ScottW
0
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2014
- Messages
- 93
- Points
- 18
I recently purchased a JetLasers TI-B from Hakzaw1, and as a gift he threw in one of these
little 5mW focusable Aixiz 650nm modules. (Photo courtesy of Aixiz.)
I scavenged through my junk drawer and found a host for it: One of those little 9-LED flashlights that go for about $1.50 (and sometimes free with a coupon) at Harbor Freight. The module is rated for 3.2v, and this flashlight uses 3xAAA for 4.5v. Replacing one of the three batteries with a home-made spacer will get it down to 3.0v.
I pried out the lens, removed the reflector, and removed the contact board with LED's and spring attached. There is no driver on these flashlights; the LEDs just run straight off the batteries. I desoldered and removed all the LED's, leaving just the spring.
I don't have a metal lathe, but there's really no need for a heat sink on this little module so I turned to my wood lathe. I made a small bushing, same basic design as a heat sink would be -- to hold the module.
There is shallow 5/16" hole in front, into which the module is a "press fit", then a 9/32" hole the rest the way through for the driver board and wires. A larger recess is machined in the back to provide room for wires. Lastly, I drilled two holes in the sides, along with matching holes in the flashlight body, for small screws to retain the bushing in the host. (The wood used is called Purpleheart, which is extremly hard and actually takes threads quite well.)
These flashlight are normally case-negative, but the battery holder can be reversed for case-positive if desired. This 650nm module was designed for case-positive, but that is irrelevent with a non-conductive wood bushing around it. So I kept the flashlight case-negative as originally designed, and simply connected the wires to the contact board accordingly.
Pictures of the bushing and contact board, with module inserted:
Battery holder with high-quality, precision-engineered, and custom-manufactured spacer. (Ok, yes, it is made from a paper clip.)
Ready for final assembly
Complete!
No visible beam, but I was able to get some decent shots of the dot.
Lens Unfocused
Lens Focused
Lens Removed
An LPM graph of the output, topping out at 5.6mW (taken with Radiant X4, with aperature about 1-2cm from sensor, and brand new alkaline batteries).
Don't have to worry about burning down the house with this one.
So there you have it. These little Aixiz modules are really inexpensive, and need no heat sink so they can be built into just about anything. And at just over 5mW with fresh batteries, they are relatively safe.
little 5mW focusable Aixiz 650nm modules. (Photo courtesy of Aixiz.)
I scavenged through my junk drawer and found a host for it: One of those little 9-LED flashlights that go for about $1.50 (and sometimes free with a coupon) at Harbor Freight. The module is rated for 3.2v, and this flashlight uses 3xAAA for 4.5v. Replacing one of the three batteries with a home-made spacer will get it down to 3.0v.
I pried out the lens, removed the reflector, and removed the contact board with LED's and spring attached. There is no driver on these flashlights; the LEDs just run straight off the batteries. I desoldered and removed all the LED's, leaving just the spring.
I don't have a metal lathe, but there's really no need for a heat sink on this little module so I turned to my wood lathe. I made a small bushing, same basic design as a heat sink would be -- to hold the module.
There is shallow 5/16" hole in front, into which the module is a "press fit", then a 9/32" hole the rest the way through for the driver board and wires. A larger recess is machined in the back to provide room for wires. Lastly, I drilled two holes in the sides, along with matching holes in the flashlight body, for small screws to retain the bushing in the host. (The wood used is called Purpleheart, which is extremly hard and actually takes threads quite well.)
These flashlight are normally case-negative, but the battery holder can be reversed for case-positive if desired. This 650nm module was designed for case-positive, but that is irrelevent with a non-conductive wood bushing around it. So I kept the flashlight case-negative as originally designed, and simply connected the wires to the contact board accordingly.
Pictures of the bushing and contact board, with module inserted:
Battery holder with high-quality, precision-engineered, and custom-manufactured spacer. (Ok, yes, it is made from a paper clip.)
Ready for final assembly
Complete!
No visible beam, but I was able to get some decent shots of the dot.
Lens Unfocused
Lens Focused
Lens Removed
An LPM graph of the output, topping out at 5.6mW (taken with Radiant X4, with aperature about 1-2cm from sensor, and brand new alkaline batteries).
Don't have to worry about burning down the house with this one.
So there you have it. These little Aixiz modules are really inexpensive, and need no heat sink so they can be built into just about anything. And at just over 5mW with fresh batteries, they are relatively safe.
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