you shoot a beam of one X polarized and one Y polarized beam through an input of a beamcube, it then reflects the opposite polarization and you end up taking one beam out and adding another one back in.

You might be able , with a lot of work , to make a double diode handheld laser using only dvd-w parts(and collimating lenses, circuits and a host of course)
Even a yellow(red+green) pointer would be possible, except for the green module.DVD writers have a lot of usefull lasery stuff in them.

That would be pretty cool... Try putting that in a handheld unit.

Just gone bit mad with my credit card

Coming my way soon are....

2 Pioneer 115d 20x dvd writers.
bluray PS3 sled
enough bits to make 7 diode drivers.
A new dress for next weekend.

Pfft. Who needs clothes?

i'd take laser stuff over clothes ;D

Heidi said:

Just gone bit mad with my credit card  

Coming my way soon are....

A new dress for next weekend.

Click to expand...

Hey, even if your an uber geek, ya still gotta look GOOD. Besides, when your done impressing the ladies or gents with our uber cool bluray, green, or red burners. We still have to seal the deal with our good looks. (or in my case good fashion sense)

Kenom said:

Besides, when your done impressing the ladies or gents with our uber cool bluray, green, or red burners. We still have to seal the deal with our good looks. (or in my case good fashion sense)

Click to expand...

Not if you burn out the ladies or gents retinas with your high powered lasers.

If everyone was blind, the sweatshops in india could make lasers instead of clothes.

Hmm, I'd certainly stand out turning up in my knickers and bra at a party,
then saying, "Hey look at my new laser."

I did spend more on laser parts than clothes though. :-[


You know you're addicted to lasers when....

You look at a sunset and try and work out what wavelength of red it is.

Your friend buys a £200 handbag, and you instantly think what laser parts you could have bought with the money.

You buy matches, even though you don't smoke.

You buy balloons when it's nobody's birthday.

You look at the cute guy at the bar and wonder if he has a laser at home.

You buy black tape and bin bags, just to burn holes in them.

Your bedroom curtains are full of little holes.

You're responsible for at least 2 UFO sightings in your town.

Your Ebay feedback is at least 90% laser related stuff.

You have bought 15 DVD writers in the last year, but only use one for burning dvds.

The thought of owning a class IV RGB laser makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

If the government in your country bans lasers, you know your life would be over.


Can anyone think of anymore?

You take your green with you to hell when you expire to relieve the monotony of red [smiley=evil.gif]

Heidi said:

You look at the cute guy at the bar and wonder if he has a laser at home.

Click to expand...

Guilty.