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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

How to kill a diode fast

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crampedson

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Jun 2, 2009
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I built this little 10440 powered LOC 660nm laser with an AixiZ module being fed 350ma from an AMC7135 driver board.

It worked quite well for a few years, had decent cycle times (2 min on would make it warm), would cut through plastic, ignite matches... until I pointed it in the mirror back at itself 4m away (8m reflected distance). In a fraction of a second, the diode went LED. Now it just emits a safe red glow :p

What I learned (the hard way): Electrical spikes are not the only thing that can kill diodes.
Do NOT reflect the collimated beam back into the diode (no matter how tempting)

Hopefully this experience prevents at least one person doing the same to their precious diodes (Sure LOCs are relatively cheap but you get the idea).
 

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SKeeZ

SKeeZ

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Thanks for the insight. I have done this with non-thermal lasers with out an issue but it makes sense that this would happen
 
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crampedson

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I assume this would be easier with higher powered diodes since there's more energy to contend with. As to the mechanism, thanks to Wikipedia, I guess that it's caused by the facet being overloaded by having not only the light exiting, but the light reentering, being focused down by the lens and hitting the facet, effectively doubling the optical energy it now has to deal with, exceeding its power threshold and causing deformities to the point where it cannot lase well enough to cause further damage as in my case.
 
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bituhitman

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Oct 8, 2013
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@ crampedson
what is the model number of your laser host.If possible tell me where to buy that host.It comes with AMC7135 driver or we have to make 1 for the laser.
 
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crampedson

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bituhitman said:
@ crampedson
what is the model number of your laser host.If possible tell me where to buy that host.It comes with AMC7135 driver or we have to make 1 for the laser.
Click to expand...

The model is a TANK007 available at DX, the smallest AAA host with a clickie I could find. It did not come with an amc7135, it came with its own boost driver, but I didn't trust it with the diode, hence I made my own board. I used a cut down AixiZ module, but the fit was loose enough to warrant a metal collar around the module to allow for thermal conductivity to the outside. A machined aluminium or copper heatsink would be more elegant if you have the tools or could get someone to do it for you.
 
snoutke

snoutke

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Nov 1, 2010
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crampedson said:
I built this little 10440 powered LOC 660nm laser with an AixiZ module being fed 350ma from an AMC7135 driver board.

It worked quite well for a few years, had decent cycle times (2 min on would make it warm), would cut through plastic, ignite matches... until I pointed it in the mirror back at itself 4m away (8m reflected distance). In a fraction of a second, the diode went LED. Now it just emits a safe red glow :p

What I learned (the hard way): Electrical spikes are not the only thing that can kill diodes.
Do NOT reflect the collimated beam back into the diode (no matter how tempting)

Hopefully this experience prevents at least one person doing the same to their precious diodes (Sure LOCs are relatively cheap but you get the idea).
Click to expand...

Luckily only the diode died and not your eye.:can:

No. 1 safety rule is not to point a laser at a mirror.:tsk:
 
O

OzLasers

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Mar 14, 2013
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I burnt out a module I paid $90-something for last year. Damn you unregulated power supply, never again!
 
Last edited:
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crampedson

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Just an update, it lives! The LOC was replaced with a SOC from a DVD drive (Sony/NEC AD-5170S) which runs well at ~320ma peak and settling down at 300ma.
 
djcmount

djcmount

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Had to make a movie reference in relation to this post. Don't cross the streams. RIP diode.
 
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