frustrated, what am I doing wrong?

Your blu-Ray diode requires less current to run, so try a better power source. The circuit does look ok to Me as well. Can you get a picture of everything hooked up?

dim RED??

Oh well, blu-rays require waaay more power to go on.

edit: two 9v batt in parallel should be good.. or 6AA cells.

dammit, buy a driver

His Blu-Ray requires more voltage but LESS current.

@Coherent
Yes I see. Do you think he already burnt the diode?

Yes I do think the Diode is fried. It's an open can, so it could have been damaged before it was even powered up.

R.I.P. †LOC 16X† R.I.P.

lets wait for further information of the thread owner.

Thanks for the replies. I stopped by a computer repair shop and he generously gave me two dvdR drives so hopefully i have two more diodes to get this right with. I am going use 6 AA batteries as suggested from here on out. Before i go any furthur i will take pictures of how everything is setup and the diode pressed in and soldered before i continue. On a side note (and to double check) what is the formula used to calculate my expected current using the lm317? (Resistor size)

Read it again:
Laser driver - It can be done
tl;dr 1.25V/A=R

Leodahsan said:

R.I.P. †Blu-ray 16X† R.I.P.

lets wait for further information of the thread owner.

Click to expand...

Where did you get bluray from? This thread is about 650nm 16x dvd burner diodes. The only mention of BR in the OP I see is he said the BR worked but the reds don't.

There's no such thing as a 16x bluray burner.. yet.

16x Blu-Ray I'd be all over that / 405nm 1000mW+ :wave:

Guys, ey! No!

Leo, if you tell people to connect diodes directly to AA batteries one more time, I'm deducting some reputation, OK?

Never, EVER do that. There was a possibility that diode was alive. Now, with 2xAA direct drive, that possiblity is out.

Your red diode is dead. Thankfully, you're getting two new burners.
Next time, use two lithiums, not 9V bricks. They are really really bad.

160mA of current may not be enough for decent burning (but will achieve lasing).
Try 250mA, all red diodes from 8x and above burners can handle it.

What you have just experience is called LEDed diode. It's a jargon speak actually, it's when your laser diode looks like little faint LED. Laser diode working properly is blindingly bright and you see some speckle pattern over the light shed on your table, like a static noise on CRT screens. It's a light phenomenon called "destructive interference", might want to google that one

Also, are you having your laser diode properly pressed fit into aixiz-type diode housing?

If not, order some IMMEDIATELY!
HighTechDealZ - Aixiz Laser Module - Blank
I'd reccomend at least an order of 4 or 5.

Or this 10 piece bulk:
dia 12mm housing /5.6mm diode houisng with lens /10 pack [OL1230H] - $20.00 : Welcome to O-Like.com, Your source for laser products

Yes i am using those exact ones. I am pressing them in using the back end of the housing as suggested by high tech. Now this 650nm diode should be case neg. With top pos. Correct (with case pin to the right) will take pics shortly.

Or order the modules from aixiz... $5 more than o-like but if your in the US, you'll get them in a couple of days instead of a couple of weeks.

iv been trying to get a diode from a dvd burner working but not sure if its working right. iv got a old 200mw laser that i took apart few years back and broke it :yabbem:
iv wired up that driver board to the diode and put 4v 500ma thru it by a dc power pack and it lights the diode but dont seem strong to make a beam. i dont have a lens as yet and im wondering.
with a lens would it make alot of diffrence? i know it would if its working right but how should it look with out a lens?
my laser i brought which i f....up. you know what i mean. haha had a bigger diode in it so the diode i got wont fit the lens. iv got loads of broke diodes and two working from 16x and i think 22x dvd burner which all are diffrent from the one in my 200mw i brought.
any help would be greatful

i wanna buy one of them 2000mw lasers iv seen on here complet and ready to go.my 200mw burnt thru and out the otherside of my tv remote in seconds haha by the time i messed with it.. ( unscrewing it and touching the open laser head :yabbmad: ) my remote had holes all over it. could actually see the bean getting planes in the sky.. best say i was abit young then.

anyways anyone willing to help will be much appreciated.


nice big post from my first of many. iv seen alot of great things on LPF hands up to you all :wave:

@qumefox
oops.. I thinked I read 16x bluray.. corrected

@Eudaimonium
I have a build that direct drive 2*aa.. works like a charm and I have it from a long time ago. I know it is a bad idea but for testing it isn't that bad IMO. I'm not really into recommending that (as I don't do it: only my first build I did it), and I thought it was a driver issue, and direct driving 2*aa would light it up..
I thought it was a blu-ray too (lol). 67 rep power deducting some reputation from rep power 4 is bad, I was just trying to help. :yabbem:

Leodahsan said:

@Eudaimonium
I have a build that direct drive 2*aa.. works like a charm and I have it from a long time ago. I know it is a bad idea but for testing it isn't that bad IMO. I'm not really into recommending that (as I don't do it: only my first build I did it), and I thought it was a driver issue, and direct driving 2*aa would light it up..
I thought it was a blu-ray too (lol). 67 rep power deducting some reputation from rep power 4 is bad, I was just trying to help. :yabbem:

Click to expand...

Your direct drive built works for now. Problem is that it's going to die the next time you change your batteries.

You see, you're relying on batteries' internal impendance to limit some current. Fresh batteries have very low impendace. They will deliver a LOT of current and then you'll find yourself clicking "Order" all over again.

There is a reason we're discouraging direct drive. If it would work, we'd use it. It's not working nearly reliably for us to consider it.