Re: Can someone help me? I broke my first build.

Re: Can someone help me? I broke my first build.

Many things "went wrong", but that is one of the ways we learn.  Take the time to practice your soldering.  This is probably the most problematic area for most hobbyists just starting out.  Poor soldering is also a very good way to ruin your diodes.  Practice until you can get a good solder joint in under 3 seconds.  Ideally, you will be able to get good solder joints with just a "touch" and a very small amount of solder.

Don't give up.  Many have gone before you and had to deal with exactly the same challenges you face.  Take each step separately and slowly.  There is no hurry.  If it takes you two weeks to finish your first successful laser, so what?   It will all be worth it when you click the switch the first time and it stays lit.  I have built many lasers.  I still get a thrill every time I press the button the first time on a new build.

Peace,
dave

Re: Re: Can someone help me? I broke my first buil

I see Dave is talking to himself again........ :

Re: Can someone help me? I broke my first buil

rog8811 said:

I see Dave is talking to himself again........ :

Click to expand...

We had a meeting and decided that it didn't really mean that we were crazy

Peace,
dave

Re: Can someone help me? I broke my first buil

daguin said:

[quote author=rog8811 link=1229805929/0#1 date=1229813975]I see Dave is talking to himself again........ :

Click to expand...

We had a meeting and decided that it didn't really mean that we were crazy  

Peace,
dave [/quote]
"We"?
You and your other self I assume?

Re: Can someone help me? I broke my first buil

xmtgx said:

[quote author=daguin link=1229805929/0#2 date=1229814990][quote author=rog8811 link=1229805929/0#1 date=1229813975]I see Dave is talking to himself again........ :

Click to expand...

We had a meeting and decided that it didn't really mean that we were crazy  
Peace,
dave [/quote]
"We"?
You and your other self I assume?
[/quote]


It's a committee. I wouldn't dare to make such an important decision by myself.

Peace,
dave

Re: Can someone help me? I broke my first build.

daguin said:

Many things "went wrong", but that is one of the ways we learn.  Take the time to practice your soldering.  This is probably the most problematic area for most hobbyists just starting out.  Poor soldering is also a very good way to ruin your diodes.  Practice until you can get a good solder joint in under 3 seconds.  Ideally, you will be able to get good solder joints with just a "touch" and a very small amount of solder.

Click to expand...

I wanted to add to Dave's good advice on soldering. I have a Weller model number wm120 12 watt soldering pencil with fine tip that does great for ICs LD's etc. Once it warms up fully, I can get a solid solder joint in a second or less. I've had it for a number of years, but if I remember correctly it was relatively inexpensive (under 50 bucks for sure). I had a fellow ham radio operator give me one of those fancy temperature controlled stations with a thermostat, but I found its stability wanting and switched back to the Weller 12 watt. For quick and dirty jobs (not involving expensive laser diodes) I use an old Radio Shack 100 watt soldering gun, which heats up instantly and solders big components too.

I can see myself investing in an expensive hot plate, vacuum pickup and all the surface mount soldering toys in the near future.

I think its important to have a good soldering setup for this stuff, and with the prices of things I'm interested in (and others on this forum) like working with DPSS pump diodes, investing in a little bit nicer soldering setup might actually pay for itself in the end.

-Brett

Re: Re: Can someone help me? I broke my first buil

Check the stickys in the general section for more soldering info..