My first Build.

Hi Guys,
I'm going to be starting my first build tonight (and yes i'll have pictures )
I'll be getting the driver parts tonight on my way home, (i'm at work ATM) and get that put together.

PSU -- plan to use an old computer PSU to supply power to the driver, since the laser will eventually be mounted in my cnc plotter / cutter, and that is powered by an old PC PSU.

Driver -- I'm just building a lm317 driver but i havn't figured out how i can adapt it for TTL. (sure it can be done easily and i think i've seen a few posts about it already, i just need to search some more and read up on it when i get to that stage.) if anyone has any input to offer i'd appreciate it, but i can't honestly say i've done much of my own research into this yet.

Diode -- For this build i'm just using one of the red's i've pulled out of a few DVD burners. No clue what they are rated for or how far i can push them, but for now i'm just trying to get working componates and a working knowledge of how to put this all together so the amount of power isn't too important. I'll start low and work my way up. (i'm guessing 190ma is a good start but i'll research more specs off the drives later tonight and see what i can figure out. I'll post pictures of the diodes i have tonight to just for fun.

Heatsink -- not sure how i want to approach this part yet, i'm going to start with an old CPU Heatsink and fan, but will probably custom make something out of aluminum when i have a better idea of how the finished piece will look and how it will mount on the plotter. I don't think for this little red that heat is going to be that big of an issue at the amps i'm feeding it. (if i'm wrong someone please smack my hands before i burn up my toys )

Optics -- This is another part i'm not sure on. I could order and aixiz module to put it in, but i have tons of copier optics from work and i want to see what i can achieve with some of them. there are some very lager culminating lenses and focusing lenses in the laser assembles of the copiers. (again if this is a waste of time feel free to let me know )

well thats the basics for the start, i'll post pictures and updates as i have them.

Thanks, Kevin

well went and got the parts for my driver.
what should have been less than $20 in parts ended up in a $80 shopping trip
but i got a few new toys to play with and the parts i needed, and its only money.. right?
plus the fact that i got to skip out on the last hour of work to go shopping has to make it a good day.
now its off to the house to hopefully piece it all together.

what did you buy that made it 80 dollars lol. my tterbo driver parts all up (no diode) is arround 10 buks.
cheers

Hey shintai,

I would recommend using an established module. At least for a first build. They are just much more convenient and you can experiment later with homebrew optic setups. Also, using random optics, you may not know what AR coatings they have and you can easily kill a diode with back reflection. I'm guessing you're aiming at a burning laser if you're mounting it on a CNC? You may struggle getting a random diode to perform the way you want but it's great practice dealing with essentially free materials that won't make you cry when they die!

Get yourself an LOC diode and you should get some reasonable results for little outlay. You can then upgrade to a more suitable diode when you know more about the components and the material you're trying to scorch.

Good luck and we look forward to the pics!

M

thanks morgan

I know i was going to post pictures as i built last night, but the camera batteries were dead.
I managed to get the driver built, and diode hooked up and working.
got myself a simple low powered laser. (not sure how powerful it is, i still have the pot set to its highest resistance for now so its kinda dim. until i learn exactly what i need to measure and how, i'm not cranking it up.)

after fighting all night and today with optics i would have to say i agree that buying a module would be a much better path. (gonna read up and order one.) but i have managed to get the diode, housed in the little square aluminum sink that it came in, mounded in a mini mag, and the lens i scavenged that appears to work the best mounded where the lens should have been on the mag. it works ok and is focusable, but its not very good.

I'll get pictures of what i've built and the beam posted here shortly (battery is charged this time i promise )
any input would be very much appreciated at this point.

Thanks,
Kevin