I have one of these on its way. Can anyone tell me a good current to set the driver to for its DVD diode? What is a rough estimate of the mW rating?

Thanks

A LG 24x DVD Drive is most likely going to have a LOC or a LCC diode and the best current for these diodes is from 300mA to 400mA, which is going to give you around 200mW after lens.

So...20x LOC's can give 200-250mw, but 24x only give 200mw? Shouldn't it be arround 300mw??

LaserGuns;

Post some pictures of the actual diode and we can give you more info.

It is probably a flat Red diode.

I have taken apart a few 22X LG drives. They were 4-pin flat diodes.

Refer to my thread for more info:

Flat-red-laser-diode-testing-2nd-phase

Very efficient Red diodes, but I could not get the power I expected out of them.

They are also more difficult to mount in the Axiz modules effectively.

LarryDFW

I'll try and post some when I get the drive. Or if there is a better drive to gut, then I'll just put this one in my computer... I've been wanting to get a SATA one anyway

I'm just looking to build myself a good burner! I have a few drivers, and aixiz modules laying around, so all I need is a good diode.

My new LG 22x drive had a SmOC in it -.-

I was talking about the power after the lens. LOC's are LOC's, it doesn't matter from which Drive you take them. They can output 300mW after lens if you push them, but then they could die faster.

I'm not TOO worried about power, just as long as it is reasonably better than my BR burner.

BR, I'd just use the drive as a drive and buy an LOC for like, $10.

side note, most people seem to say that an LOC is an LOC. So does that mean Mitsubishi is the only company that makes these LOCs, or is my info off?

OK, I just opened it up. It is a LOC diode. Just to be clear, looking down on it with the ground pin on top, is the positive (LD) on the left or right on these?

Nevermind, I found it out here pin out diagram for lpc 815

What pad should the positive be soldered to on the rkstr driver? If it is soldered to the LD pad, then the unused pin wouldn't be centered between the two pads on the other side if the driver... That seems a little odd to me, but what do I know...

Just cut the unused pin if you want to solder it directly to the PCB.

I ended up just soldering it to one pad.I couldn't remember how I did it with my BR diode. For some reason I thought it was supposed to go in the middle...

Anyway, I've been playing with this thing for a little while now. I have it set to about 350mA and it is unbelievably bright! I'll definitely be ordering some safety goggles tomorrow! I can cause a sharpie to smoke at an arms distance, probably farther. It is really interesting to compare it to the BR pointer. It is a lot brighter, yet the beam isn't as visible. It is a lot easier to burn with, yet it doesn't seem to affect skin as much.

I also found that the blue filter from my old GI flashlight blocks the red pretty well so I'm using that as a makeshift safety monocle until I get my goggles.

I'd just like to caution you about the hazards of blu-ray lasers there. You've hear it a million times I am sure. I burn't myself on Tuesday of this week..(I was careful btw) when I was trying to align my new 6x labby on a sodium floursecine target across the room. I passed by hand through a partially narrowed beam by accident. (instantly there was smoke and the smell of searing flesh) I got a wonderful sized blister on my hand now (It'll be fine soon). The beam however is just a faint violet colour and doesn't appear very strong to our eyes, but make no mistake, it'll burn you severely if any part of your body makes contact with the beam (even partially focussed) , even momentarily! I sure the labby was giving me close to 250mW output. It's roughly 2x as bright as my 150mW 4x O-like pen on full batteries when foccused on a floursecine target.
I've learn't my lesson the hard way. Don't trust your eyes for near out of visible spectra lasers.

The red LOC are actually used in medicine to remove moles and melanin rich areas in skin while leaving surrounding tissues intact. kind of neat. I think.

Yeah, I noticed that too with my LOC. The beam actually looks dimmer than my BR, while the dot looks way brighter.

Also the same experience with the burning ability of the two. BR seems to be more readily absorbed compared to red.

GLad you got a working laser out of the whole deal =)

Wow! My BR isn't that powerful. If I run the focus up to about an inch it will light matches on a fresh battery, or on skin it will give a sharp, pinching feeling but it will go away as soon as you remove the laser. I also heard that they are using the 405nm range of lasers medically too. Apparently is kills microbes so they use it to treat acne and the like.

Yes, 405nm is a very interesting wavelength. If you have goggles, or at least some UV-protective sunglasses, unfocus your 405nm and you can use it to find things that are fluorescent or phosphorescent. Some examples of fluorescence are red postage ink and bright hi-liters. Some examples of phosphorescence are the phosphors in fluorescent tube lights, peanut butter, some plastics, and glow-in-the-dark stuff.