First 660nm in progress

I'm planning my first hand held laser after extracting and successfully testing the LOC from my discarded LG H55N. It came out without a scratch.

I ordered the rkcstr Micro Drive online Friday night and got it today. Sure can't complain about the service!

Waiting for the AixiZ 12x30mm module with AR coated glass lens.

I haven't purchased the host yet but I'm thinking about a 2-AA Krypton Mini Maglite build for 2-14500 Li-ion. This model features a simple ON/OFF switch.

How does this plan sound so far?

I'm concerned about the need for a heat sink and fitting it into this host. I'd like to run at least 250 mW and get the longest diode life possible. I can order a premade heatsink or try to fabricate one myself. What can you tel me about heat sinks and this Maglite?

Re: First 660 nm in progress

A little bit of heatsink is recommended yes,but they don't get that hot though.

Re: First 660 nm in progress

Thanks. I have some ideas for the heat sink. I'm considering alternatives to the Mini Maglite as a host after reading posts here on LPF. Black Maglites have such a nice finish, though. There are some Ultrafire models that look good. I'm leaning toward hosts with a tail cap switch so long as the switches are good quality. It's difficult to make choices without having these hosts in hand.

Re: First 660 nm in progress

I made a trip to a couple of local stores in search of a host yesterday. After checking out several krypton, xenon and LED models (I bought along a measuring tape) I decided on a Mini Mag 2-AA xenon. The gunmetal finish was irresistible. $10 at Wallmart including the tiny 1-AAA Solitaire key chain mag.

The AixiZ module arrived today. Again, excellent and speedy service from the dealer.

Everything was here to make preliminary measurements. It will require every mm I can get to make this work on the Mini Mag. It looks possible to cram everything in with maybe 2mm to spare. I'll take a little different approach from the other Mini Mag builds I've seen on LPF. If things work out I'll post the story with pics.

To save me some research, does someone know if 14500s have exactly the same outside diameter as AA alkaline cells? AAs fit the Mini Mag with maybe .5 mm to spare.

Re: First 660 nm in progress

The project continues. I have received the rkcstr Micro Drive constant current regulator and the AixiZ laser module. I have not received the the 660nm laser goggles (ordered directly from China). I won't do power tests and laser focus without this. I'm expecting the goggles to arrive in a few days.

Here is a photo of where I am at today. The electronics for this project are a done deal. The laser will be powered by 2-14500 Li-Ion cells. Mechanical parameters are paramount.

From left to right, top to bottom:

Top: The anti-static container for the rkcstr Micro Drive, the 660nm AR coated glass lens, anti-static envelope for the AixiZ laser module.

Middle: 5mW warning label for the base AixiZ module. Next: the split AixiZ laser module with current regulator will be modified to fit my higher powered laser diode and rkcstr Linear Diode Driver regulator. Next: a sample piece of Formica that will be cut to replace the flat lens in the Mini-Maglite head assembly.

Bottom: The Gunmetal Grey ($10) Mini Maglite Xenon with a $40 Office Max laser pointer underneath. The sacrificial laser diode in the AixiZ module is 3x more powerful than the diode installed in the pointer. The project laser will be 10-50X more powerful than the Office Max laser pointer. To the right: General dial calipers set with metric and inch calibration.

What are your plans for a heatsink? Are you going to replace the tailcap with a clicky model?

If you need someone to make you a heatsink jayrob is one option. Check out his link in my sig. I believe one of the kits he sells is the AA minimag. I think he would sell you just the heatsink.

Kevlar said:

What are your plans for a heatsink? Are you going to replace the tailcap with a clicky model?

If you need someone to make you a heatsink jayrob is one option. Check out his link in my sig. I believe one of the kits he sells is the AA minimag. I think he would sell you just the heatsink.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the contact Kevlar. I looks like I have a heat sink that will work. It's not an optimal solution like jayrob's heat sink but it should work OK. I have all of the parts made. This weekend I'll mount the diode (unconnected) and solder on switch connections to the rkcstr MD. The plan is to use the original Mini Maglite end cap and barrel switch.

I ordered the 14500s and charger today. It will be a week or two before I get those, then I can do the driver and focus adjustments.

Question for LPF members... I've seen information on the LPC-815 LOC diode at the Diodes Compilation thread and have a copy of Dr. Lava's LOC performance chart. The compilation lists (values approx) 350 mA as safe operating current and 420 mA as enthusiast operating current. What would you recommend as a max current? I want to run 250 mW if I can, but that will require about 390 mA and I'd like the laser to last a while.

I know from lurking about that a lot of people new to lasers (like myself) are interested in laser goggles. I ordered these from a seller called ucrazybuy on eBay for $13.69 including shipping. The red goggles arrived 15 days later from Hong Kong and were in fine shape.

These are not certified goggles and I knew that when ordering. What I got in the package was a T-Rex Model BP3003. CE specs are listed for these goggles, but I don't know what they mean. They say OD 5+. I figure I can trust them for my testing so long as I'm only getting diffused and reflected laser light. (edit: these goggles aren't any good. I'm ordering a different pair.)

T-Rex Model BP3003 arrived in fine shape. There was a plastic wrapper protecting these goggles inside the case.


I put fresh batteries in my 5 mW red pointer and lit up a paper bag.


The laser passes through the blue side panel of the BP3003. Looks like about a 90%+ reduction in red intensity to me.

:tsk:This looks bad. If that is really a 5mw pointer and you can still see it this bright, there is no way that those glasses are OD5+.

i think chefla is right with my od4 glasses the dot is less bright than that with a aprox 200mw laser you might want to invest in a nicer pair im really impressed with my eagle pair from survival lasers

Yes For Sure those are NO GOOD>!!!!. If your 5mW passes that much light through they are not doing a good job.

I would suggest you invest in a better pair of goggles .

These are Great.
Eagle Pair® 190-470nm & 610-760nm Laser Safety Goggles

^^ These will block you from 190nm -470nm & 610nm - 760nm.

That means your are pretty much covered for most of the common wavelengths. 405nm,445nm,635nm,650nm/660nm. NOT 532nm or the IR if its not IR filtered.

If you think about it this is a great deal for that many wavelength protections.

Thanks for the advice, guys. Yes, I used a retail legal red pointer on that test and it isn't more than 5mW, if that. I'm using cell phone camera photos but the images accurately represent what I saw.

I'm ordering another set of goggles, probably the Eagle Pair.

In other news, I toasted the diode last week playing around with a pair of AAs with no current regulation. Another lesson learned. A pair of LPC-815s arrived from Modwerx yesterday. I'll harvest those tomorrow, keeping one for a spare. I'm still waiting for the 14500s and the charger from DX but it could be here by the end of the week.

Looks like the goggles pictured above are the same as shown on this post in the Safety forum. I removed the eBay link from my post #7.

http://laserpointerforums.com/f53/18-99-red-goggles-ebay-od5-49152.html

yzer said:

Looks like the goggles pictured above are the same as shown on this post in the Safety forum. I removed the eBay link from my post #7.

http://laserpointerforums.com/f53/18-99-red-goggles-ebay-od5-49152.html

Click to expand...

Can't believe they're still selling them, looks like cling film would block more light than they are.

I own a pair of dragon lasers goggles for protection against bluray upto green and they work perfectly, so it may be worth checking out they're green pair for blocking red lasers.

Laser Safety :: Dragon Lasers

Another thing that crossed my mind is that the pair you own above are blue, which according to dragon lasers gogggles only block upto 650nm, where as they're green ones block 650+, that could be part of the problem.

Disclamer I am very tired so I may be wrong on this but are u using the micro boost drive because if so you wont be able to put both batteries in at the same time correct? Because ill have like 8.5 volts running in to that flex drive when ur supposed to have less than six volts input on that drive.. again sorry if im wrong


edit: please ignore this post i am very tired and got confused i am wrong but am not going to delete this because people that replied wold look like they are talking to themselves

The stock rkcstr Micro Drive can handle any input voltage of 2.25VDC + diode voltage to less than 12VDC. It can be modified to handle up to 15VDC. It should run two fully charged 14500s just fine.

hes using the rkcstr driver..