Super cheap red laser ~ 200mw + build [pics heavy]

Hello,

After making the guide of making cheap red laser build for about 33$ Ive decide to make another one, but much much cheaper.

Part list:
10pcs Red Laser Diodes ML101U29-25 - 29.98$/10=2.998$ each
10pcs Laser modules 5.6mm with acrylic lens - 19.99$/10=1.99$ each
5pcs 9V battery clip - 0.99$/5=0.198 each - You need 2 of them
10pcs PCB - 1.64$/10=0.164$ each
10pcs LM317 - 1.60$/10=0.16$ each
20pcs 16V 10UF Capacitors - 1.99$/20=0.0995$ each
10pcs 10ohm 1W resistors - 1.49$/10=0.149$ each - You need 2 of them
10pcs 100 ohm Potentiometer - 1.99$/10=0.199$ each
100pcs 1N4001 diodes - 1.27$/100=0.0127$ each
Actimel bottle - "Free"
Bottle lid - "Free"

Together 6.3172$ + shipping

Laser diodes


Laser modules


battery clips


PCBs


LM137s


capacitors


resistors


potentiometers


diodes(1N4001)


Actimel bottle


bottle lid


That was part list. So let's make the laser.

At the start press the diode into module.


Then solder wires to the diode's pins. After that, make LM317 linear driver using this schema.


finished driver


The next step is the best! Drink actimel! Then make a hole on the bottom of the bottle to fit the module in. I used hot glue pistol to attach module to the bottle.


Then, make a little hole in middle of the bottle lid and squeeze 9v clip's wires through it. Cut off wires of the second 9V battery clip and connect them to each other.



Then connect wires like in the picture. I used 2x RCR123A batteries and the rubber to attach wires to battery.


Very carefully put all the things into bottle. I used hot glue again to attach driver to the bottle.


The last step is to close the bottle with the lid. I taped it with electric tape.


Enjoy burning and the beam in night



Hope you guys like this Actimelaser build

Sorry for the image size, I will fix it later. - fixed

nice job

very nice! that sure is one custom host!

Why'd you only build one looks like you have parts for at least 5.
The duty cycle must be quit short since you really don't have much heat sinking at all.

Good job with being creative.

Mattronium said:

Why'd you only build one looks like you have parts for at least 5.
The duty cycle must be quit short since you really don't have much heat sinking at all.

Good job with being creative.

Click to expand...

Duty cycle is about 1min on, this type of diode doesn't produce much heat. Im saving parts for another builds, don't want to have 5 same lasers Thanks

I've never seen someone actually build a laser in an Actimel bottle. Nice laser you built there. Too bad you have to get quite a bunch of each component to make it cheap.