A few questions

Disclaimer: If you are burned by the masses of flames I'm expecting,
it's not my fault.

I have been reading around a fair bit and I know that mini maglight builds
aren't well regarded in this forum (sorry if that's a broad statement)
but I that won't stop me.

I can get DVD & CD burners for free, not all working of course, so I
would like to give a basic build a go.

The driver would be a problem but I thought a resistive reg would work.
That bringes up the problem of the little voltage spike which batteries
give.

So to the best of my understanding, a resistive reg with a zener before it,
the voltage would be as close to the working voltage of the diode
including some compensation for the voltage drop of the resistor,
should work.

I can't make purchases online, so please don't tell me to buy a driver.

I'd also like some advice on a focusing module, as I said I can't buy things
online, so is there anyone in the great un laser-burnt land, otherwise
known as Australia, who can sell me a aixiz module.

I'm sorry if that post was a bit messy but that's how ideas come to be in
my head.

Regards

Lachlan

Look up DDL driver, it's a DIY driver that costs a few dollars in parts and gives you a good current regulating circuit that you can get pretty small if you put some time into it.

The mag light builds are fine, I think you are getting confused with the Kipkay maglight builds, it's not the flashlight it's self we don't like, it's Kipkay and his half ass tutorials that don't work and are useless bunch of misinformation.

Jayrob on this forum offers custom machined heatsinks for the mag light that you could use.

I am confused as too why you can't make purchases online? What in particular is stopping you because it's going to make your life very difficult in this hobby unless you have access to a lathe.

Aixiz module again Jayrob also makes custom copper aixiz modules.#

If, I have no idea why, you definitely can't purchase online your best bet would be too look for an Australian Vet that is near you that can order the parts and then you can collect or something.

Goodluck.

Running a diode with a resistor to regulate current is risky; you diode will last anywhere from 1 year to one second. Also, you are relying on the internal resistance of the battery to regulate current, merely changing the battery could easily kill the diode. A simple LM317 (DDL) driver as mentioned above is a much better solution; you can purchase an LM317 regulator from the same source you would purchase resistors and zener diodes.

Regarding the host, a mini mag will not be a problem as long as you can find a heatsink or have one made.

I see, I've saved that schematic. I can go down the SMD route, but I might build
something larger first, then go smaller.

In regards to my lack of online purchasing abilities, I've got no way to buy stuff online
credit card, debit card, rip you off untill your wallet bleeds card, that sort of thing.

Also, I have a junkbox laser module that housed a 5mW 808nm diode.
Would that work well enough for a DVD diode?

Regards

Lachlan

well ignore the online purchase thing.... you can always get money orders or similar and send them to a reputable member first. jayrob will not rip you off, neither will daguin or scopeguy.

michael

I have uploaded some pictures of the module. The diode is a 5mW 808nm.

Most of the module is aluminium, so heatsinking shouldn't prove much of a
problem.

I'll mount it in a 82 x 54 x 31 mm box with three rechargable AAA batteries.

Also, I have no idea how these pictures will come out, and I don't know how
to embed them. Can someone help?

Regards

Lachlan

[Edit: I didn't want to ruin this topic by mentioning KipKay [Include] Corner
Gas reference [/Include]

But that is how I got interested in building lasers.