- Joined
- Oct 14, 2012
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THE 'CONEHEAD'
Hey guys, here is a little stainless steel build that I've just finished up. I've had this sweet little S.S. host for over a year; it's a very nice quality host that I purchased from Kaidomain well over a year ago, for less than $10.
I think they still sell them for around $13 or $14 now, which is still a good price for a nice S.S. host.
I decided to build this with an 'old school' LPC-826 660nm diode, because after all this time here, I've never owned this wavelength, or built a laser with this great diode.
I'm glad that I finally did though, this diode provides a beautiful wavelength and a nice beam to go with it!
If I remember correctly, this particular LPC-826 diode was given to me by Pman long ago. I matched it up with a micro flex V5 driver from DTR.
I set the current towards the upper end of what I'd seen from past successful builds; I didn't need the max., but close, so when the last tweak of the pot. read 488mA, I called it good enough.
All in all, it turned out to be a pretty nice budget build, since I've only got about $37 total invested in it! :yh:
Here's a list of it's vital statistics.
Components Used For This Build:
- 'Kaidomain' KSH-S13524 S.S. flashlight host.
- LPC-826 660nm diode.
- Micro Flex Drive Driver, set to 488mA (DTR).
- Custom Aluminum Heatsink.
- Custom Polished brass Focus Adapter.
- 1 x 18650 Flat Top Battery (space is tight, flat top works best).
Dimensions & Weight:
- Length = 148mm
- Diameter = 24mm
- Weight W/Battery = 203g (7.16oz)
Measured Power Output:
- G-2 Lens = 383mW (max.).
- 3 Element Lens = 300mW.
- Acrylic Lens = 330mW.
Time for a few pictures!
The begining: S.S. flashlight host kit.
Exploded view, with original green (changed to black) switch cover.
Brass pill, battery board, and retaining ring.
I had lost the original ring, and had to make this one; it's a tiny little thing, but it didn't come out to bad.
Close up view of Micro Flex Drive before soldering resistors for higher output range.
Driver mounted to diode in 12mm copper module.
Added small copper H.S. disc to driver, along with a $hitty looking solder job on those three resistors; those suckers are TINY!
Note: I've since re-solder those resistors to look better, although they worked fine with the crummy solder job.
Tapered S.S. "nose" piece, which is also tapered on the inside.
Homemade aluminum heatsink with a matching 3.5° taper to fit the inside of the nose piece with full contact.
Custom brass focus adjuster with matching taper.
Assembling the 12mm copper module & H.S. into host with the pill used as the retainer, I also drilled an extra hole in the center of the pill to enable assembly without twisting the wires.
First life! The moment of truth ...does it still work? Oh yeah!
Outdoor beam shot looking toward laser. Laser is shining along a walkway along side of some solar pathway lights that are creating a neat pattern of light on the ground.
Another beam shot, only this time, looking from laser out along the beam.
That's about it for now folks, if you've made it this far, thanks for bearing with me!
Also a big :thanks: to DTR for the driver, and to Pman for the LPC-826 diode! :yh:
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